Custard Pecan Pie

While every bit as delish as the classic pie, this one has less sugar. Cane syrup, a toasty alternative to corn syrup or molasses, sweetens the pie along with brown sugar. Because the filling for the pie is wet, we brush the crust with egg white and par-bake it to create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

Custard Pecan Pie
Active Time:
40 mins
Cool Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
2 hrs 50 mins
Servings:
12
Nutrition Profile:

Ingredients

Yogurt Pie Crust

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks

  • ½ cup reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt

  • 4 tablespoons ice water

Pecan Custard Pie

  • 3 large eggs, divided

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • ½ cup buttermilk

  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar

  • ¼ cup cane syrup or dark corn syrup

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 ¾ cups pecan halves, chopped

Directions

  1. To prepare the crust: Combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and salt in a food processor; pulse several times to blend. Add butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds. Add yogurt and pulse until combined. With the motor running, add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together without being sticky or crumbly. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, shape into disks, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

  2. To assemble the pie: Preheat oven to 425°F.

  3. Remove one disk from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling. (Reserve the remaining disk for another use.) Roll pie crust into a 13-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick, on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan. Fold the overhanging pastry under itself along the rim of the pan. Press a fork around the edge or flute it by pinching with your finger and thumb to crimp the folded dough.

  4. Separate 1 egg, placing the white in a small bowl. Place the yolk in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg white with a fork until frothy. Brush the crust with the egg white. Add any remaining white to the bowl with the yolk. Bake the crust until pale golden, about 10 minutes.

  5. Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 eggs to the bowl with the yolk and white and whisk until smooth. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Add butter, buttermilk, brown sugar, cane (or corn) syrup and vanilla and whisk until well incorporated. Stir in pecans.

  6. Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Add the pecan mixture to the crust. Bake the pie until the filling is set and golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer the pie to a rack and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

Make ahead

Refrigerate crust for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, if necessary, and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling.

Refrigerate baked pie for up to 2 days.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, November 2020

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

316 Calories
22g Fat
28g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Serving Size 1 slice
Calories 316
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 5g 10%
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 73mg 24%
Vitamin A 379IU 8%
Sodium 71mg 3%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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