Best Nannys Pecan Pie Recipes

PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll the pie crust into a 13-inch round, about 1/4-inch thick. Fit the crust into a 9-inch pie plate and trim the edges, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold the overhang underneath itself and crimp the edges. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before filling.
• Roughly chop 2 cups of the pecans by hand or in a food processor; set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the corn syrup, vanilla bean seeds and eggs. Fold in the chopped pecans and pour into the prepared pie shell. Arrange the remaining 1 cup pecan halves around the edge of the pie to make a decorative top.
• Bake until the center is set, 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Slice and serve with a scoop of ice cream.

THE BEST PECAN PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Whisk together 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.
• Alternatively, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor fitted with the 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.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• 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 30 minutes.
• 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 more minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• While the crust is baking make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in 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.
• 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.

CLASSIC PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse about 10 times until it looks like cornmeal with pea-size bits of butter. Add the egg and pulse 1 or 2 more times. If the dough is very dry, add the water. Pulse 8 to 10 times until the dough starts to clump together and there is no visible flour. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a disk; wrap tightly. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch round. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the edges, leaving a 1-inch overhang, then tuck the overhanging dough under itself; crimp the edges with a fork. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375˚. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the nuts cool slightly, then roughly chop.
• Line the chilled pie crust with parchment paper or foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place the pie crust on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack until the dough is dry and set around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the parchment and beans and continue baking until the crust is light golden brown all over, 10 to 15 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, bourbon and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring; boil 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped pecans and vanilla bean paste. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Whisk the eggs into the filling until smooth, then pour the filling into the hot crust. (If the crust has cooled, return it to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through before filling.)
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350˚. Bake the pie (on the baking sheet) on the lower oven rack until the edges are set but the center is still slightly loose, 40 to 45 minutes. (If the crust is getting too dark, cover loosely with foil.) Transfer the pie to a rack to cool completely.

NANNY'S BASIC PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Place sugars, water and cream in a heavy, medium saucepan over moderate heat. Stir often and cook to a soft ball stage, about 8 to 10 minutes. Use a candy thermometer; the soft-ball stage is between 234 degrees F and 240 degrees F.
• Remove from heat and beat mixture with an electric mixer in the pot on low setting until creamy, 2 or 3 minutes. Stir in all the pecans to coat evenly. Using a soup spoon or tablespoon, drop big spoonfuls of praline mixture onto a buttered sheet pan to cool.