Paletas de Nuez

Directions

1. 1
   Put the half-and-half, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and salt in a bowl and stir to combine.
2. 2
   Add 1 1/4 cups of the pecans and let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes to extract the flavor from the pecans.
3. 3
   Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
4. 4
   Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing the solids with a wooden spoon to extract as much flavor as possible.
5. 5
   Divide the mixture among the molds, leaving enough room for the pecans.
6. 6
   If using conventional molds, dont snap on the lids yet.
7. 7
   Freeze until the mixture has a slushy consistency, about 30 minutes.
8. 8
   (This will prevent the pecans from sinking to the bottom.)
9. 9
   Drop the remaining pecan pieces into the ice pops, dividing them evenly among the molds.
10. 10
    If they float, push them down with a small spoon or ice pop stick.
11. 11
    If using conventional molds, snap on the lid and freeze until solid, about 3 to 4 hours.
12. 12
    If using glasses or other unconventional molds, freeze until the pops are beginning to set (45 minutes to 1 hour), then insert the sticks and freeze until solid, 3 to 4 hours.
13. 13
    If using an instant ice pop maker, gently fold the pecan pieces into the strained liquid prior to filling the molds and follow the manufacturers instructions.