Pecan Crust Pumpkin Pie

The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Traditional pumpkin pie is delicious, don't get us wrong. But we love pecans and we love pumpkin pie, so why not combine the two?! The crust is full of pecans giving it a buttery flavor (but with less butter than traditional pie crust) while contributing plenty of unsaturated fats. The filling is full of pumpkin puree, which provides beta-carotene, an antioxidant that is a precursor to vitamin A. Pumpkin also contains fiber, potassium (fun fact: one serving of pumpkin has more than a banana!), and iron. As an added bonus, we slightly decreased the sugar content of the filling to cut back on added sugar content without compromising taste. You will love this pecan crust pumpkin pie!

Three slices of pumpkin pie with pecan crust and the whole pie sitting on a linen in the upper left corner. Forks and a bowl of pecan pieces in the bottom of the picture.

Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crust Ingredient Highlights

Pumpkin - obviously this is one of the main ingredients! It's important you use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin puree is straight up pumpkin and that's it, whereas pumpkin pie filling is full of added sugars.

Filling sweetener - for the filling, we use real maple syrup or honey in lieu of white sugar. Since real maple syrup and honey are more natural, they are slightly more nutritious than processed white sugar. However, they're still sugar so consume in moderation! We found the perfect amount of sweetener to keep this healthier pumpkin pie delicious but not go overboard on added sugar.

Spices - ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice add warmth to this healthier pumpkin pie. And let's be honest, what's pumpkin pie without the spices?!

Eggs - we use a combination of whole eggs and an egg white. Egg yolks are full of nutrition (vitamin D, B12, folate, vitamin A) and egg whites are water + protein.

Milk - any type of milk can be used; we used low-fat cow's milk to give some creaminess!

Pecans - these are the star of the crust! Since pecans are high in fat (unsaturated fat though, which is better for us), they provide a lot of moisture that pie crust typically gets from butter. We still add a touch of butter because it's pie and you need some butter but we can significantly cut back on the amount.

Graham cracker crumbs - these add a slight nutty flavor to the pecan crust and also help keep the crust together. You could also use gingersnaps for a deeper spice flavor!

Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crust Recipe FAQ

What is pecan pie crust made of?

Pecan pie crust can be made of many things but the best pecan pie crust is made from pecans, graham cracker crumbs, a little bit of butter, vanilla extract, a touch of brown sugar, and salt!

Do I need to prebake my pecan crust?

Yes! This will help the crust meld together and stay crunchy once the filling is poured in and baked. We recommend baking the pecan crust for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Is pumpkin pie healthy?

Pumpkin pie definitely contains a bunch of important nutrients; however, it still contains sugars and can be high calorie. Finding ways to improve the nutrition quality (like our recipe!) can make it healthier than a traditional pie!

A slice of pecan crust pumpkin pie on a plate with another slice and whole pie in the background. An orange and white pumpkin and pinecone are in the background.

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Whole pecan crust pumpkin pie on a beige linen, with pecan pieces scattered around. A bowl of pecans in lower right corner. A pinecone, plates, and forks in upper left corner.

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If you made our pecan crust pumpkin pie, please rate and review our recipe below! We would love to hear your feedback. Also snap a photo and tag us on insta @theperfectpearr so we can see your creation!

The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crust Ingredient Highlights

Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crust Recipe FAQ

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Rate & Review