Name: Peach and Butter Pecan Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes, plus 6 hours freezing time
Yield: Makes one 9x5" cake
Ingredients: ¼ cup raw pecans; 1½ cups chilled heavy cream; 1 tsp. powdered sugar; ⅔ cup peach jam or preserves; ½ tsp. vanilla extract; Pinch of kosher salt; 30 Ritz crackers; ½ pint butter pecan ice cream, softened at room temperature until pliable

Peach and Praline Ice Cream Icebox Cake Slice on a platter.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton

A few tweaks to the standard icebox cake formula make this version stand out: jam (in this case, peach) folded into half of the whipped cream for a fruity element, Ritz crackers that go delightfully soft in the freezer but still make a case for belonging in dessert with their salty, buttery flavor, and a layer of butter pecan ice cream right through the middle.

Recipe information

Total Time
20 minutes, plus 6 hours freezing time
Yield
Makes one 9x5" cake

Ingredients

¼ cup raw pecans

1½ cups chilled heavy cream

1 tsp. powdered sugar

⅔ cup peach jam or preserves

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Pinch of kosher salt

30 Ritz crackers

½ pint butter pecan ice cream, softened at room temperature until pliable

Preparation

Step 1
Line a 9x5" loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving a few inches of overhang on all sides. Chill pan until ready to use. Toast pecans in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until fragrant and slightly darkened, 5–8 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop; set aside.
Step 2
Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Place jam in a medium bowl and whisk to loosen, then gently mix in half of the whipped cream. Mix vanilla and salt into plain whipped cream.
Step 3
Scoop half of vanilla whipped cream into prepared loaf pan and spread into an even layer. Arrange a layer of crackers on top, breaking or cutting to fit as needed. Add half of peach whipped cream, smooth into an even layer, and top with another layer of crackers. Dollop ice cream across top and smooth into an even layer. Add a third layer of crackers, followed by remaining peach whipped cream. Repeat with a fourth layer of crackers and finally spread remaining vanilla whipped cream over (don’t worry if it’s a little higher than edges of pan). Scatter reserved pecans on top. Cover with plastic overhang and freeze until set, at least 6 hours.
Step 4
To serve, using plastic overhang, unmold cake (if it’s hesitant to come out, run the sides of the pan under warm water for a few seconds to loosen) and cut into slices.
Do ahead: Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.