Patty Maes Pecan Pie Recipes

Steps:

• For the crust: Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.
• Alternatively, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade and bring the dough together by hand.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan and trim the edges, leaving about an extra inch hanging over the edge. Tuck the overhanging dough underneath itself to form a thick
• edge that is even with the rim. Flute the edge as desired. Freeze the pie shell for 30 minutes.
• Arrange the racks in the center and lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Put a piece of parchment paper or foil over the pie shell and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on a baking sheet on the center rack until the dough is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift the sides of the parchment to remove the beans. Continue baking until the pie shell is lightly golden brown, about 10 more minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• While the crust is baking make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and, stirring constantly, continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts, bourbon and vanilla. Set it aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. (If the crust has cooled, return it to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.) Whisk the beaten eggs into the filling until smooth. Put the pie shell on a baking sheet and pour the filling into the hot crust.
• Bake on the lower rack until the edges are set but the center is still slightly loose, 40 to 45 minutes. (If the edges get very dark, cover them with aluminum foil half way during baking.) Cool on a wire rack. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, water, and cornstarch. Bring to a full boil, and remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Gradually beat in cooked syrup mixture. Stir in salt, vanilla, and pecans. Pour into pie shell.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until filling is set.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Sift the flour and salt together into a large bowl.
• Using only your fingertips, pinch the cubes of butter into the flour, breaking up the butter as you go, until no large lumps remain. Shake the bowl to coax the large chunks of butter to the surface.
• Mix the egg yolks and ice water together in a small bowl with a fork until evenly combined.
• Add the liquid to the flour mixture, reserving ¼ or so in case you don't need all of it--you don't want the pastry to be too wet. Quickly mix everything together with a fork until the dough just starts to come together. Add more liquid to the driest parts of the dough if needed. The dough is ready when it holds together in a ball when squeezed in your palm.
• Transfer the dough to a clean surface and bring together in a disc. Wrap the dough disc in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 days.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Lightly flour a clean surface and unwrap the disc of chilled dough. Flour the top of the dough. Start to roll out the dough, turning every few rolls.. If any cracks form, smush them back together. Roll out the dough to a circle about ⅛-inch (3 mm) thick and place into a 9-inch (22 cm) pie dish. Trim any excess dough around the sides, then crimp the edges in a decorative pattern.
• Place a piece of parchment in the center of the pie crust and add the pie weights or dried beans. 9. Bake for 15 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
• Make the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together 1½ cups (185 G) pecans, corn syrup, eggs, sugar, vanilla, melted butter, and salt.
• Carefully lift the parchment with the pie weights from the par-baked pie crust, then pour in the filling. Arrange the remaining ½ cup (62 G) pecans in concentric circles on top.
• Return the pie to the oven for 20 minutes, then cover with a piece of foil and continue baking for 40 minutes, until the filling is completely set. Let the pie cool completely.
• Slice and serve the pie chilled or at room temperature.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12-inch circle, and transfer to a 9-inch metal pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, crimping the edges. Transfer crust to the freezer for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• When ready to bake, place a rimmed baking sheet on the middle oven rack and heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Heat a small saucepan and melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden brown and the butter smells nutty and toasty, about 5 minutes. Add maple syrup to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and reduces slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and whisk honey into the warm syrup mixture. Let cool at least 10 minutes.
• While the syrup mixture cools, combine sugars, eggs, bourbon (if using), vanilla and salt in a large mixing bowl. Gradually pour syrup mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly, then use a rubber spatula to scrape in all the brown bits at the bottom of the pot.
• Remove pie crust from freezer and place pecans along the bottom of the crust. Carefully pour the filling over the pecans. Place pie plate on the hot sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to bake for another 35 to 45 minutes, until the center of the pie has puffed up and turned golden brown.
• Transfer pie to a wire cooling rack, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if you like, and allow to cool for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Melt Karo syrup, brown sugar, and butter together in a saucepan over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.
• Place eggs in a mixing bowl and beat until broken up.
• Slowly whisk the syrup mixture into the eggs.
• Add the salt, bourbon, vanilla extract, and cinnamon; whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Stir in pecans, making sure all the pecans are completely immersed in the liquid.
• Pour filling into the prepared pie shell.
• Bake for about 45 minutes, until the crust is baked through and the filling is set and well puffed in the center.
• Cool the pie on a rack and serve warm or at room temperature.