A Texan’s Thanksgiving table in not complete without a Pecan Pie. Our State tree, a source of pride we Texans take pecan pie pretty serious. Married 12 years, my husband not once has asked for a chocolate cake or strawberry tart for any birthday. Everyone knows, he wants Pecan Pie. As we make plans to head over to spend Thanksgiving with our family, his number one concern, will there be pecan pie? I love him!
My freezer is always stocked with pecans from Hondo, Seguin and I happily added to my collection on my way home from Houston last weekend from a roadside stand. Please use quality halves, no bits or pieces in your pie. The edges in my pie are never perfect. Tiny hands are eager to loan their fingers in helping mommy pinch the pie crust. I love it’s rustic nature where I can clearly make out each of my girls’ fingers. Enjoy!
Baking a Pecan Pie from Texas Monthly’s The Manual
November 2011
recipe courtesy of Ann Criswell
Dough
5 cups white flour
2 cups minus 3 tablespoons Crisco
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling
1/3 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
4 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
1. “The key to a great pie is great crust,” says Royer. Dissolve the salt in the water. Set aside. Using two forks, your hands, or, if you’re a kitchen gadget fanatic, a dough blender, cut the shortening into the flour until the mixture is crumbly. Add the salt water and mix until the dough pulls cleanly away from your hands (if needed, add a tablespoon or two of flour). This recipe makes three 10-inch crusts; leave out your working dough and put the other two in the freezer for later use.
2. Clear some counter space and lightly dust the surface, a rolling pin, the dough, and your hands with flour. Applying even pressure, roll out the dough with a back-and-forth motion. Give it a half turn, and repeat the process until it’s roughly 1/8 inch thick. Dust the dough, and fold it in half twice, so it forms a wedge. Place the crust in a 10-inch pie pan, and unfold it.
3. Some people crimp the crust using fork tines, but Royer simply pinches the dough between his fingers. “This is homemade, which means it doesn’t have to be perfect,” he says. “Life’s too short to make decorative leaves out of dough.”
4. Melt the butter, and combine it with the sugar, corn syrup, eggs, salt, and vanilla. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Place the pecan halves on top. (“It’s important to use the halves,” says Royer. “They taste better than the pieces.”) Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes. It’s ready when you stick a knife into the pie and it comes out clean.
I don’t think I’ve ever had pecan pie. Well, the holidays are an excuse to bake, right =P?
I love what you said about your girls’ hands and the pie crust. So sweet. I’m sure you’re an amazing mother!
xx
Oooh, I love this pecan pie. It’s my favourite too. I love your arrangement of the pecans…so neat and so tempting. I need to go and buy a big bad of pecans to make this and the rest to snack 😀
Your hubby sounds cool ;D The pecan pie looks delicious–I’ve never had any before, actually. But looking at the recipe and those photos, I think that I’d really like its texture…and taste.
What a stunning pie Bonnie! Pecans are a favorite of mine and this pie should be at every holiday table 🙂
I actually forgot that I enjoyed pecan pie once in my life. I think I had it at someone’s home and it was my very first pecan pie and I had even 2nd piece. I don’t bake pies, so I’ve been eating typical pumpkin pies and blueberry pies, etc..and until this post I nearly forgot how delicious the pecan pie was! I’m craving for it so badly! Definitely my wish for Thanksgiving this year. Your pie is absolutely gorgeous and wish I could have yours instead…(or wish I could make it).
Your pie looks deliciously gorgeous! Sadly my husband doesn’t share your hubby’s view on pecan pie. Wait it gets sadder, pecans are so rare here and there definitely isn’t any pecan pie. So sad isn’t it? hehe But seriously I want 2 huge pieces of your pie. I’ll have to settle for just drooling at it 🙂
This looks like a gorgeous pie! I would love to make this.
Your pecan pies looks like the real mcCoy! I would love to be able to make one like this. Love pecans and a good pie!
i always appreciate when cooks take the extra time to display the pecan halves so decoratively. lovely!
HEAVENLY. You could not have made a more perfect looking pie my friend! You rock and not just at the margaritas of which you are the reigning Queen 🙂
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Vianney!
This looks like heaven! I have copied the recipe and will let you know when I get it made. I have the pastry in the freezer right beside the pecans! YUM!
🙂
V
Your pie is simply GORGEOUS! I can see why it’s a favorite. My daughter, son-in-law, and their kids will be here for Thanksgiving, from Texas…Maybe I should surprise them with this pie?!? 🙂
Thanks Sue!! I am sure they would love a homemade Pecan Pie!! Have a great time with your family!
Bonnie…you have no idea how sweet I am on pecan pie…one of my top 5 favourite desserts. It’s soon high time I get one made too ;o)
Ciao for now and have a great weekend.
Claudia
Well said! One of the foods I miss most since moving to Cayman is pecan pie. For me, it’s just not the same when its made from pecans I didn’t spend hours picking up in the front yard under our massive tree. I think yours turned out beautifully! Perfect for Turkey dinner 🙂
that looks really good. i’d love a bite right now. yum!
That is a gorgeous looking pie! I have never made a pecan pie at home. Will have to try this one of these days.
Yep, its that time of year again. I have felt the pecans calling my name everytime i walk past my freezer. I store them up throughout the year to make my pies come thanksgiving and christmas. I must say I might be making this recipe this time because it looks out of this world!
I have not visited your site for so long !!! And you have a new layout 🙂 I like it.
I was reading this article abt shelling pecans and how they pronounce pecans in Texas – is it “puh-cahns”? and not “pee-cans”? ;p
What a gorgeous pecan pie! The pecan halves are perfectly placed! I’m a lazy cook so I mix the pecans in with the filling mixture, pour and hope for the best. 🙂 You should enter this pie in the state fair! (P.S. sorry for the double comment on the pepita brittle, but I guess it shows how much I love pepitas. 🙂 )
Thanks, double comments..the more the merrier, lol. It’s funny that you mention that placing of the halves, my daughter is the baker of the house. She placed each one, gotta love her!
looks perfect got a slice for me!
UAUUU!! What a fantastic pie! It looks so yummy and so love pecans!!!
Cheers,
Lia.
Bookmarked! My sister has requested a homemade pecan pie for Thanksgiving.
That is one GORGEOUS pecan pie!
The pecan pie looks fantastic!
Yum! My husband LOVES pecan pie. :).
Yes. I must agree. These Texas tables demand pecan! Can you believe I’ve never made one before? Yikes! I need to change that! Thank you for sharing with me. As always, you make me smile. I hope you are having a great week. I know I’m ready for Friday!
WOW! This is one gorgeous pie! I like this number 1 concern.
Maybe I’m a Texan at heart, because there is not many desserts that I love as much as I love Pecan Pie. This is just gorgeous and I wish I could have a fat slice with some coffee right now!
I want it. Thanks for making me hungry for pie now. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by Bonnie, cute blog!!
A marvelous pie! I am a sucker for nuts, pies and pecans.
Cheers,
Rosa
Beautiful picture of a beautiful pie. Pecan pie is one of my favorites!