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This recipe was originally published February 12, 2019 and updated November 18, 2021
This gluten free pecan pie is more than delicious, it's stunning. Taking a few extra minutes to arrange the pecans on top and your family will think it was made by a professional baker.
This recipe was inspired by a trip I took to Lexington, Kentucky in 2018. While there, I was able to tour the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Distillery, which is the oldest in the U.S. Besides having an amazing history, their bourbon is outstanding. I’ve used a splash of Woodford Reserve in this recipe, which gives a nice boost to the flavor. Use whatever bourbon you like or omit it if you prefer. The recipe is gluten free, dairy free and corn syrup free. It can be made in homemade pie crust or a store bought crust, whichever you prefer.
Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Pecan Pie
- It doesn't use any corn syrup.
- It's beautiful when baked, looks like it was made by a pro.
- The maple syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- It's gluten free & dairy free!
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Ingredient List
- Brown Sugar
- Maple Syrup - use the Grade A good stuff
- Eggs
- Bourbon - Use your favorite brand. My favorite is Woodford Reserve.
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Pecans - 3 cups of pecans in this pie really bring out the nutty flavor.
- One unbaked pie shell. For gluten free, use my amazing gluten free & vegan pie crust recipe.
How to Make a Pecan Pie
Whisk together all the ingredients, except the pecans.
Pour the chopped pecans into the pie shell.
Pour the pie filling over the chopped pecans, reserving ⅓ cup of the liquid.
Add the pecan halves to the reserved liquid and stir them to coat the nuts.
Place the pecan halves one at a time in circles around the the top of the pie.
How to Store/Reheat Pecan Pie
To store leftover pecan pie, simply cover the remaining pie with aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator. The pie will be good for 3-4 days if kept refrigerated.
There is no need to reheat leftover pecan pie, since it is normally served chilled or at room temperature.
Can You Freeze Pecan Pie?
Baked pecan pie doesn't freeze as well as unbaked pie. If you want to work ahead of time, prepare your filling and pour it into the crust. Freeze the pie for 2-3 hours until solid, then wrap in several layers of plastic wrap to ensure it's sealed. Store in the freezer up to one month.
To bake after freezing, add 30 minutes of cook time to the original recipe directions.
How can pecan pie be made without corn syrup?
Corn syrup is not a necessary ingredient in pecan pie, although many recipes do include it. It's purpose in pecan pie is normally to make the pecans shiny as well as preventing the sugar in the filling from crystallizing. It also prevents the pie from absorbing moisture from the air.
In this recipe I replace the corn syrup with maple syrup, which makes for a richer flavor as well as making this pie corn syrup free.
Is Bourbon Gluten Free?
I have received a lot of questions about whether or not Bourbon is gluten free. Bourbon is made from wheat, barley, rye, and corn. However, it is considered gluten free after the distilling process, as long as no flavorings have been added. Liquor that is made from gluten containing sources is not allowed to be marked as gluten free on the label because it is possible for trace amounts of gluten to be present.
The National Celiac Association states that distilled alcohol is considered gluten-free because the process of distillation removes the harmful gluten protein. However, a small percentage of gluten intolerant people do still react to Bourbon. There are Bourbon's available that are made from 100% corn or 100% sorghum, which may be an option for you if you cannot drink regular Bourbon. Of course, you can always omit the Bourbon from the recipe if you prefer.
If you love pies, check out these great recipes!
Gluten Free Apple Cranberry Pie
Gluten Free Apple and Cherry Pie
Gluten Free Kentucky Derby Pie
Gluten Free Dutch Apple Pie
Best Ever Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie
Apple Butter Pie
German Chocolate Pecan Pie (Gluten Free)
To pin this recipe for later, click the save button on any image in this post or the recipe card. Please tag me @wellfedbaker on Instagram if you make this recipe!
Gluten Free Pecan Pie
Ingredients
- 1 Gluten Free Pie Crust
- 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
- ½ Cup Maple Syrup grade A
- 3 Eggs lightly beaten
- 2 Tablespoon Bourbon optional
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Cup Pecans roughly chopped
- 2 Cup Pecans Halves
- 1 Egg for egg wash
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F degrees.
- Brush the edge of your pie crust with your egg wash (1 beaten egg whisked with 1 tablespoon water)1 Egg, 1 Gluten Free Pie Crust
- Pour chopped pecans into your prepared pie crust.1 Cup Pecans
- In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, maple syrup, 3 eggs, bourbon, vanilla and salt. Whisk together until smooth.1 Cup Light Brown Sugar, ½ Cup Maple Syrup, 3 Eggs, 2 Tablespoon Bourbon, 1 teaspoon Vanilla, ½ teaspoon Salt
- Pour all but ⅓ cup of the liquid mixture over the chopped pecans.
- Add the remaining 2 cups of pecan halves to the ⅓ cup liquid. Stir to coat the pecans.2 Cup Pecans Halves
- Working one pecan at a time make circles around the top of your pie. You should have just enough nuts for 1 pie. If there are a few leftover, just tuck them into any spaces you can find.
- Place your pie on a baking sheet and bake on the lowest oven rack in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes. The pie will appear puffed up when it's done but will settle back down when cooled.
- Cool 2 hours before slicing.
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
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