I don’t know a single person who doesn’t love ice cream. I also don’t know a single person who doesn’t love easy and convenient recipes. We’ve combined both to make this Keto Mason Jar Ice Cream! We recreated my favorite ice cream flavor, butter pecan, into an easy to make, no equipment needed recipe. Could it get any better?!
Carbs in Heavy Whipping Cream
People often get confused about how many carbs are really in heavy whipping cream. Some labels will round down and list 0g of carbs, others will say 1. The truth is that there are about 9 grams of carbs per cup of heavy cream, or about 1/2 a gram of carbs per tablespoon. Regardless of what the nutrition label says on the one you are using, you now know how many carbs are actually in heavy cream.
We love using heavy cream in our recipes because it has a high fat to protein ratio while still keeping the overall recipe low in carbs. If you’re looking for more low carb recipes that are made with heavy cream check out some of our favorites:
Delicious Heavy Cream Desserts
- Low Carb Chocolate Gelato– An Italian delicacy turned keto with cream and sugar free cocoa powder. Gelato is fattier and richer than regular ice cream making it the perfect keto treat. For more sugar free ice cream recipes made with heavy whipping cream, check out our desserts section.
- Easy No Bake Cheesecakes– A smooth heavy cream and cream cheese base whipped together on top of a cashew crust. We even serve it with extra chocolate drizzled on top!
- Almond Milk Ice Cream – Perfect if you’re looking for a dairy free take on ice cream.
- Keto Frosty – this 3 ingredient (only!) keto frosty recipe does not use any artificial ingredients and is low in net carbs, which makes it a perfect keto dessert.
Try any one of these keto recipes for a delicious high fat option to round out your night.
Can I Freeze Ice Cream in Mason Jars?
Yes! This keto ice cream recipe can be frozen in mason jars without any issues. Whenever freezing anything (not just low carb recipes) in mason jars, make sure to leave a little room on top. Liquids like heavy cream expand when frozen so you’ll want to account for a little extra room. If you struggle with portion control try making single serve mason jar ice cream pots to avoid overeating. Plus these work great for storing other keto treats and snacks on the go.
Changing Up The Flavors
We based this keto mason jar ice cream off my favorite flavor butter pecan. If butter pecan ice cream doesn’t sound appealing right now, no need to worry! There are tons of different ways you can customize the ice cream to fit flavors you enjoy. If you’re into making meal plans, make the base for this keto mason jar ice cream and add different toppings so you’ll have the perfect macros for you every time.
What to Know Before Changing the Recipe
- This mason jar ice cream recipe has times based off of the butter pecan version. However, If you change the ingredients the chill time may be a little shorter, or a little longer to cool.
- The base of this mason jar ice cream should not change, but there are three ingredients you will need to leave out when changing the overall flavor. The 1/4c butter, imitation butter flavor, and pecans should be removed from this recipe before adapting it.
- The macros WILL change. If you change the recipe the macros will change because you have to remove fat from butter and pecans which have a large bulk of the calories. Know that if you add or take anything away the macros will need to be recalculated for your specific case to be accurate.
The Best Keto Mason Jar Ice Cream Add-ons and Flavors
Obviously the best flavor will be the one you love most, but we thought it’s best to give you some ideas! These are some of the most popular flavors, as well as our favorites, AND some that allow you to get extra creative in the kitchen.
- Brownie Batter Blast- Take this ice cream base and add in 2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder to the recipe before shaking. While the ice cream is freezing, bake and cool our extra fudgy keto brownies. Chop the brownies into pieces after cooling and mix into, or place on top of your keto ice cream. Voila you have mason jar chocolate ice cream with tons of brownie bits!
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream- Mix 2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder into the ice cream base before shaking. Once the mixture has thickened drizzle in peanut butter or mixed up PB2 powder. You can lightly shake again, or just swirl it in with a spoon to get nice peanut butter ribbons. To make it extra tasty, you can even drop on a few keto chocolate chips like these
chocolate chips from Lily’s. - Strawberry Cheesecake Keto Ice Cream- Bake a half recipe of our keto strawberry shortcake pie crust (you can just lay it flat on a cookie sheet to bake). Once baked, set aside and allow to fully cool. Add 3 tbsp of softened cream cheese and 1/4 c of chopped strawberries (preferably frozen) into the ice cream before shaking. Now shake up everything well to combine and double the cream in size. Freeze the strawberry ice cream and then serve with crumbled up crust pieces.
How to Make Keto Mason Jar Ice Cream
A decadent treat low in net carbs, high in fat, and perfect for keto. Plus this low carb/ keto recipe is the perfect vanilla ice cream base to spice up however you want. Love plain vanilla ice cream? You’ve got it. Want to make keto brownie batter ice cream? All yours! This recipe is a great base open to whatever upgrades you desire.
Ingredients
To make an easy keto butter pecan ice cream you only need 6 main ingredients. We start with a base of 2 cups heavy cream. This will give the ice cream body and make it a super high fat dessert. You can’t make a mason jar ice cream keto without a high fat base. For sweetness we use erythritol and stevia for a nice blend. Next this wouldn’t be butter pecan without the butter and pecans! We recommend raw chopped pecans (that we will toast later) for the best overall flavor. Finally this recipe calls for vanilla extract and imitation butter flavoring. The butter flavor is optional, but to make this butter pecan ice cream we recommend it. Vanilla extract on the other hand is non negotiable in our opinion. Vanilla extract really brings out all the flavors in this keto mason jar ice cream for a well rounded dessert.
You “Cone” do it! Making Easy Keto Ice Cream
Don’t worry this keto mason jar ice cream is super easy to make and the prep time will be done before you know it. Begin by melting the butter in a small skillet. Next you will want to toast your chopped pecans in a pan or in the oven for 5-6 minutes. Make sure both the butter and pecans have cooled before adding them into the next mixture.
Combine all keto ice cream ingredients into your mason jar. With the cream in a mason jar shake vigorously for 3-5 minutes (make sure the lid is on all the way!). Once the cream has doubled in size, freeze for 3 hours, or up to 24 hours. Now serve!
Note: We find ice cream maker free ice cream to be best at 3 hours. It is at its creamiest point but not rock hard. If you want to freeze your keto mason jar ice cream for significantly longer or overnight, be sure to let it sit out for 5-7 minutes before serving.
Storage
The next time you make this recipe, and we know there will be a next time. Make a double batch in two mason jars! With only 3.5 hours total time, it will definitely be in your favor to make extra. Simply freeze any leftovers in the mason jar and pull it out 10-15 minutes before you plan on having some.
Keto Ice Cream Rocks! (No Literally)
For those that wonder “why is keto ice cream so hard?” we’ve got answers. Low carb/ keto ice creams use erythritol and other artificial sweeteners. Normally artificial sweeteners freeze VERY hard. So if you’re expecting super creamy soft serve, keto ice cream just isn’t that.
Softening Keto Ice Cream
There are a few ways you can go about softening keto ice cream. Trust us when we say though, some methods are much better than others.
- The famous “patience is a virtue”. This is the best way to soften keto ice cream by far. Simply pulling it out and waiting 10-15 minutes is the best way to give it that creamy factor without risking the formation of ice crystals later.
- The hot spoon trick. Place a metal spoon into sup hot/ boiling water and wait 2-3 minutes. Once the spoon is very hot scoop some of the ice cream out. You may need to repeat the spoon heating method.
- The microwave. This is by far my least favorite method because if you are reheating the whole container you will, without a doubt, create ice crystals on the remaining ice cream. NOTE: DO NOT HEAT IN THE MASON JAR. While some mason jars are temperature resistant you do not want to risk it. Going from super cold to hot is dangerous with glass. You should only use this method if you created the ice cream and then scooped it into a cardboard pint container before it had fully frozen.
Our Favorite Keto Friendly Ice Cream Brands
A lot of the time we are simply looking for a quick and convenient dessert to grab and take to the couch! We get it. We are the same way. However, sometimes the price of low carb ice creams in store can be very off putting. Plus when you actually look into them, the macros aren’t exactly what you’re looking for (aka a high carb count).
Our keto mason jar ice cream is a fraction of the cost when compared to store bought varieties. Plus the flavor can be tailored to your preference. If you are feeling like “big ball’in” as the kids say, some of our favorite low carb ice cream brands are So Delicious (butter pecan or mint chip), Enlightened ice cream popsicles, and Halo Top (mainly the original flavors – vanilla, strawberry and chocolate)! Give those a try and let us know how they compare to our homemade version.
Be sure to check out our keto ice cream bars recipe!
Other Popular Desserts
Now that you have some ice cream, you’ll need something to pair with it. Whether you like your low carb ice cream in a mason jar with cake, or with pie, we’ve got you covered. Ice cream in a mason jar is super versatile and perfect to put with all your favorite keto recipes!
- Low Carb Pecan Pie– A sweet and salty pecan pie filled to the brim with freshly chopped pecans
- 3 Ingredient Keto Peanut Butter Cookies– A super easy keto recipe that only takes 15 minutes total time before you’re chowing down!
- Two Minute Keto Chocolate Mug Cake– Another quick recipe done in only 2 minutes! Top this cake with our mason jar ice cream and you’ll be amazed what you’re eating is really keto.
Keto recipes, especially dessert recipes can be difficult to perfect on your own. Thats why we took all the work out for you and created the best dessert possible. Try some of these delectable treats and let us know what you think!
Easy Mason Jar Ice Cream!
The best part about this recipe: it takes ten minutes to put together and it’s homemade. The worst part about this recipe: you have to wait three hours for it to set in the freezer before you can dig in. If we weigh out the good vs the bad, we sure have a winner with this mason jar ice cream recipe. Plus this recipe is 100% ice cream maker free! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram when you make this for the whole family.
Recipe can be quickly added to MyFitnessPal – Search “KetoConnect – Mason Jar Ice Cream”
Mason Jar ice Cream
What You Need:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 cup raw pecans, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp Low Carb Sugar Substitute
- 10 drops liquid stevia (1/8th tsp)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp imitation butter flavoring (optional)
Instructions:
- In a small skillet, melt butter. Toast pecans until lightly browned, 5-6 minutes, then remove from heat and cool completely.
- Combine all ingredients in a wide mouth 24 ounce-sized mason jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 3-5 minutes. The liquid in side should double in volume, filling the mason jar.
- Freeze for 3 hours up to 24 hours.
- <b>Note:</b> at the three hour mark we found the ice cream to be perfect consistency. If you are freezing for significantly longer/over night be sure to let it sit out for 5-7 minutes prior to enjoying.
Video:
Notes
Serving Size: 1/8th recipe **This recipe is high in fat (basically an ice cream fat bomb) so feel free to balance it out by cutting out some of the pecans or making a different flavor using your favorite protein powder!
Written by
Megha Barot
Megha has always been a passionate cook, but she took this to a new level after starting her keo journey in 2015. She loves creating new recipes and producing educational content for KetoConnect, which she co-founded in 2016 with Matt. Her passion for healthy eating and personal development continues to thrive. She's the proud mom of two awesome kids.
Amazing recipe!! My girlfriend and I made the chocolate ice cream version of this. We used 1 tbsp of cacao powder and ~ <=1 serving of Lily's Salted Caramel bar chopped up. It was delicious!!! Turned out perfect. 3hrs was the sweet spot.
Thank you so much for adding this comment. I was wondering how muck cocoa powder to use. Greatly appreciated!’
neelamsarkar@hotmail.com I tried the ice cream the first time and in the jar too and it split. The cream. I was disappointed but the flavour was divine so I still ate it. Eating the last of it out of the jar was annoying tho.. today I tired it again.. this time I browned the pecans so much more.. I also halved the recipe.. I whipped the cream with a hand blender and instead of vanilla extract I used vanilla beans straight out of the pods.. I didn’t have liquid stevia so I used powdered erythitol and powdered stevia.. I also used a rectangular glass box to store it and 2 hours after it’s been setting I checked. Oh my God it’s next level! I can’t thank u guys enough for this recipe God bless u both!??????????????
So seeing the serving size on this reminds me of my teenage years when a box of cereal said there was 16 servings… Um two or three maybe.
Eight servings in my house of this ice cream is not happening. Two, maybe three max…
lori@amsa1.com
Loved this recipe. It tastes better than I expected. But I whipped the cream while the butter and pecans were browning. I didn’t read that the butter was supposed to cool completely before combining. So I combined the browned butter, toasted pecans and sweeteners to the whipped cream. I thoroughly mixed everything together and ate after 2.5 hours. Couldn’t wait!! Excellent recipe. It has a nice ice cream like texture that Halo Top does not have.
Oops over shook it and made butter ?
Same thing happened to me.. complete fail! Perhaps there should a mention about over-shaking? 🙂
So a serving would be 1/2 cup? 1/4 cup? To get the 3 carb amount.
About a 1/3 cup is a serving.
Does anyone ever add just a little bit of Pink Himalayan salt to their ice cream?
It wouldn’t hurt! It might even enhance the flavors 🙂
Is there a substitute for the liquid stevia? I don’t like the after taste of stevia.
You can use another keto friendly sweetener like erythritol or monk fruit extract.
Could I just use tuperware instead of a mason jar? I don’t want to go out and buy a big jar just for this.
I don’t think so, unless you have a leak proof kind that will guarantee the lid won’t come off while shaking and make a giant mess.
I used a smaller jar and made a 2 serving version of this. If you have smaller jars that will work, just modify.
Hi Megan, Any 24 oz jar will suffice. If you have a pickle jar or similar transfer the contents into another container wash out the jar well and use instead of buying. I hope this suggestion helps 🙂
Fixed it today and it’s absolutely delicious!
24 oz jar must be a mistake (I don’t even think I’ve seen a 24 ounce jar)….1 1/3 cup pecans and 2 cups of cream (along with the other ingredients) would fill it up. I used a 32 oz jar and still had to pour out a third of the mixture just to have enough air (half air/half mixture) to shake…I tried shaking without pouring of the third, but the mixture would never get firm enough, because there wasn’t enough air. With this recipe (as is), you might be better of using a 1/2 gallon jar.
Can I omit the Erythritol & stevia
You could, but it wouldn’t be sweet at all like ice-cream.
I can’t eat Erythritol, it gives a lot of people diarrhea. I use Monk Fruit instead. You use like a 1/64th of a teaspoon (they give it to you in the bag). I like it. Too much of it has an aftertaste, but you need so very little. I use that and stevia.
Megha,
Have you tried salting the pecans before adding to the cream. That is the only thing that came to mind that might make this a little better. Definitely going to try this soon.
No, I don’t think she has.
I did that (salted the nuts a little) and I liked it that way. I don’t think I’ll make this recipe again though. It’s basically frozen whipped cream with pecans in it. It’s ok, but I don’t really like the coating of cold fat it leaves on the roof of my mouth, and also, a quarter cup serving size is so tiny. If you do try it, though, here are a couple of tweaks I recommend: make it in your blender instead of mason jar, then add nuts. (Super fast!) Also, if you don’t plan on serving it all after the 3-hour freeze time, portion it out into individual serving sizes in little plastic containers. This makes it much easier to let it thaw a bit and eat later.
This looks terrific, but – if you shake the jar until the contents expand to fill up the jar, what keeps the expansion that happens during freezing from cracking the jar?
The contents expanding during shaking is because you are essentially whipping the cream, so it is air. If it was all liquid filled up to the top, it might crack the jar.
Nailed. It. Bam! This recipe is definitely a keeper and will be great for keto peeps at birthday celebration. Thanks so much!
Is this a recipe I can take granular erythritol (like Anthony’s) and put it in a blender to make powdered erythritol???
Yup! A spice grinder might work better but it can be done in a blender.
Can I substitute the stevia drops with more erythritol ?
Yes, but it might have a more cooling aftertaste effect.
I am a huge fan of Monkfruit/Erythritol Blend (favorite brand so far is SoNourished). It measures 1:1 to refined white sugar, in recipes. What I really like is that it doesn’t give that “cooling” aftertaste of pure erythritol, when I need to increase the amount of sweetener I am adding to a recipe. Definitely the best keto friendly sweetener I have used yet. Btw…I purchase mine on Amazon, for less than I used to pay for my Swerve erythritol ssweetener. Good luck!
Ohhhh yes!!!! Can I use coconut cream or milk instead of heavy cream cuz I’m allergic to dairy ? Thanks so much
Kim, did you get a reply. I am dairy free as well. This sounds delish would love to try with coconut substitute.
So this is 24 grams of carbs..right??
This is 3 grams of carbs per serving. If you eat the entire container it’s 24 but I wouldn’t recommend as that’s over 2,000 calories which is close to a full day’s worth for most everyone.
No it is 3 net carbs.
Hi Ivan, This recipe only has 4 grams of carbs per serving with minus 1 gram of fiber which gives you net carbs of 3 grams. All of the info is in the note section of the recipe 🙂
P.S. Yes all totaled it is 24g carbs minus 8 grams of fiber which gives you total net carbs of 16 grams. SO, lol if you plan to down the whole thing, that is basically a few carbs short of your total amount of carbs per day if you are on a low carb regimen such as Atkins. Have fun, and try not to get an ice cream headache 🙂
Are all of those carbs coming from the nuts? I’m not a huge fan of pecans anyway…
Actually most is from the Heavy Cream, which is at least a half carb a tablespoon and this has 32 tablespoons in it.
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