The Best Pecan Pie

  • Level: Intermediate
  • Yield: 1 pie or about 8 servings
  • Total: 3 hr 35 min
  • Active: 20 min
This pie delivers plenty of classic flavors like brown sugar, vanilla and toasted nuts. We found that bourbon made a welcome addition. The alcohol bakes off leaving behind irresistible notes of smoke and caramel. Our all-butter crust perfectly balances the sweetness of the filling.
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Ingredients

Crust:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (see Cook's Note)

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon fine salt

1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, diced

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Filling:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

2 cups chopped toasted pecans

1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

  1. For the crust: Whisk the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture. 
  2. Alternatively, pulse the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade and bring the dough together by hand.
  3. Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
  4. Roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan and trim the edges, leaving about an extra inch hanging over the edge. Tuck the overhanging dough underneath itself to form a thick edge that is even with the rim. Flute the edge as desired. Freeze the pie shell for about 30 minutes.
  5. Arrange the racks in the center and lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Put a piece of parchment paper or foil over the pie shell and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on a baking sheet on the center rack until the dough is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift the sides of the parchment to remove the beans. Continue baking until the pie shell is lightly golden brown, about 10 mire minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. 
  6. While the crust is baking, make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and, stirring constantly, continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts, bourbon and vanilla. Set it aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. (If the crust has cooled, return it to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.) Whisk the beaten eggs into the filling until smooth. Put the pie shell on a baking sheet and pour the filling into the hot crust. 
  7. Bake on the lower rack until the edges are set but the center is still slightly loose, 40 to 45 minutes. (If the edges get very dark, cover them with aluminum foil half way during baking.) Cool on a wire rack. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Cook’s Note

When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)

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Erika R.

Everyone loves this pie. I usually make this with Lyle's Golden Syrup instead of corn syrup due to family allergies. It sets up wonderfully. The bourbon adds a really nice kick.

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