Both maple and pecans are quintessential American flavors. And when you combine them, the results are pure magic. Maple's sweet woodsy notes complement the rich buttery flavor of pecans. And in this easy Maple Pecan Pie they're spiked with the lightest touch of bourbon and nestled together in a flaky, buttery crust.
Along with Slow-Roasted Turkey, Maple-Glazed Vegetables, and Pumpkin Custard, this pie always makes it to our Thanksgiving table.
Jump to Recipe | Why Maple Pecan Pie? | Making the Crust | The Filling | Tips | Variations
Why make a pecan pie without corn syrup?
Most pecan pie recipes call for a blend of corn syrup and white sugar, which yields a sticky sweet filling that coats chopped pecans. But, you can make a pecan pie without corn syrup fairly easily, and often with a better, deeper flavor.
A blend of both maple sugar and maple syrup work well to replace the white sugar and corn syrup you find in most recipes for pecan pie. Not only does maple work well to give the pie its classic, sticky filling, but it also gives the pie a richer flavor. Complexly sweet with subtle notes of caramel and toffee.
And for cooks looking to avoid corn syrup, maple makes a solid choice.
Making the Crust
A good homemade pie crust depends on quality ingredients, minimal handling, and cold temperatures. Unbleached all-purpose flour works well because it's easy to work with, strong enough to roll out easily, and hold its shape. It also has a mild, neutral flavor which works well as a complement to the more pronounced and robust flavors you'll find in the maple pecan filling.
And one of the easiest ways to make the crust is to pulse the flour together with very cold butter, salt, and a bit of ice water in your food processor until it just comes together. And then you form it into a disc, and roll it out. Working with a food processor speeds up your time, and keeps your ingredients colder than working by hand.
Making the Filling
Pecan pie filling is very sweet and custard-like in texture. Eggs provide structure, while a blend of maple syrup and maple sugar provide sweetness and flavor. Blending them with a touch of butter gives richness, while salt provides balance.
You first begin by arranging the pecans in the crust, which allows you to make decorative patterns. Then you pour the filling over the pecans. They'll float a bit in the maple filling. But as the pie bakes and sets, they'll rise to the surface and the pie will solidify so that you can slice it easily.
And you'll know your pie is done baking by watching the filling. It will puff in the oven when it's ready, but settle as it cools.
Tips for Making Maple Pecan Pie
- Keep your ingredients cold when making the crust. Cold temperatures make for a tender and light crust.
- Freeze your crust for 15 to 20 minutes before baking. It works brilliantly to prevent a soggy crust, and keep the texture light.
- Use a mixture of chopped pecans and pecan halves. Chopped pecans give body to the filling, while pecan halves make a beautiful, decorative top.
- Your pie will puff in the oven. If you see your pie puffing in the oven and worry you've done something wrong, you haven't. Pecan pies puff in the oven (that's how you know they're ready), and will settle as they cool.
- Store the pie in the fridge up to 5 days. And you can probably get away with storing it at room temperature up to 3 days.
- Freeze your pie by wrapping it tightly or vacuum sealing it, and storing in the freezer up to 3 months.
Variations
Once you get the hang of making this Maple Pecan Pie, you can make a handful of adjustments to really pull in other flavors and make it distinctly your own.
Swap the bourbon for vanilla. Vanilla complements both maple and pecans. So if you don't have bourbon handy, swirl in a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract.
Swap sorghum syrup for maple syrup for a nice alternative.
If you can't find maple sugar, try using whole, unrefined cane sugar like jaggery or muscovado instead. Coconut sugar works well, too.
Add dark chocolate chips. You can substitute about half the chopped pecans with dark chocolate chips for an even richer version.
Substitute cold lard for all or part of the butter in the crust. Lard makes a tender, delicate pie crust with a great flavor.
Add cinnamon and orange zest to the filling, for a boost of flavor
