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This Nutty Buddy ice cream recipe takes a nostalgic childhood treat and turns it into an easy no-churn dessert. It has a creamy peanut butter ice cream base, plenty of chopped Nutty Buddy bars and ribbons of hot fudge, and you only need about 15 minutes to get it mixed up and into the freezer.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Nutty Buddy Ice Cream
- Ready In: 255 minutes
- Serves: 8 people
- Main Ingredients: heavy cream, 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, creamy peanut butter, to 8 Nutty Buddy bars, hot fudge
- Why You'll Love It: This Nutty Buddy ice cream recipe is an easy no-churn dessert made with creamy peanut butter, chopped Nutty Buddy bars and ribbons of hot fudge.
Nutty Buddies have always been one of my favorite treats, so turning them into homemade ice cream felt like a pretty obvious win. You still get that familiar peanut butter, chocolate and crispy wafer flavor, just in a cold and creamy summer dessert.
And every scoop has a little bit of everything. There are chunks of chocolate-covered wafer, plenty of peanut butter flavor and swirls of hot fudge all through it. It’s simple, nostalgic and such a fun way to turn a favorite snack into a summer dessert.
Table of Contents
Is This the Right Recipe for You?
- No ice cream maker needed. This easy no-churn recipe takes about 15 minutes to prep.
- Big peanut butter and chocolate flavor. Nutty Buddy bars, peanut butter and hot fudge bring plenty of both.
- Lots of texture. Chopped wafer bars add little bites of crunch throughout the creamy ice cream.
- Easy to make ahead. Freeze it earlier in the day or overnight and dessert is ready when you are.
- Fun and nostalgic. It turns a favorite snack cake into a homemade summer treat.
What Is No-Churn Ice Cream?
No-churn ice cream is homemade ice cream made without an ice cream machine. Whipping the heavy cream adds the air that would normally be incorporated during churning, while sweetened condensed milk helps create a creamy, scoopable texture.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Heavy cream – Use cold heavy whipping cream so it whips easily and holds enough air to give the ice cream its light, creamy texture.
- Sweetened condensed milk – This sweetens the ice cream and is an important part of the no-churn base. Make sure you’re using sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk.
- Creamy peanut butter – Gives the entire ice cream base peanut butter flavor. A traditional creamy peanut butter blends most smoothly into the whipped cream mixture.
- Nutty Buddy bars – Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Bars are chocolate-covered wafer bars with layers of peanut butter creme. Chop them as finely or as coarsely as you like depending on how much texture you want in each scoop.
- Hot fudge – Creates ribbons of chocolate throughout the peanut butter ice cream. Warm it just enough that it can easily be drizzled and swirled.
How to Make Nutty Buddy Ice Cream
This no-churn ice cream comes together in just a few easy steps. Whip the cream first, gently mix in the peanut butter, condensed milk and Nutty Buddy pieces, then finish with a swirl of hot fudge before freezing.
1. Whip the cream.
Add the cold heavy cream to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer for about 3 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. The whipped cream should look thick and hold its shape when you lift the beaters out of the bowl.
Pro Tip: Stop mixing once the cream reaches stiff peaks. Beating it much longer can make the cream grainy.
2. Add the peanut butter and Nutty Buddies.
Chop the Nutty Buddy bars into small pieces. Add them to the whipped cream along with the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter. Gently whisk or fold everything together just until evenly combined and no streaks of condensed milk remain.
Pro Tip: Mix gently and stop as soon as everything comes together. Keeping as much air as possible in the whipped cream helps give the ice cream its light, creamy texture.
3. Add the hot fudge swirl.
Spread the ice cream mixture evenly into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Microwave the hot fudge for about 30 seconds, or until it is warm enough to drizzle easily.
Drizzle the fudge over the top, then run a knife through the mixture a few times to create swirls. Avoid stirring too much or the fudge will blend completely into the ice cream instead of leaving ribbons throughout.
4. Freeze until firm.
Cover the ice cream tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until firm in the center and easy to scoop. Depending on how cold your freezer runs, it may take closer to 6 hours.
Expert Tips
- Start with cold heavy cream. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to whip it. Cold cream reaches stiff peaks more easily and helps give no-churn ice cream its smooth texture.
- Don’t overmix the base. Gently combine the condensed milk, peanut butter and Nutty Buddy pieces with the whipped cream, stopping as soon as everything is incorporated.
- Choose your chunk size. Chop the Nutty Buddies smaller for pieces throughout every scoop or leave some larger for more noticeable bites. The wafers soften in the ice cream, so larger pieces won’t freeze rock hard.
- Let very firm ice cream soften before scooping. If it has been frozen overnight or longer and is difficult to scoop, leave it at room temperature for a few minutes first.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add salted peanuts. Fold in about ½ cup for extra crunch and a salty contrast to the sweet peanut butter ice cream.
- Add waffle cone pieces. About ½ cup adds another layer of crunch and plays off the wafer centers in the Nutty Buddy bars.
- Swap the hot fudge for chocolate chips. Semi-sweet chocolate chips give you little bites of chocolate instead of fudge ribbons.
- Leave out the hot fudge. If you want the peanut butter and Nutty Buddy flavors to stand out more, the ice cream works without the fudge swirl.
- Try another chocolate-peanut butter candy. Chopped peanut butter cups would be an easy addition if you want even more peanut butter and chocolate mixed throughout.
What to Serve with Nutty Buddy Ice Cream
This ice cream is plenty good on its own, but it also works as an easy topping for chocolate desserts or alongside cookies when you want something a little more fun.
- Easy Chewy Brownies from Scratch – Add a scoop over a warm brownie for plenty of chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
- Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies – Serve a cookie alongside a scoop or use two cookies to make ice cream sandwiches.
- Easy Microwave Mug Brownie – A good option when you want a warm chocolate dessert for just one or two scoops of ice cream.
Storage and Freezing
Keep the ice cream tightly covered in the freezer for up to 2 months. Pressing plastic wrap against the surface before covering the container can help protect it from freezer burn and ice crystals.
If the ice cream is very firm straight from the freezer, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t my no-churn ice cream freeze?
No-churn ice cream may need more time to freeze depending on your freezer temperature. This Nutty Buddy ice cream generally takes 4 to 6 hours to become firm, but freezing it overnight is the most reliable option. Make sure you also use heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk as written in the recipe.
Why is my no-churn ice cream icy?
No-churn ice cream can become icy if the whipped cream loses too much air or the ice cream is exposed to air in the freezer. Whip the cream to stiff peaks, mix the remaining ingredients gently and press plastic wrap against the surface before freezing.
Can I use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk in no-churn ice cream?
No. Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are not interchangeable in this recipe. Sweetened condensed milk provides both sweetness and the texture needed for the no-churn ice cream base.
Do Nutty Buddy pieces get hard when frozen?
No, the Nutty Buddy pieces soften slightly as they sit in the ice cream and should not become rock hard when frozen. You can chop them finely for smaller bits throughout or leave some larger for more noticeable pieces.
More Recipes Like This
If homemade frozen treats are calling your name, here are a few more Spoonful of Flavor desserts to try.
- Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream – A classic homemade vanilla ice cream packed with real pieces of cookie dough.
- Easy Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream – Another no-churn option with plenty of chocolate flavor and no ice cream maker required.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake – A no-bake dessert layered with vanilla ice cream, cookies, whipped cream and hot fudge.
- Easy Mango Sorbet – A fruity frozen option made with real mango and lime.
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pie – An easy chilled dessert when it’s the peanut butter part of this recipe you love most.
Made this Nutty Buddy Ice Cream? Leave a review and let me know how it turned out!
Nutty Buddy Ice Cream
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 6 to 8 Nutty Buddy bars
- ⅓ cup hot fudge
Instructions
- Add the heavy cream to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer for about 3 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
- Chop the Nutty Buddy bars. Add them to the whipped cream along with the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter. Gently whisk just until fully incorporated.
- Spread the ice cream mixture into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
- Microwave the hot fudge for about 30 seconds, or until thin enough to drizzle. Pour it over the ice cream and use a knife to gently swirl it through the mixture.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until firm in the center.
- Scoop and serve.
Notes
- Depending on the temperature of your freezer, the ice cream may take 4 to 6 hours to become firm. For easy make-ahead prep, freeze it overnight.
- Gently mix the condensed milk, peanut butter and Nutty Buddy pieces into the whipped cream. Stop as soon as everything is incorporated so you don’t knock out too much air.
- Chop the Nutty Buddy bars as finely or coarsely as you like. Larger pieces will soften slightly in the ice cream as it freezes.
- Store tightly covered in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- For extra texture, add ½ cup salted peanuts or chopped waffle cone pieces.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
