• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Desserts Β» Pumpkin Ice Cream with Pistachio Swirl

    Oct 24, 2017 Β· Modified: Oct 19, 2021 by Sues Β· This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads Β· View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer Β· 11 Comments

    Pumpkin Ice Cream with Pistachio Swirl

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This pumpkin ice cream is made even better with white chocolate chips and a pistachio swirl. You'll find yourself craving homemade ice cream all fall long!

    Head-on view of pumpkin ice cream with pistachio swirl in a cone set in a mason jar with a second cone in the background with recipe title at top

    True life: I only eat ice cream out of an ice cream cone when I'm at home. Preferably alone. I have a serious anxiety about ordering ice cream cones when I'm out and while I know that might sound crazy, you should just trust me that eating ice cream out of a cup will save me a lot of embarrassment.

    I'd rather sit and leisurely enjoy my dessert with a spoon than have to frantically lick ice cream as it's dripping down the cone and onto my hands and inevitably, my clothes, too. Because that's what ALWAYS happens. No matter how many napkins I wrap around it or how carefully I plan my attack.

    But still, there's something so joyful and childlike about holding an ice cream cone that it makes me a little bit sad I don't enjoy them more. Hence, homemade ice cream out of a cone while at home.

    As a kid, it's not very likely that I would have chosen this flavor of ice cream as my top choice. Pumpkin?? And nuts?? Why bother when I could have chocolate and sprinkles and marshmallow and yup... Bubblegum. You know bubblegum ice cream is pretty much the worst invention ever, but when you're a kid, it's so amazingly perfect.

    But now that I'm a little bit older and pumpkin has become such a thing (isn't it crazy that pumpkin spice wasn't always so popular??), this ice cream is right up my alley. Once terrified of nuts coming anywhere near my ice cream, I'm now swirling them in and adding more on top. My 8-year-old self would be so disappointed (she'd be saying, "wow, you put nuts in your ice cream and eat it out of a cup?? You're lame.")

    How to Make Pumpkin Ice Cream Base

    I truly believe that homemade ice cream is tastier than anything store-bought, but that sentiment is even more true for pumpkin ice cream than any other flavor. A lot of the pumpkin ice cream you buy in the store is artificial tasting and overly sweet. Who knows if there's even pumpkin involved!

    But homemade ice cream has such basic, simple ingredients... Really just cream, milk, sugar, eggs, spices, and actual pumpkin puree. This one is easy to mix up and involves a simple custard base with pumpkin and lots of fall spices blended in.

    In a medium saucepan, heat cream, milk, and sugar over medium heat. Stirring constantly, let mixture reach just the point of simmer before removing from heat.

    Lightly whisk egg yolks, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a separate bowl.

    Slowly pour about half of the warm cream/milk mixture into the bowl with the yolks, whisking continuously. Then pour egg/cream mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the cream mixture.

    Continue to cook over low heat, while whisking. When the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon, after about 4-6 minutes, remove the saucepan from heat. Strain cream mixture into a bowl and stir in pumpkin puree.

    Collage showing egg yolks and spices in a bowl, egg yolks being tempered with milk and cream in bowl, and the ice cream base cooked into a custard and cooling in bowl

    Cover bowl with plastic wrap so that plastic is touching top of cream mixture (this will prevent a skin from forming). Refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.

    Like I always say, the most difficult part of making homemade ice cream is all the wait time involved. I need a freezer with super powers that will allow me to make ice cream in an instant. To be fair, my freezer does have some sort of super Arctic power setting, but I can't quite tell if it actually makes a difference.

    How to Make Pistachio Swirl

    I knew I wanted to incorporate pistachios into this pumpkin ice cream because pumpkin and pistachio felt like the perfect fall pairing. But I didn't want to just toss them in.

    So I made a sort of pistachio paste, with ground up pistachios, sugar, and milk, and swirled it into the ice cream. I also added in white chocolate chips because I wanted a little extra pizazz.

    To make, lay pistachios in a single layer on foil-lined baking sheet and place in oven for about 8 minutes, until lightly toasted. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, remove skins from pistachios.

    Place pistachios and sugar in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add milk and run food processor until mixture turns into a smooth paste.

    Pistachio paste being made in food processor

    Remove to a separate bowl until ready to use.

    Finishing the Ice Cream

    Once pumpkin mixture is chilled, freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When ice cream is almost frozen, mix in white chocolate chips and pistachio swirl.

    If you don't have an ice cream maker but d have a KitchenAid mixer, I highly, highly recommend the KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment (affiliate link)

    Scoop ice cream into airtight containers and pop back in the freezer for another 4 hours. Yes, more waiting!

    If you want the best airtight ice cream containers, these quart-sized containers from Tovolo are my favorites (affiliate link)!

    In any event, just have a little patience and you will soon be awarded with a glorious cone of pumpkin ice cream with pistachio swirl.  With extra pistachios crumbled on top, of course.

    Close-up head-on view of pumpkin ice cream with pistachio swirl in a cone set in a mason jar

    But I'll totally understand if you choose to enjoy this pumpkin ice cream from a cup with a spoon. Ice cream cones are especially rare in the colder months, but there's something so fun about sitting on the couch with a cone.

    Though I do recommend you also wear a bib or spread a tarp on your carpet. Just me? I can't be the only ridiculously messy eater around, right?

    Overhead view of a bowl of pumpkin ice cream with pistachio swirl with a wooden spoon in it and surrounded by white chocolate chips

    I'm pretty sure I end up making more homemade ice cream in the fall and winter months than in the summer months. There are just so many cold weather flavors that have me making sure my ice cream maker bowl is in my freezer and at the ready at all moments.

    Pumpkin ice cream is one of my favorites, but this Blood Orange Ginger Dark Chocolate Ice Cream is never far from my thoughts. And Apple Pie Ice Cream with Cider Caramel? Omg yes. Oh, and by the way, this Triple Gingerbread Ice Cream is on my list for an update in the very near future.

    Festive ice creams are life.

    Head-on view of pumpkin ice cream with pistachio swirl in a cone set in a mason jar with a second cone in the background

    I feel like even if you think you don't like nuts, that there's a very high chance you'll still like pistachios. They're the best nut around and there's nothing better than obtaining a bag of already shelled pistachios and eating them by the handful.

    Or you know, making a pistachio paste and then crumbling the extra over giant scoops of pumpkin-y ice cream.

    Close-up head-on view of pumpkin ice cream with pistachio swirl with lots of crushed pistachios on top in cone in mason jar

    I hope that you're still enjoying pumpkin season just as much as I am, though I'm already gearing up for the holidays (believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just 4 weeks away!) and will have my first holiday recipe coming at you later this week!

    As far as I'm concerned, it's always ice cream season and there will be plenty more of that around these parts in the coming months... Especially in cones while I sit on the couch in my pajamas and try not to get ice cream on the rug.

    Are you a cup or a cone person?

    If you chose neither (lol), maybe you should check out these Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Treats from House of Elyn Ryn... No cone or bowl required!

    Pumpkin Ice Cream with Pistachio Swirl

    Pumpkin ice cream is made even better with white chocolate chips and a pistachio swirl. You'll find yourself craving homemade ice cream all fall long!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Fall Ice Cream, Pumpkin Desserts, Unique Ice Cream
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Chill Time: 8 hours
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Makes: 1 quart
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • I Β½ cups heavy cream
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • ΒΎ cup granulated sugar
    • 3 large egg yolks
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • ΒΌ tsp ginger
    • ΒΌ tsp nutmeg
    • ΒΌ tsp salt
    • Β½ cup pumpkin puree
    • ΒΌ cup white chocolate chips
    • β…“ cup pistachio swirl (recipe below)

    Pistachio Swirl

    • ΒΎ cup shelled pistachios
    • 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
    • 1 Β½ Tbsp whole milk

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan, heat cream, milk, and sugar over medium heat. Stirring constantly, let mixture reach just the point of simmer before removing from heat.
    • Lightly whisk egg yolks, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a separate bowl.
    • Slowly pour about half of the warm cream/milk mixture into the bowl with the yolks, whisking continuously. Then pour egg/cream mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the cream mixture.
    • Continue to cook over low heat, while whisking. When the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon, after about 4-6 minutes, remove the saucepan from heat.
    • Strain cream mixture into a bowl.
    • Stir in pumpkin puree until completely blended.
    • Cover bowl with plastic wrap so that plastic is touching top of cream mixture (this will prevent a skin from forming). Refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.
    • Once mixture is chilled, freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When ice cream is almost frozen, mix in white chocolate chips and pistachio swirl.
    • When ice cream is frozen, remove to airtight containers and place in freezer for at least 4 hours to continue to harden.

    Pistachio Swirl

    • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
    • On a foil-lined baking sheet, lay pistachios in a single layer and place in oven for about 8 minutes, until lightly toasted.
    • Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, remove skins from pistachios.
    • Place pistachios and sugar in a food processor and pulse until finely ground.
    • Add milk and run food processor until mixture turns into a smooth paste.
    • Remove to a separate bowl until ready to use.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!
    For the perfect fall treat, try this Pumpkin Ice Cream with a delicious pistachio swirl blended in! | wearenotmartha.com #pumpkinicecream #pumpkindesserts #pistachio #fallrecipes
    Pumpkin Ice Cream with Pistachio Swirl
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin75
    Yum2
    Share
    77 Shares
    « Breakfast Risotto with Bacon and Poached Egg
    Mojito Cranberry Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      October 24, 2017 at 7:47 pm

      Ummmm pumpkin and pistachio is just genius! This sounds soooo good, Sues!

    2. Katrina says

      October 24, 2017 at 10:59 pm

      Oh my!! The pistachios in this is such a great addition! Love this!

    3. Jillian says

      October 24, 2017 at 11:43 pm

      This looks AMAZING!

    4. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      October 25, 2017 at 6:25 am

      I've tried pumpkin in a variety of ways but never ice cream - however this sounds absolutely delicious especially with the addition of pistachios!

    5. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

      October 25, 2017 at 6:46 am

      Homemade ice cream is just the best!! Love the sound of this, so seasonal πŸ™‚

    6. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

      October 25, 2017 at 7:21 am

      Pumpkin ice cream?! Yes please!! I'll take ice cream any time of year πŸ˜‰

    7. Jenni says

      October 25, 2017 at 8:02 am

      You know, I always forget about ice cream the second it becomes fall. But this ice cream looks SO awesome and so perfect for fall!

    8. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

      October 30, 2017 at 1:19 am

      'tis the season for pumpkin here as well and we do not really celebrate Halloween. I had pumpkin spice froyo the other day. But your ice cream looks way more inviting. And like you, I always order mine to go in a cup πŸ™‚

    9. Reeni says

      October 30, 2017 at 7:35 pm

      I love that you turned the nuts into a paste! I'm not crazy about nuts in my ice cream because of the crunch and the cold hurting my teeth so a paste is pretty genius! Love white chocolate with pumpkin too - they're perfect together.

    10. Lauren Kleiman says

      October 14, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      I only want ice cream in a cone too. I love pumpkin everything so this is my jam.

    11. Jenn says

      October 14, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      Pumpkin and pistachio is a total dream combo! I cannot wait to try this ice cream - thanks!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Easter Recipes:

    • Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream
    • Easter Oreo Bark
    • Cadbury Mini Egg Scones
    • Chai Carrot Cake Scones
    • Jelly Bean Ice Cream
    • Apple Spice Glazed Ham

    Mother's Day Recipes:

    • Shaved Asparagus Salad
    • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
    • Iced Lavender Latte
    • Strawberry Crepes
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Strawberry Souffle

    Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright Β© 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA