Cookbook:Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie
Category	Dessert recipes
Servings	6–10
Time	Prep: ~60 minutes Baking: ~60 minutes
Difficulty

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This is a recipe for a traditional pecan pie, which is a popular dessert in many parts of the southern USA. Pecan pies are often served on holidays and special occasions, most commonly at Christmas and Thanksgiving Day meals.

Ingredients

Pie crust

• 2 cups (240 grams) pastry (or all-purpose) flour
• 1 teaspoon (6 grams) salt
• 2 teaspoons (8 grams) sugar
• ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (50 grams) Crisco vegetable shortening (or lard)
• 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) very cold water
• 2 teaspoons vinegar (optional; can help make crust more tender)

Pie filling

• 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 packed cup (200 grams) dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon (3 grams) salt
• ¾ cup (250 grams) light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon (13 grams) vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon (45 milliliters) bourbon whiskey or dark rum
• 2 cups (475 milliliters) pecans
• 3 large eggs

Procedure

Roasting the pecans

1. Spread whole pecans onto a baking sheet and roast in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes.
2. Allow the pecans to cool, then chop coarsely.

Pie Crust

The pie crust needs to be baked before the filling is added. Otherwise, the filling will soak into the crust and make it soggy.

1. Dice butter into cubes and place butter and shortening in freezer for 20–30 minutes.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse several times to mix.
3. Add the butter and shortening, and pulse 8–12 times until the butter is the size of peas.
4. Mix the water and vinegar together.
5. With the processor running, pour the water/vinegar mixture down the feed tube and pulse until the mixture begins to come together into a dough.
6. Dump the dough out onto a board and press it together, forming the dough into a disk.
7. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes.
8. Roll out dough on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center out, turning and flouring so the dough does not stick to the board.
9. Roll the dough onto the rolling pin and transfer to a 9-inch pie dish.
10. Mold the dough into the pie dish, pushing the dough into the corners.
11. Dock the bottom of the crust with a fork to help prevent the crust from puffing up when baking.
12. Place the pie shell in the freezer for 30 minutes.
13. Line the pie shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights (or dried beans).
14. Place the pie dish on a cookie sheet and bake the pie shell for 20 minutes at 375°F (190°C) on the middle oven rack.
15. Remove pie weights by lifting out the parchment paper. Continue to bake pie shell for another 10 minutes.

Pie Filling

The pie filling is cooked in the top of a double-boiler, or in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water. The bottom of the bowl should not touch the hot water.

While the pie crust is baking, proceed to making the filling:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
2. Stir in the brown sugar and salt until combined.
3. Add the corn syrup, and bring the mixture up to a boil, stirring occasionally so the filling does not burn on the bottom of the saucepan.
4. Continue to stir and allow the mixture to boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
5. Stir in the bourbon, vanilla, and chopped pecans.
6. Allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Beat the eggs and stir them into the cooled mixture a little at a time.

Baking

1. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
2. Pour the filling into the hot pie crust.
3. Place the pie dish still on a cookie sheet back into the oven on the lower 3rd over rack; if you have a pie shield, put it in place to prevent the edges of the crust from getting too brown.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes, filling should still be slightly jiggly when removed from oven.
5. Allow pie to cool on a cooling rack for 2–4 hours. Pie will cool to doneness.
6. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes, tips, and variations

• Don't skip the pecan roasting process. Roasting the pecans greatly enhances the flavor and texture of the nuts. It is best to roast the pecans whole and then chop after roasting. Roasting the nuts whole helps to ensure even roasting of the nuts.
• If you prefer the look of a lighter-colored filling, you can substitute light brown sugar for the dark brown sugar.

Warnings

• Filling will be extremely hot immediately after the pie is taken from the oven and is continuing to cook to doneness as it cools, so let it cool for at least an hour before you cut into it.

See also

• Cookbook:Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
• Cookbook:Layered Pecan Pie