Bourbon Pecan Pie

Name: Bourbon Pecan Pie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 7 Pieces
Ingredients: 1, 9 1/2" Blind Baked Pie Crust ((use the leftovers for decorations)*); 1 C Brown Rice Syrup (344g); 2/3 C Light Brown Sugar (136g); 2 Tbs Unsalted Butter (room temperature); 1 Tbs Molasses; 1/4 C Bourbon (52g); 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract; 1 1/2 C Pecan Halves (184g); 3 Eggs (room temperature, beaten)

By Traci 99 Comments

Bourbon Pecan Pie, made with just a touch of bourbon, molasses, and butter with the flakiest homemade pie dough is a favorite anytime of year.

Oh, it’s been one of those weeks. I’m not sure if it’s the change in season, the stormy weather or if I’m coming down with a little something. I just seem to be running in circles, not accomplishing what I’ve set out to do. Do you know what I mean?

One thing I have going for me is this Bourbon Pecan Pie. Finally, something worked! But before we talk pecan pie, I’ve got a few pics to share with y’all from our California trip.

A Trip to California for a Birthday Celebration

Rob and I headed out to California late last month, for a bit of birthday celebration and get-a-way. First to San Fran to say a quick hello to the gorgeous bridge and environs and to meet Kelly at the famed Tartine Bakery. Have you been? It was such a delight to meet Kelly, whose blog I discovered last year, for the first time. We sipped wine and champagne over some outrageous hot pressed sandwiches, I’m determined to recreate for y’all because I know you love sandwiches, and chatted for as long as possible, but not long enough.

Rob and I left with an armful of brownies, chocolate croissants and dark chocolate mousse cake (gah!). We had a long drive ahead and I had to do some blog research, right?

Enjoying Nature

That evening we drove to Pacific Grove where we stayed in a little AirBnB that was cozy and comfortable. This was our jumping off point for days of birding, hiking, picnicking and ocean gazing. We didn’t even make it to a winery!

Rob and I haul our binoculars with us everywhere and keep lists of birds we spot. We study their behavior and listen to them by ear. One spectacular sighting was a California Condor, the largest bird in North America with a wingspan of nearly 10′. Their numbers had plummeted to a mere 23 individuals in the early 1980s. To avert extinction, a captive breeding program was started and brought their numbers back to around 400 individuals. This is nowhere near their historic numbers, but an improvement nevertheless.

A Little Recipe Research

Each morning we’d plan the day, pack a lunch and spend the days out exploring and hiking. We visited Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, a gem just outside of Carmel supported by an educated and loyal group of volunteer docents. We made our way down the twisting coast on highway 101 through Big Sur, over Bixby Bridge and stopped along the way at Big Sur Bakery to recharge, and do a bit more research.

There were plenty of gasps from the views, waves crashing and quick turnouts to catch a glimpse of a flock of Brown Pelicans, a pod of Sea Lions or to watch the fog roll in from above. Julia Pfeiffer State Park was breath-taking. We spent most of Rob’s birthday there. Hiking. Gazing. Listening.

And now to this bourbon pecan pie!

What you’ll need for the Bourbon Pecan Pie Recipe:

Most pecan pie recipes use corn syrup to sweeten and thicken it. I’ve made this pecan pie without corn syrup, but it tastes just as fabulous as the most traditional versions out there!

The bourbon is bold, but not overwhelming. I like to whip out the booze during the holiday season, both in baking and in drinking, especially Bourbon; one of my favorite libations to bake with.

My love of pecan pie runs deep. Growing up, it was always on the holiday table, without the bourbon of course. Ma used to serve it with whip cream. Us kids, all four of us, would haggle over the leftovers. It was always over the top sweet. We loved it.

Tips and Variations:

As an adult, I find pecan pie usually to be overly sweet because of the corn syrup and added sugar. In this bourbon pecan pie, I’ve left out the corn syrup in favor of brown rice syrup and use brown sugar in place of white with a bit less of it than in some recipes I’ve seen. I prefer brown rice syrup over corn, given the issues surrounding GMOs.
Bourbon Pecan Pie is best made one day ahead of serving so the rich, custard filling has time to cool and set. Be ready with a homemade All Butter Buttermilk Pie Dough, which can be made in advance of whippin’ up this boozy treat. Gently reheat the pie and serve it with sweetened vanilla bean whip cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a melty, texturally tantalizing experience!

For a dairy and egg free version of this pie, try my Vegan Bourbon Pecan Pie with Coconut Oil Pie Crust!

How to Make Bourbon Pecan Pie:

This recipe starts with making the syrup. On medium-low heat, mix the brown rice syrup and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Be careful not to let the mixture come to a boil. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, molasses, bourbon, and vanilla. Let this mixture cool to room temperature.

It’s now time to toast the pecan halves. At a temperature of 325F (163C), toast the pecans for about 10-12 minutes until lightly toasted. Next, arrange the pecans, tops up, in the bottom of the pie.

Once the brown rice syrup mixture has come to room temp, whisk in the eggs. Gently pour the sugar-egg mixture over the pecans.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, turning 1/2 way through the baking. You can tell when it’s done when the center is just set but still slightly soft. If the crust starts to get dark, place a crust protector or foil over the edges.

Remove from the oven and cool overnight so the custard has time to set. Cover when completely cool and store at room temperature for up to three days.

Tips for the Extra Dough:

The leftover pie dough is perfect for making leaves or other shapes to lay on the edges of your pie.

Cut shapes, freeze for about 5 minutes, then ‘glue’ them to the edge of the crust using some egg wash. Be sure to also egg wash the top of the decorative pieces.

When You’re Ready to Eat:

Place in a 325F oven for about 8 minutes
Cutting this pie can be tricky. Use a sharp knife and firm pressure when cutting, dipping your knife in hot water and wiping it dry before cutting will help make a clean edge.
Serve with ice cream

Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below! And make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!

Southern Style Bourbon Pecan is rich, buttery and sweetened with dark brown sugar and brown rice syrup cradled in an all butter buttermilk pastry. | Vanilla And Bean

4.67 from 15 votes