Best Pecan Pie Crust Recipes

PECAN PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place pecans in food processor; grind until fine.
• Add melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla and water.
• Continue processing till mixture begins falling off sides of bowl.
• Press into 9-inch pie pan.
• Bake at 325° for 20 minutes or microwave at full power for 6 minutes.

PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make Crust:
• In a food processor grind gingersnaps, pecans, and sugar fine and add butter, blending until combined well. Press mixture onto bottom and up side of a 9-inch (1-quart) glass pie plate. Bake crust in middle of oven 15 minutes, or until crisp and golden around edge, and cool on rack.
• Make filling:
• In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over brandy, rum, or water and let stand.
• In a heavy saucepan whisk together milk, brown sugar, yolks, pumpkin, spices, and salt and cook over moderately low heat, whisking, until mixture registers 160°F. on a candy thermometer. Remove pan from heat and immediately add gelatin mixture, whisking until gelatin is completely dissolved.
• Transfer filling to a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and cool, stirring constantly, just until the consistency of raw egg white. Remove bowl from ice water.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until it holds stiff peaks and whisk about one fourth into filling to lighten. Fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly and pour filling into crust. Chill pie until set, at least 3 hours and up to 24, covered with plastic wrap after 1 hour.
• Top each serving with whipped cream and garnish with nuts.

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Process cookies into crumbs in a food prcessor or crush in a heavy plastic bag with a rolling pin.
• Add melted butter and mix until combined.
• Press into bottom and sides of a nine-inch pie dish.
• Bake for 10 minutes; it will feel soft, but will firm up as it cools.
• Cool completely before filling with your favorite filling.

LEMON MERINGUE PIE WITH PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl; add butter and shortening. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water. Beat until dough holds together, adding more water by 1/2 tablespoonfuls if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap disk in waxed paper and chill until firm enough to roll, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough between sheets of waxed paper to 12-inch round. Peel off top sheet of paper. Invert dough into 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish; peel off paper. Press dough gently into dish. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch; turn under and crimp edge decoratively. Freeze crust until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until golden at edge, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans; continue to bake until crust is pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• Make filling and topping:
• Whisk 1 3/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups water and lemon juice, whisking until cornstarch dissolves and mixture is smooth. Add yolks and peel; whisk to blend. Cook over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 8 minutes. Pour into prepared crust.
• Using electric mixer, beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff and shiny. Mound meringue atop warm lemon filling, spreading to seal to crust at edges.
• Bake pie until meringue is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool pie 1 hour. Refrigerate up to 6 hours; serve cold.

LOW-CARB PECAN PIE WITH ALMOND FLOUR CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix almond flour and 4 tablespoons melted butter together in a small bowl. Press into an ungreased 9-inch pie pan. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
• Combine sweetener, syrup, eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in pecans. Pour mixture into pie crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 45 minutes.

LEMON PIE WITH PECAN CRUMB CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack on lowest level. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast in the oven until golden, tossing occasionally, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• In a food processor, finely grind graham crackers, sugar, and pecans. Add the butter, and process until completely combined.
• Press mixture into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Bake until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the condensed milk. Stir in the lemon juice. Spoon filling into cooled pie crust. Bake until filling is set and crust is golden brown around the edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour.

SWEET-POTATO PIE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour pie plate, knocking out excess flour.
• Toss together all crust ingredients in a bowl with a fork until crumbs are moistened, then press evenly over bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake crust 6 minutes, then cool on a rack.
• Make filling:
• Increase oven temperature to 400°F.
• Prick each sweet potato once with a fork. Roast in a foil-lined shallow baking pan until tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Halve potatoes lengthwise and cool.
• While potatoes cool, cook sugar in a dry 8-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar melts into a deep golden caramel. Remove from heat. Carefully pour water down side of skillet (mixture will bubble and steam vigorously), then return to heat and simmer, stirring, until hardened caramel is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
• When potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel, then cut away any eyes or dark spots. Purée potatoes in a food processor until smooth, then add eggs, cinnamon, and salt and blend until smooth. Add milk, caramel, rum, and vanilla, and blend until combined well.
• Pour filling into crust. Bake until filling 2 inches from edge is slightly puffed and center trembles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes (top may crack; filling will continue to set as it cools). If the crust begins to brown too much before the filling is done, crimp a ring of foil or use a pie shield to protect it. Cool pie on rack about 1 hour.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

LEMON MERINGUE ICE CREAM PIE IN TOASTED PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• For lemon curd:
• Whisk eggs and egg yolks in medium bowl. Melt butter in medium metal bowl set over large saucepan of simmering water. Whisk in sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, and salt; gradually whisk in egg mixture. Whisk until thick and thermometer inserted into curd registers 178°F to 180°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl. Press plastic wrap on top of curd; chill 4 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix pecans, sugar, and butter in medium bowl until moistened. Press pecan mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish (mixture will be crumbly). Bake until crust is lightly toasted, about 12 minutes (crust will slip down sides of dish). Use back of spoon to press crust back into place. Cool crust on rack. Freeze crust 30 minutes.
• Dollop 1 1/2 cups ice cream over crust; spread into even layer. Spread lemon curd over ice cream; freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Dollop 1 1/2 cups softened ice cream over lemon curd; spread into even layer. Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
• For meringue:
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until frothy. Beat in cream of tartar. With mixer running, gradually add sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon meringue over pie, spreading to seal at edges and swirling decoratively. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Freeze pie. Using kitchen butane torch, toast meringue until golden in spots or place pie in a preheated 500°F oven until meringue is golden in spots, watching to prevent burning, about 3 minutes. Cut pie into wedges; serve immediately.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PIE WITH GRAHAM CRACKER AND PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, pecans, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the salt and butter in a food processor and pulse in short bursts until well combined.
• Scoop the graham cracker mixture into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the mixture into an even layer, covering the bottom and sides of the pan.
• Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake until set, about 15 minutes. Set aside on a rack to cool.
• Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, making sure to completely incorporate each egg before adding the next. Add the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and beat until smooth.
• Transfer the pumpkin mixture to the cooled crust, place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until firm in the center, about 50 minutes. Remove and cool on a rack. Refrigerate until completely chilled before serving, about 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH CUSTARD PIE WITH A PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Season the squash with olive oil and salt. Place on a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour. Remove and cool completely. Place the pie shell in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pie crust from the oven and cool. Peel away the skin and remove the center seeds of the roasted butternut squash. Place the squash in a large mixing bowl. Mash the squash until smooth. Add the cane syrup, the sugar, pinch of salt, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well. Add the eggs and egg yolks and mix well. Stir in the milk and whisk well. Pour into the pie shell. Cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 25 minutes, until the center is slightly firm. Remove and cool on a wire rack. The pie will still continue to cook while cooling. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled. Slice into individual servings and place on serving plates. Garnish with a drizzle of Caramel sauce and a dollop of Spiced Cream.

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.

SWEET POTATO PECAN PIE WITH HOMEMADE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

Steps:

• Combine the first four ingredients; press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Pour into crust. Bake for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in another bowl, combine the pecans, coconut, brown sugar, oats, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over pie; bake for 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and topping is golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

PECAN PIE CRUST LOW CARB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a food processor, process pecans on high until they are a fine meal. Add the Truvia, cinnamon & salt. Pulse a few times.
• While food processor is running on low, add the melted butter & egg white until dough is completely blended & clumped together.
• Lightly spray pie pan with Pam. Add the dough & cover with a piece of plastic wrap. Using your fingers or the bottom of a glass, gently press to cover the bottom & sides of the pie pan. Remove the plastic wrap.
• Bake the crust for 10 minutes. It will puff a bit in the middle but will flatten again as it cools. If you use this crust for a baked pie, when you bake it again cover the edges with foil so that it doesn't over-brown.

PECAN PIE WITH CREAM CHEESE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Set aside 16 pecan halves for garnish; coarsely chop remaining pecans. Stir together eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined. Stir in chopped pecans, and pour mixture into prepared piecrust, spreading evenly. Garnish edges with remaining pecan halves.
• Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake, rotating halfway through, until filling is just set and crust is golden brown, about 90 minutes. (Tent with foil if nuts are getting too dark.) Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely.

CHOCOLATE, PECAN, AND PUMPKIN SEED PIE WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST

Steps:

• Make the crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Pulse gingersnaps, pecans, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Add butter and pulse until dough sticks together when pressed. Transfer to pie pan and press evenly into bottom and up sides with a flat measuring cup. Bake crust until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Make the filling:
• Spread pecans and pumpkin seeds on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast in 350°F oven until warmed through and lightly fragrant, 5 minutes; let cool.
• Meanwhile, heat butter, chocolate, and cream in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (bottom of bowl should not touch water), stirring, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Whisk eggs and brown sugar in a large bowl until frothy. Whisk in salt and 1/4 cup molasses until smooth, then slowly add chocolate mixture, whisking constantly, until combined. Stir in half of toasted pecans and pumpkin seeds. Pour mixture into prepared crust. Arrange remaining pecans and pumpkin seeds evenly over filling.
• Bake pie until filling is set around the edges but jiggles slightly in the center when shaken, 25-30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk remaining 1 Tbsp. molasses and 1 tsp. water in a small bowl.
• Remove pie from oven and transfer to a wire rack. Using pastry brush, immediately brush surface with molasses mixture to glaze; let cool before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Pie can be made 1 day ahead; store at room temperature.

MIXED BERRY PIE WITH PECAN-ORANGE LATTICE CRUST

Steps:

• Finely grind pecans in processor. Add 2 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, grated orange peel and salt and process until well blended. Add butter and process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Using on/off turns, blend in enough water by tablespoonfuls to form moist clumps. Gather dough together and divide into 2 pieces, 1 slightly larger than the other. Flatten into disks; wrap each disk in plastic and chill 1 hour. (Dough can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let dough soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Combine 1 1/3 cups sugar, orange marmalade, cornstarch, orange peel and allspice in large bowl. Add all berries and toss gently.
• Roll out larger dough disk on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer dough to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 1 1/2 inches.
• Roll out remaining dough disk on floured surface to 12-inch round. Cut dough into fourteen 1/2-inch-wide strips.
• Mound filling in crust. Arrange 7 dough strips atop filling, spacing evenly. Form lattice by placing remaining dough strips atop and at right angle to first 7 strips. Trim ends of dough strips even with overhang of bottom crust. Fold strip ends and overhang under, pressing to seal and forming high-standing rim. Brush lattice with egg glaze. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Line baking sheet with foil; place on bottom of oven under rack to catch any drippings. Place pie on rack and bake until crust is golden brown and filling bubbles thickly, covering crust edge with aluminum foil if browning too quickly, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer pie to rack to cool. Serve pie slightly warm or at room temperature.

SWEET-POTATO PIE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour 10" pie plate, knocking out excess flour.
• Toss together all crust ingredients in a bowl with a fork until crumbs are moistened, then press evenly over bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake crust 6 minutes, then cool on a rack.
• Make filling:.
• Increase oven temperature to 400°F.
• Prick each sweet potato once with a fork. Roast in a foil-lined shallow baking pan until tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 375°F Halve potatoes lengthwise and cool.
• While potatoes cool, cook sugar in a dry 8-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar melts into a deep golden caramel. Remove from heat. Carefully pour water down side of skillet (mixture will bubble and steam vigorously), then return to heat and simmer, stirring, until hardened caramel is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
• When potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel, then cut away any eyes or dark spots. Purée potatoes in a food processor until smooth, then add eggs, cinnamon, and salt and blend until smooth. Add milk, caramel, rum, and vanilla, and blend until combined well.
• Pour filling into crust. Bake until filling 2 inches from edge is slightly puffed and center trembles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes (top may crack; filling will continue to set as it cools). If the crust begins to brown too much before the filling is done, crimp a ring of foil or use a pie shield to protect it. Cool pie on rack about 1 hour.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Cooks' notes:.
• • Crust can be made 2 days ahead and cooled completely, then kept, covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature.
• • Sweet potatoes can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before peeling.

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE WITH PECAN-SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 375°F. Toast pecans on a rimmed baking sheet until fragrant and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes, then finely grind in a food processor. Add flour and salt to food processor and pulse just to combine.
• In a bowl, stir together butter and granulated sugar; stir in egg yolk. Add flour-pecan mixture and stir until mixture has the texture of fine crumbs and holds together when pressed between two fingers. Press evenly into bottom and up sides of an 8 1/4-by-11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Freeze pan 15 minutes, then transfer to oven and bake until set and deep golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool 15 minutes.
• Filling: Meanwhile, in a saucepan, whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in egg yolks, then milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in butter. Pour filling into crust and let cool 15 minutes. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of filling and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
• Pecans: Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. In a small bowl, stir together pecans, sugar, salt, and egg white. Spread mixture into an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring once, until golden brown and crunchy, about 15 minutes. Separate clumped nuts with a fork; let cool completely. Pecans can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
• To serve pie, remove plastic wrap, then sides of pan; transfer pie to a platter. Decorate with sugared pecans, cut into squares, and serve.

GINGERSNAP PECAN PIE CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F
• 2. Butter the bottom of 9" pie plate. Lightly sprinkle flour in bottom of pie plate and shake around the sides until the plate is very lightly coated. Shake out any loose flour.
• 3. Place gingersnap cookies into a ziploc bag and using a rolling pin, crush cookies until they are a fine crumb consistency.
• 4. In a medium bowl, combine the Gingersnap cookie crumbs with your finely chopped pecans and sugar, stirring with a spoon until they appear blended evenly. Melt remaining unused butter. Combine with pecan/ gingersnap mixture.
• 5. Pour pie crust mixture into pie plate. Using a metal measuring cups or fingers press crumbs to form along the top rim, sides and bottom of the pie plate evenly.
• 6. If using for pies that will be baked, place crust in preheated oven for 6 minutes, followed by adding your pie filling and baking further. If used for pies that are not baked additionally, you will want to bake the crust for approximately 15 minutes or until browned lightly to preference.

LEMON ICE CREAM PIE WITH PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• For Lemon Curd: Whisk eggs and egg yolks in medium bowl. Melt butter in medium metal bowl set over large saucepan of simmering water. Whisk in sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, and salt; gradually whisk in egg mixture. Whisk until thick and thermometer inserted into curd registers 178-180 degrees F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl. Press plastic wrap on top of curd; chill 4 hours. (this can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.).
• For Crust: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix pecans, sugar and butter in medium bowl until moistened. Press pecan mixture onto the bottom and up sides of a 9-inch diameter glass pie dish (mixture will be crumbly). Bake until crust is lightly toasted, about 12 minutes (crust will slip down sides of dish). Use back of spoon to press crust back into place. Cool crust on rack. Freeze crust 30 minutes.
• To put it all together: Put ice cream over frozen crust; spread into even layer, spread lemon curd over ice cream; freeze about 2 hours, until firm. Or for a prettier pie, put 1 1/2 cups ice creams then 1/2 the lemon curd, then rest of ice cream and top with remainder of lemon curd.
• When ready to serve, spread whipped topping over lemon curd.