Peanut Brittle Ice Cream

4 servings servings Prep: 15 m Cook: PT0M Total: 15 m Intermediate
Peanut brittle’s satisfying crunch combined with smooth ice cream represents the ingenuity of Southern confectionery, using simple ingredients like local cane sugar, Virginia peanuts, and peanut butter to create something indulgent and celebratory. This protein shake version makes churning up a batch quick and easy.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups vanilla protein shake or whole milk
  • 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 tbsp real sugar + 2 tbsp monk fruit
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter (natural, no sugar added)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 1/4 cup crushed peanut brittle

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Mix sweetener blend, xanthan gum, and sea salt in a pint container.
  2. Blend protein shake with peanut butter and vanilla extract until completely smooth with no lumps.
  3. Freeze for 24 hours minimum until completely solid.
  4. Process on LITE ICE CREAM setting. Mix in crushed peanut brittle during final processing for crunch.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my ice cream too icy instead of creamy?

A: Make sure the protein shake or milk is completely blended with the peanut butter before freezing. The xanthan gum helps prevent ice crystals, but everything needs to be thoroughly mixed. Also, process it as soon as it's solid - overfreeze can make it too hard.

Q: Can I skip the 24-hour freeze time?

A: No, the base needs to freeze completely solid for the ice cream maker to process it properly. Rushing this step will give you a slushy texture instead of smooth ice cream.

Tips and Techniques

Crush that peanut brittle just before adding - you want those pieces to stay nice and crunchy in your ice cream!

Ingredient Substitutions

  • vanilla protein shake: whole milk or half-and-half
  • peanut butter (natural, no sugar added): regular creamy peanut butter
  • monk fruit sweetener: additional real sugar or your preferred sweetener

Equipment Needed

  • Ice cream maker with LITE ICE CREAM setting
  • Blender or hand mixer
  • Pint container for freezing

Historical Context

Peanut brittle became a Louisiana favorite when peanuts were introduced as a rotation crop with cotton and sugarcane. The combination of local cane sugar with Virginia peanuts created a candy that was both accessible and luxurious. County fairs and church fundraisers often featured homemade peanut brittle as a special treat.