When it comes to making pie, I have two major criteria: And guess what? This pecan pie is definitely those two things. Excuse me, I mean, this chocolate pecan pie. Because why make a pecan pie without the chocolate? This picture here is proof of number 1 – you can just tell it’s going to be a darn good piece of pie: This is the pie for those of you intimated by making pie. I promise you, this pecan pie is a really simple recipe.
Pecan pie made with maple syrup
It’s true; there’s no corn syrup in this pecan pie recipe but trust me when I say that this pie is still incredibly decadent. You won’t miss a thing. Rather than use corn syrup, my recipe calls for a combination of maple syrup and brown sugar (or coconut sugar). My recipe also calls for pecans, butter, eggs, and chocolate chips. And we can’t forget the vanilla extract, which adds great flavor and aroma. I also suggest adding a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch to help thicken the filling. When I first shared this recipe on the blog, I did not include cornstarch in the ingredients list, but I’ve realized that I prefer this pie when the filling is a bit more set, and cornstarch helps to do that. Since we use maple syrup, which is thinner and less viscous than corn syrup, we need something to help thicken it up a bit, and corn starch does the trick.
Homemade Pie Crust vs. Store-bought:
My homemade pie crust is very easy to make. There’s no need to roll out any dough; just make the crust in a food processor and press it into a pie pan. My pie crust happens to be gluten-free, grain-free and nut-free, making it perfect for any guests with allergies. That said, storebought pie crust works just as well. I’ve made this pecan pie using the frozen (gluten-free) pie crusts from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Wegmans, and they’re all great. One thing to know when using a storebought crust: it may seem like all of the maple sauce won’t fit in the crust, but it will. Just be patient and pour slowly, wait for it to settle, then continue pouring. I once made this chocolate pecan pie for a Friendsgiving party, and it went faster than pumpkin pie, which I think is pretty telling. This past Thanksgiving, we skipped pumpkin pie altogether and made this pecan pie instead. It’s always a hit with my family (especially my husband, who loves pecan pie). I can’t wait to hear what you and your friends/family think of this chocolate pecan pie! Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
