Best Mile High Pecan Pie Recipes

MILE HIGH STRAWBERRY PIE WITH PECAN CRUMB CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Mix melted butter, pecans, flour and brown sugar in medium bowl with fork until thoroughly mixed. Will be crumbly.
• Place crumb mixture onto 10x15x1" cookie sheet, carefully spreading without packing to cover pan. Bake 10-15 minutes, stirring periodically to brown crumbs and avoid burning.
• Remove crumbs from oven when lightly browned and set on cooling rack to cool, stirring periodically so that crumbs do not compact.
• Next, place egg whites, partially frozen berries and lemon juice in large mixing bowl, beating with electric mixture at high speed for 15 minutes, until filling is a pink 'cloud'.
• Fold whipped topping into strawberry mixture, carefully folding to not 'flatten' cloud.
• Spread 3/4 of crumb mixture into 9x13 pan. Fill with strawberry mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbs over top. Cover and freeze at least 4 hours, preferably day before serving. Cook time is minimum freezing time.
• Note: Can replace frozen strawberries with 2 Cups sliced fresh strawberries, macerated with 1 Cup sugar. I prefer to use frozen strawberries that are set on counter while crumbs are prepared and baked. I have also substituted Whipped Cream for frozen topping. Place in cold bowl 1 cup heavy cream, and while beating add 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Fold into strawberry cloud in step 5.
• 2nd Note: Can use two 10" deep dish pie plates instead of 9x13" pan. Makes a great dessert to take to church suppers or dessert for a meal taken to sick friend.

MILE-HIGH PUMPKIN-PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse flour, granulated sugar, and salt until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Add 1/4 cup ice water in a steady stream, pulsing until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, add up to 1/4 cup more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). Form dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough just over 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to a 9-inch springform pan, adjusting dough as needed to fit flat against bottom and sides. Trim dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch overhang (reserve scraps); freeze 15 minutes. Line dough with a double layer of parchment and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet 30 minutes. Carefully remove parchment and weights; use reserved scraps to patch any holes in crust. Bake until deep golden, 30 minutes; cover edge with foil if overbrowning.
• Meanwhile, make filling: In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk in eggs, then pumpkin, until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk, cream, and vanilla. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. With edge covered with foil, pour all but 1 cup filling into crust, return to oven, and carefully add remaining cup filling; bake 1 hour. Remove pie from oven and top with pecans. Bake until filling is just set but slightly wobbly in center, 20 to 25 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 3 hours. With a serrated knife, cut off overhang and unmold.

MILE-HIGH PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Place a sheet pan in the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl to form a slurry. In a food processor, blend together the eggs, yolks, brown sugar, vinegar, vanilla, 1 stick butter, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/3 cup corn syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup heavy cream and the cornstarch slurry. Once smooth, add 1 1/2 cups pecans and pulse in 5-second increments until they are chopped into small pieces.
• Pour pie filling into shell and place on preheated sheet pan. Bake until the very center of the pie is barely set, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Roughly chop the remaining 2 1/2 cups pecans. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt the remaining 5 tablespoons butter, then add 1/4 cup maple syrup and 3 tablespoons corn syrup. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until bubbly, then stir in the remaining 1/2 cup cream and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low, stir in pecans, and continue cooking, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Pile pecans onto pie and return to oven until you can smell the pecans toasting, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving.