Best Pecan Crust Recipes

PECAN NUT CRUST

Steps:

• Stir together ground nuts, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix in melted butter.
• Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch, deep-dish style, pie pan. Chill the unbaked crust in the refrigerator for about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Place pie crust on a cookie sheet, and position on the middle rack of a preheated 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. WATCH it carefully, as nut crusts burn easily; they DON'T have to turn black to taste burnt! Cool completely before filling.

PECAN PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place pecans in food processor; grind until fine.
• Add melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla and water.
• Continue processing till mixture begins falling off sides of bowl.
• Press into 9-inch pie pan.
• Bake at 325° for 20 minutes or microwave at full power for 6 minutes.

PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make Crust:
• In a food processor grind gingersnaps, pecans, and sugar fine and add butter, blending until combined well. Press mixture onto bottom and up side of a 9-inch (1-quart) glass pie plate. Bake crust in middle of oven 15 minutes, or until crisp and golden around edge, and cool on rack.
• Make filling:
• In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over brandy, rum, or water and let stand.
• In a heavy saucepan whisk together milk, brown sugar, yolks, pumpkin, spices, and salt and cook over moderately low heat, whisking, until mixture registers 160°F. on a candy thermometer. Remove pan from heat and immediately add gelatin mixture, whisking until gelatin is completely dissolved.
• Transfer filling to a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and cool, stirring constantly, just until the consistency of raw egg white. Remove bowl from ice water.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until it holds stiff peaks and whisk about one fourth into filling to lighten. Fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly and pour filling into crust. Chill pie until set, at least 3 hours and up to 24, covered with plastic wrap after 1 hour.
• Top each serving with whipped cream and garnish with nuts.

GROUND PECAN CRUST (LOW CARB)

Steps:

• Grind the pecans. Fine ground will help the crust hold together better, coarse gives you a crunchier crust.
• Add the Splenda to the ground nuts.
• Add the butter (softened or outright melted).
• Press mixture into a pie plate or springform pan.
• Bake for 5-10 minutes between 350 and 450, depending on how toasted you want it.
• You can also make this crust ahead of time.

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Process cookies into crumbs in a food prcessor or crush in a heavy plastic bag with a rolling pin.
• Add melted butter and mix until combined.
• Press into bottom and sides of a nine-inch pie dish.
• Bake for 10 minutes; it will feel soft, but will firm up as it cools.
• Cool completely before filling with your favorite filling.

KETO PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH ALMOND PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pulse almonds and pecans together in a food processor until ground, but not paste-like. Add sweetener and butter; pulse to combine. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.
• Blend cream cheese and 2/3 cup sweetener in food processor or with an electric mixer until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in pumpkin, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt until smooth, about 2 minutes more. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Pour batter into the prepared crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until just set in the center, or when the filling jiggles but does not run, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake, cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours, until ready to serve.

4-LAYER LEMON DESSERT WITH PECAN SANDIES CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Crush Pecan Sandies with a rolling pin; add softened butter starting with one stick and if needed, add a little more; press into the bottom of a 9 x 13" ungreased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool
• 2. Mix 8 oz. cream cheese, one cup powdered sugar until well blended; fold in one cup of Cool Whip and mix well. Spread over cooled crust. Mix Lemon Instant Pudding with three cups of milk and refrigerate until it begins to set up. Spread this over the cream cheese mixture.
• 3. Spread 1 1/2 - 2 cups Cool Whip over the Lemon Pudding mixture. Crush the 3 - 4 Pecan Sandies left from the package and sprinkle over the Cool Whip. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Variations: Use Butterscotch, Pistachio, Chocolate, or Vanilla pudding instead of the Lemon; the rest of the recipe is the same. ENJOY

LEMON MERINGUE PIE WITH PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl; add butter and shortening. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water. Beat until dough holds together, adding more water by 1/2 tablespoonfuls if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap disk in waxed paper and chill until firm enough to roll, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough between sheets of waxed paper to 12-inch round. Peel off top sheet of paper. Invert dough into 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish; peel off paper. Press dough gently into dish. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch; turn under and crimp edge decoratively. Freeze crust until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until golden at edge, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans; continue to bake until crust is pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• Make filling and topping:
• Whisk 1 3/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups water and lemon juice, whisking until cornstarch dissolves and mixture is smooth. Add yolks and peel; whisk to blend. Cook over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 8 minutes. Pour into prepared crust.
• Using electric mixer, beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff and shiny. Mound meringue atop warm lemon filling, spreading to seal to crust at edges.
• Bake pie until meringue is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool pie 1 hour. Refrigerate up to 6 hours; serve cold.

LOW-CARB PECAN PIE WITH ALMOND FLOUR CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix almond flour and 4 tablespoons melted butter together in a small bowl. Press into an ungreased 9-inch pie pan. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
• Combine sweetener, syrup, eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in pecans. Pour mixture into pie crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 45 minutes.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PIE WITH GRAHAM CRACKER AND PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, pecans, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the salt and butter in a food processor and pulse in short bursts until well combined.
• Scoop the graham cracker mixture into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the mixture into an even layer, covering the bottom and sides of the pan.
• Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake until set, about 15 minutes. Set aside on a rack to cool.
• Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, making sure to completely incorporate each egg before adding the next. Add the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and beat until smooth.
• Transfer the pumpkin mixture to the cooled crust, place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until firm in the center, about 50 minutes. Remove and cool on a rack. Refrigerate until completely chilled before serving, about 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

VEGAN PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place gingersnaps and pecans in a food processor; blend into fine crumbs. Pour in margarine gradually, pulsing until crumbs are well combined. Cover the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with about 1/2 inch of the crumbs. Pack down crumbs to form a crust.
• Place cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, tofu, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, baking soda, and salt in a food processor. Puree until very smooth. Pour into the crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheesecake is set but still jiggles in the middle when gently tapped, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate to let flavors mingle, 6 hours to overnight.

LEMON PIE WITH PECAN CRUMB CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack on lowest level. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast in the oven until golden, tossing occasionally, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• In a food processor, finely grind graham crackers, sugar, and pecans. Add the butter, and process until completely combined.
• Press mixture into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Bake until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the condensed milk. Stir in the lemon juice. Spoon filling into cooled pie crust. Bake until filling is set and crust is golden brown around the edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour.

LEMON MERINGUE ICE CREAM PIE IN TOASTED PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• For lemon curd:
• Whisk eggs and egg yolks in medium bowl. Melt butter in medium metal bowl set over large saucepan of simmering water. Whisk in sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, and salt; gradually whisk in egg mixture. Whisk until thick and thermometer inserted into curd registers 178°F to 180°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl. Press plastic wrap on top of curd; chill 4 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix pecans, sugar, and butter in medium bowl until moistened. Press pecan mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish (mixture will be crumbly). Bake until crust is lightly toasted, about 12 minutes (crust will slip down sides of dish). Use back of spoon to press crust back into place. Cool crust on rack. Freeze crust 30 minutes.
• Dollop 1 1/2 cups ice cream over crust; spread into even layer. Spread lemon curd over ice cream; freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Dollop 1 1/2 cups softened ice cream over lemon curd; spread into even layer. Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
• For meringue:
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until frothy. Beat in cream of tartar. With mixer running, gradually add sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon meringue over pie, spreading to seal at edges and swirling decoratively. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Freeze pie. Using kitchen butane torch, toast meringue until golden in spots or place pie in a preheated 500°F oven until meringue is golden in spots, watching to prevent burning, about 3 minutes. Cut pie into wedges; serve immediately.

SWEET-POTATO PIE WITH GINGERSNAP PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour pie plate, knocking out excess flour.
• Toss together all crust ingredients in a bowl with a fork until crumbs are moistened, then press evenly over bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake crust 6 minutes, then cool on a rack.
• Make filling:
• Increase oven temperature to 400°F.
• Prick each sweet potato once with a fork. Roast in a foil-lined shallow baking pan until tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Halve potatoes lengthwise and cool.
• While potatoes cool, cook sugar in a dry 8-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar melts into a deep golden caramel. Remove from heat. Carefully pour water down side of skillet (mixture will bubble and steam vigorously), then return to heat and simmer, stirring, until hardened caramel is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
• When potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel, then cut away any eyes or dark spots. Purée potatoes in a food processor until smooth, then add eggs, cinnamon, and salt and blend until smooth. Add milk, caramel, rum, and vanilla, and blend until combined well.
• Pour filling into crust. Bake until filling 2 inches from edge is slightly puffed and center trembles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes (top may crack; filling will continue to set as it cools). If the crust begins to brown too much before the filling is done, crimp a ring of foil or use a pie shield to protect it. Cool pie on rack about 1 hour.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

PUMPKIN TART WITH PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Set rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9 inch pie plate. Set aside.
• Spread nuts over a baking pan. Toast for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the smell of nuts fills the kitchen. Set aside 16 pecan halves for garnish.
• Combine oats, flour, remaining pecans, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a food processor bowl. Pulse until mixture becomes a coarse meal. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Whisk together oil and 3 tablespoons maple syrup, and mix into dry ingredients to form a soft dough. Press mixture into prepared pie plate. Crimp edges. Bake for 10 minutes, and set aside to cool.
• Blend soymilk and arrowroot in the food processor until the arrowroot is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth, about 15 seconds. Add pumpkin, 1/2 cup maple syrup, ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, and cloves; process until thoroughly blended. Pour filling into baked crust, and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned and the outside inch of the filling is set. Don't worry if the center is still soft; it firms up as the pie cools. Transfer pie to a wire the rack. Gently press toasted pecan halves into hot filling in 2 concentric circles. Cool to room temperature, and then chill until set, about 3 hours. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH CUSTARD PIE WITH A PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Season the squash with olive oil and salt. Place on a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour. Remove and cool completely. Place the pie shell in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pie crust from the oven and cool. Peel away the skin and remove the center seeds of the roasted butternut squash. Place the squash in a large mixing bowl. Mash the squash until smooth. Add the cane syrup, the sugar, pinch of salt, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well. Add the eggs and egg yolks and mix well. Stir in the milk and whisk well. Pour into the pie shell. Cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 25 minutes, until the center is slightly firm. Remove and cool on a wire rack. The pie will still continue to cook while cooling. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled. Slice into individual servings and place on serving plates. Garnish with a drizzle of Caramel sauce and a dollop of Spiced Cream.

SWEET POTATO PECAN PIE WITH HOMEMADE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

Steps:

• Combine the first four ingredients; press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Pour into crust. Bake for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in another bowl, combine the pecans, coconut, brown sugar, oats, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over pie; bake for 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and topping is golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

MILE HIGH STRAWBERRY PIE WITH PECAN CRUMB CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Mix melted butter, pecans, flour and brown sugar in medium bowl with fork until thoroughly mixed. Will be crumbly.
• Place crumb mixture onto 10x15x1" cookie sheet, carefully spreading without packing to cover pan. Bake 10-15 minutes, stirring periodically to brown crumbs and avoid burning.
• Remove crumbs from oven when lightly browned and set on cooling rack to cool, stirring periodically so that crumbs do not compact.
• Next, place egg whites, partially frozen berries and lemon juice in large mixing bowl, beating with electric mixture at high speed for 15 minutes, until filling is a pink 'cloud'.
• Fold whipped topping into strawberry mixture, carefully folding to not 'flatten' cloud.
• Spread 3/4 of crumb mixture into 9x13 pan. Fill with strawberry mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbs over top. Cover and freeze at least 4 hours, preferably day before serving. Cook time is minimum freezing time.
• Note: Can replace frozen strawberries with 2 Cups sliced fresh strawberries, macerated with 1 Cup sugar. I prefer to use frozen strawberries that are set on counter while crumbs are prepared and baked. I have also substituted Whipped Cream for frozen topping. Place in cold bowl 1 cup heavy cream, and while beating add 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Fold into strawberry cloud in step 5.
• 2nd Note: Can use two 10" deep dish pie plates instead of 9x13" pan. Makes a great dessert to take to church suppers or dessert for a meal taken to sick friend.

PECAN OATMEAL CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Toast oats in a shallow pan or electric fry pan at 350^ for 10 minutes. Combine with remaining ingredients; toss until evenly coated.
• 2. Press into sides and bottom of buttered 9-inch pie plate.Chill until firm. Great for cream pies or my Strawberry cream cheese pie.

COCONUT CREAM DESSERT WITH PECAN CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mist an 8 x 8" baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. Melt butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Stir in flour, sugar, and pecans until well-mixed.
• 2. Put crust mixture into the prepared 8 x 8" pan and even out with a large fork. (Or use your fingers. We won't tell.) =^..^=
• 3. Bake crust in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Watch closely & don't over-bake or the crust will be too hard to cut easily. Set aside to cool.
• 4. Put the coconut on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 5-7 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Watch carefully! (Don't ask me how I know this.) If the coconut is mostly browned, just stir it up and call it done. Set aside to cool.
• 5. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a mixer. Add the powdered sugar & blend well. Put the mixer away...
• 6. ...then GENTLY fold in 1 cup of Cool Whip with a large spoon. Put this in the refrigerator to stay cold while the crust and coconut cool.
• 7. Mix together the instant pudding and milk until the pudding thickens. (I just used vanilla instant pudding & folded in about 1/4 cup of the toasted coconut to the finished pudding.) Refrigerate until ready to use.
• 8. Once the crust has cooled, assemble the dessert. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Next, comes the pudding layer. Top with the remaining Cool Whip. Sprinkle toasted coconut over the Cool Whip.
• 9. Serve cold and refrigerate any leftovers. But don't expect to have any! =^..^=
• 10. OPTIONS: (1) Use homemade or prepared graham cracker crusts instead of the pecan crust. This would easily make two pies. (2) Skip the coconut altogether. (3) Consider chocolate pudding with mini chocolate chips on top instead of coconut. (4) If you don't like cream cheese, skip that layer. (5) Put banana slices between the cream cheese and vanilla pudding layers. You decide if you still want coconut in the pudding or on top. (6) Another idea if you don't like coconut, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top. If you use any options or make up even more, please post them below. We love options!