16 Best Ways To Elevate Homemade Pecan Pie

Whether it's the holidays or you're just craving some warmth and comfort in a pie form, pecan pie is always a reliable option. Sweet, nutty, and multi-textured, nothing beats a perfectly baked pecan pie straight out of the oven. You can always follow a standard recipe, but when it comes to a dessert as beloved as this one, there are many ways you can upgrade the classic version. With a few creative ideas, you can take your pecan pie game to a whole new level.

We've collected some of our favorite ways to elevate pecan pie, ranging from simple swaps to major upgrades. Browse through these ideas and give them a try, or use them as inspiration to go wild the next time you make a pecan pie. So, turn on the oven, line your pie pan, and get ready to bake the most incredible pecan pie you've ever made.

Let's be honest; many pecan pies are way too sweet. If you have a serious sweet tooth, that's not a problem, but if you tend to prefer more balanced, less sugary desserts, then a traditional pecan pie may not hit the spot. If you fall into the second group, you may want to consider adding a savory component to your pie, and our advice is to use bacon fat in the pie crust.

Bacon fat and pecan pie may not sound like a match made in heaven, but trust us — this flavor combo really works. You get the salty, umami bacon quality while still harnessing the sweetness concentrated in the filling. When these flavors come together, they create a well-balanced pie with complementary elements.

There's one thing to keep in mind, though. Your best bet is to refrigerate the bacon fat before you incorporate it into the pie crust. This way, it will function more like butter than oil, resulting in a much better texture.

Pies traditionally come in a round form, and you're most likely to find and bake a version using this classic format. However, this doesn't mean that you can't diverge from tradition and capture the pecan pie flavors you love in a different shape. Why not turn your average pecan pie into snackable pecan pie bars? There are a few different reasons we love making pies in this shape. First of all, you can make a bigger batch, which is ideal if you're feeding a crowd. Additionally, using this method may help you avoid the overcooked edges and the undercooked center that are so common when baking a pie.

Plus, you don't have to go through the finicky process of cramming the crust into a round pie dish. Just use a standard baking dish, and you'll have pecan pie bars that everyone will crave this holiday season.

Have you ever tried a pecan pie that just tasted ... off? If so, there's a good chance that it was made with stale pecans. You may assume you can keep pecans in your pantry for an unlimited period, but that's not true. As pecans are high in fat, they can go bad relatively quickly. In fact, if you want the best results, you should only keep pecans in your pantry for about three months before tossing them out.

This is why it's important to make sure you're using the freshest possible pecans. Buy them new, then store them correctly. Fresh pecans will last in the fridge longer than in the pantry. And if you really want to keep your pecans as fresh as possible, it's best to freeze them. Then, whenever you're ready to make another pecan pie, you can thaw them and use them immediately. That way, you'll never make a stale pecan pie again.

When it comes to baking, most people assume that everything tastes better if it's made from scratch. In many cases, this is true, but it's not the whole story. Some desserts may be at their best when you utilize store-bought ingredients. Ina Garten, known for her supreme cooking, baking, and hosting skills, has revealed that her pecan pie recipe tastes better with a store-bought crust.

Preparing your own pie crust can be tricky, especially if you don't bake on a regular basis. There are many ways you can ruin your pie crust, and using a store-bought version negates that concern. Additionally, using a store-bought crust is going to save you a lot of time and energy you can use for other dishes you're putting on the table. So, why not take a shortcut, especially if it's going to yield more delicious results? We're going to follow Garten's lead here.

There are many things to think about when you're making a pecan pie. We tend to focus on the crust, the filling, and the topping as the most important parts, and it is sometimes easy to forget those small, seemingly insignificant steps. But in some cases, those small details can instantly upgrade your classic recipe. That's certainly the case when it comes to toasting your pecans before adding them to the pie filling. It may seem like a superfluous step, but it can seriously enhance the flavor of your pie, offering a sweeter, more complex flavor profile.

Luckily, toasting pecans is easier than it seems. All you have to do is spread your chopped pecans onto a baking sheet and cook them in the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. When done, they'll be more flavorful and transform your pie into a seriously special dessert. And a bonus? Roasted pecans will make your kitchen smell incredible.

Some people have a serious sweet tooth, but others may not enjoy an overwhelming sweetness in their desserts — even in the classic pecan pie. If you fall into the latter category, you may have sometimes wondered how to make your pecan pie seem less sweet on the palate. Surprisingly, it is easy to cut through that signature sweetness. Besides incorporating bacon fat into your pie crust, there's an even easier way to deal with sugary flavor, and it only requires some sea salt.

Sweet and salty flavors generally go well together, which is why a dessert as sweet as pecan pie can use some salt to put things in balance. You don't have to do anything too complicated, just sprinkle some salt onto your pie before you serve it. For the best results, use flaky sea salt, which will add some texture and crunch.

If you absolutely love pecans, then there's nothing better than a classic pecan pie. But for a lot of people, all that pecan flavor — if it has nothing to balance it out — ends up tasting bland after just a few bites. Once you take into account that pecan pies are sometimes too soft, it becomes clear why your guests are reaching for the pumpkin or apple pie instead of the pecan variety.

Luckily, there's an easy way to make your pecan pie taste more interesting and to give it an unexpectedly delicious toothsome texture. Just add some coconut flakes to the pie filling. Coconut flakes don't change anything about how you'll bake your pie, but they will add a lovely tropical nuance and amp up the texture of your dessert. This is an addition that's surprisingly simple but packs impressively tasty results.

Nut-based desserts can be spectacular, but if you're a chocolate lover, nothing beats a chocolate-laden sweet course. You may not think that pecan pie and chocolate go together, but that's where you're wrong. There are several different ways you can incorporate chocolate into your pecan pie, but one of our favorites is to line the pie crust with dark chocolate before adding the filling. Use melted dark chocolate to cover the inside of your crust, making sure to create a thin layer so it's easy to cut through. You also don't want that chocolate flavor to be overwhelming. Put the pie crust in the fridge to set before you add the rest of the filling.

Lining your pie crust can be a challenge, but the payoff is worth it. Not only will you get some chocolate in every bite, but that layer of chocolate will also create a lovely snap when you bite into it.

Adding salty or umami flavors is a great way to balance your pecan pie if you tend to enjoy desserts that combine sweet and savory flavors. However, that's not the only way to give your pecan pie a flavorful twist. You can also use a subtly spicy element to create a more complex flavor profile. If you ask us, ancho chile may be the best addition to make a less-than-traditional pecan pie version.

Ancho chile powder is made from dried poblano peppers, and it offers a subtle, smoky heat that coats the back of your mouth. It's not super spicy, but it has just enough heat that it perfectly complements the sweetness of the other ingredients. There are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you'll want to stick with ancho chile powder specifically — other types may not work here. Secondly, no matter how much you love that spice, you'll want to go easy on it in your pecan pie. Too much can quickly create a weirdly smoky and oddly spicy dessert.

Pecan pie is already rich, sweet, and inviting, particularly when it's cold outside and you're craving a comforting dessert. However, one popular ingredient can take the things to a whole new level. That ingredient is caramel, which is an incredible topper for a pecan pie. To make this upgrade, you don't have to do anything different during the baking process, but once your pecan pie comes out of the oven and cools, it's time to add that drizzle.

You can use store-bought caramel or make one from scratch, depending on how much time you have. Just drizzle it over the top of the pie, making sure not to concentrate too much at one spot. For a more balanced, less sweet dessert, it's better to use salted caramel. The salty nuances can easily balance the sweetness and provide more complexity.

If you look up recipes for a classic pecan pie, you'll notice one ingredient popping up over and over again (besides pecans, of course). That ingredient is corn syrup, and it's considered a staple in many, if not most, pecan pie recipes. While corn syrup can make for a deeply flavorful pie, it's not the only type of syrup you can use to lend sweetness and complexity. If you're looking for a slightly unconventional alternative, you can always swap it with maple syrup for a more flavorful upgrade.

Maple syrup offers the same level of sweetness and a similar consistency, which makes it a great corn syrup swap in pecan pie recipes. Plus, it can infuse the pie with the signature maple flavor that you typically reserve for morning waffles and pancakes. Whether you simply don't have corn syrup on hand or you're interested in switching up your favorite pecan pie recipe, this is an upgrade you should experiment with.

Sometimes, pecan pie can taste monotonous. If you get tired of eating a pie after only a few bites, there may not be enough going on in terms of flavor. But you don't have to head to the grocery store to pick up a ton of ingredients to add more flavor to your pecan pie, just reach out for cinnamon. We love to add this popular spice as easy to incorporate and adds a warming, comforting flavor to a classic pie. Use regular ground cinnamon to give your pie a whole new flavor dimension.

Cinnamon isn't traditionally included in pecan pie recipes, but it blends well with the warm, sweet flavors you'll usually find in this pie. We like to add just a small amount to the filling before baking the pie. Make sure not to add too much, or it can overwhelm other, more delicate flavors.

You know when you've just finished a huge dinner full of savory dishes and you feel so stuffed you could burst? The idea of eating anything — even a slice of your favorite pie — seems questionable at that point. But then, someone mentions coffee, and after a few sips, you're ready to dig into a dessert. Coffee and pecan pie seem like a match made in heaven, which is why you should consider capturing that coffee flavor inside the pie.

This idea is easily recreated by incorporating espresso powder that imparts a beautiful coffee flavor and offers a complementary touch of bitterness. Normally, you may not be drawn to bitter nuances, but it can really help balance out the super-sweet flavor profile of an average pecan pie. This is a super easy — and super sophisticated — way to elevate your homemade pecan pie.

You may not assume that pecan pie and Coca-Cola have anything to do with each other (or even go together that well), but you're wrong. In reality, Coca-Cola is a delicious addition to a basic pecan pie recipe. The idea here isn't to capture the carbonation as it's not going to matter once you stir in the other ingredients. It all comes down to flavor. That rich, caramel-like note in Coke can add sweetness and complexity to your pie.

For the best results, use Mexican Coke. Mexican Coke tastes differently as it contains real cane sugar, giving your pie a better, less artificial flavor. Combine Coca-Cola with white sugar to provide your pie with the sweetness it needs. Simmer the combination on the stove until it's reduced down to a syrup-like consistency, and use it in place of corn syrup in your pie recipe. Then, pour yourself a glass of the bubbly stuff. You've earned it!

In its basic form, pecan pie is an amazing dessert, but if you prefer chocolate-based sweets, it does not check all the boxes. Luckily, even though it diverges from grandma's original recipe, it's easy to incorporate chocolate into this classic by adding a handful of chocolate chips. We like using dark chocolate for a few reasons. First, it's more bitter than the lighter milk chocolate, which will help balance out the sweetness. Dark chocolate also offers incredible richness and complexity that will make the pie more appealing even for those who like to stick to classic flavors. 

Once you decide on the chocolate variety, you have to think about what kind of texture you want in your pie. For well-distributed chocolate pieces, go for tiny chocolate chips, but if you want more texture, opt for large chips or use chocolate chunks. These larger pieces will provide some texture and ooze a beautiful chocolate flavor when you bite into them.

Pecan pie is fun on its own, but the dessert party starts when you add bourbon to the mix. There are several ways how to incorporate bourbon, but perhaps the best way to do it is to presoak the pecans in bourbon before you add them to the filling. This will give your pie some added weight and complexity, with just a bit of a boozy edge to keep things interesting.

But don't stop there. You can also add bourbon straight to your pie filling, and don't worry — most of that alcohol should cook off in the oven. You can also reserve some of those bourbon-infused pecans for the top of the pie for an additional boozy kick. If you really want to take things to the next level, try making some bourbon-infused whipped cream by combining whipped cream with bourbon and sweeteners.