Meaningful Eats
The Best Gluten-Free Pecan Pie
8 servings
Using my favorite gluten-free sour cream pie crust and a rich, gooey pecan filling, this gluten-free pecan pie is a holiday classic everyone will love! Made with toasted pecans and a sweet, caramel-like flavor, it's perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion.
Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST:
- 8 tablespoons (113g) butter
- 3 tablespoons ice water
- 1 ½ tablespoons sour cream
- 1 ½ teaspoons distilled white vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (169g) gluten-free measure-for-measure flour
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoons kosher salt
FOR THE FILLING:
- 6 tablespoons (85g) butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup (213g) brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup (180ml) light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (260g) whole pecans, toasted and chopped into small pieces
Instructions
For the Crust:
- Cut the butter into small ¼-inch pieces and freeze for 10-15 minutes.
- Combine the ice water, sour cream, and vinegar in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and set aside.
- Process the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor until combined. Scatted the butter over top and pulse until the butter is the size of large peas, about 10 pulses.
- Add the sour cream mixture and pulse until the mixture begins to clump around the blade, about 10 pulses. (If the mixture doesn't clump after 10 pulses no worries! Pour it into a bowl and smash together with your hands to form a ball.)
- Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Gather into a a flat disc and wrap tightly in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 2 days.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- If you refrigerated the dough longer than 1 hour, let the dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling. Roll the pie crust out between 2 large pieces of plastic wrap, to ¼ inch thickness.
- After rolling, remove the top piece of plastic wrap and flip into a 9-inch pie plate. Gently ease the dough into the edges of the pan before removing the 2nd piece of plastic wrap. Trim any excess edges with scissors and shape the edges as desired.
- Wrap the shaped pie crust loosely in plastic and place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Prick the sides and bottom with a fork and line entire shell with heavy-duty aluminum foil, pressing foil firmly against shell. Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes until the pie crust is golden. Reduce the oven temperature to 275F.
- (Note: You want the pie crust to be warm when you add the filling, so I recommend making the filling while the pie crust cooks.)
For the Filling:
- Make sure your pecans are toasted. You can toast the pecans at 350F for 4-6 minutes or until you start to smell them. Then chop into small pieces once they've cooled.
- To make the filling you'll need a double boiler or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water. This helps the filling not to overcook.
- Melt the butter in medium heatproof bowl set on top of a pot of simmering water. The water should not touch the bowl. Remove the bowl and add the sugar, eggs, corn syrup and salt. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients, beat to combine then return the bowl to the hot water.
- Stir until the mixture is shiny and warm to the touch, about 130 degrees. Remove from heat the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla. (I use a candy thermometer to check this.)
For the Pie:
- Pour the pecan mixture into the warm pie shell. Bake at 275F until center feels set yet soft, like gelatin, when gently pressed, 50 to 60 minutes.
- Transfer pie to a wire rack and let cool completely, at least 4 hours. Serve topped with whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Gluten-Free: This crust needs a gluten-free measure-for-measure flour that includes xanthan gum to get the right results. I like to use King Arthur! Other flour types, like almond or coconut, hydrate differently and would require a recipe designed for them.
Dairy-Free: I've tried to make this one dairy-free, but I find that both the crust and filling need real butter for the right flavor and texture.
To Make-Ahead: The crust can be made up to 2 days in advance and wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
To Store: Cover leftovers and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
To Freeze: I don't typically freeze this pie since freezing and thawing can impact the texture of the filling.
Nutrition
Calories: 626kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 729IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg