Gluten-Free Pecan Pie - No Corn Syrup!

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This is the BEST Gluten-Free Pecan Pie recipe ever! Flaky buttery crust with a rich brown butter honey maple filling, and no corn syrup!

Gluten-Free Pecan Pie on two white plates with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top and flaky sea salt.

Pecan pie has always been one of my favorite pies to serve at Thanksgiving. Unlike traditional pecan pie, this recipe is made with brown butter, maple syrup, honey, and no corn syrup, only natural sweeteners! It has a rich and decadent flavor, combined with a flaky gluten-free crust, flecks of sea salt, and vanilla bean ice cream, making this gluten-free pecan pie the ultimate indulgence.

For more dessert ideas to add to the Thanksgiving table, check out my Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie, Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan Tart, and Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Pie.

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Ingredients
How to Make Gluten-Free Pecan Pie
Storage and Serving
Expert Tips For The Best Pecan Pie
Pecan Pie FAQs
Recipe

Gluten-Free Pecan Pie on a white ceramic plate with a silver antique fork and vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

Pecans: I use a combination of toasted chopped pecans and halved pecans for texture.
Butter: Browning the melted butter compliments the pecans and gives this pie a rich caramel-like flavor. For a dairy-free option, you can use melted dairy-free butter but do not brown. The flavor is not the same as regular butter.
Honey & Maple Syrup: The honey and pure maple syrup combination replace traditional corn syrup and give this pie a delicious
Coconut Sugar: Keeping this recipe refined and sugar-free, we use coconut sugar. If you are not concerned about the pie being refined sugar-free, dark brown sugar is also a great option.
Eggs: The eggs help bind and set the custard pie.
Vanilla Extract: You want to use a high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Salt: The salt helps balance the sweetness of the pie. Once the pecan pie has cooled, I like to sprinkle a few flecks of sea salt on top.
Flaky Sea Salt (Optional): Adding flaky sea salt to the top of the cooled pie gives the perfect salty-sweet flavor combination. Add vanilla ice cream to each slice for the ultimate indulgence.

How to Make Gluten-Free Pecan Pie

A silver baking tray with parchment paper and toasted pecans.

The first step for the filling is to toast the pecans at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, or until fragrant.

A large white frying pan with a black handle, and brown butter melted in the center of the pan.

In a large frying pan, brown the butter on medium-high heat.

A picture of a white frying pan with melted brown butter and maple syrup.

Once browned, quickly add the maple syrup, bringing the mixture to a boil. Whisk for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the burner.

This will help some of the water to evaporate from the maple syrup and will thicken the pie.

A picture of a white frying pan with brown butter, maple syrup, and honey.

Remove the pan from the burner and quickly whisk in the honey. Set the pan aside to cool for 10 minutes, to prevent the eggs from scrambling when combined.

A picture of a white ceramic pie dish, with a par-baked pie crust and toasted pecans.

Arrange the toasted pecans at the bottom of a 9-inch parbaked pie crust.

A large clear bowl with whisked eggs, vanillas extract, salt, and coconut sugar.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.

A large clear bowl with brown butter, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and eggs.

Slowly pour the cooled butter-maple-honey- mixture into the large bowl, combining it with the whisked eggs, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.

Pour the filling over the top of the pecans. As the pecans start to rise through the filling, arrange the top of the pie in any design you please.

A gluten-free pecan pie ready to bake in the oven.

Cover the crust with a pie shield or tin foil, and then place the pie in the oven to bake for 50-60 minutes.

The filling should be set at the edges of the pie and only slightly jiggly at the center.

Remove from the oven and allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for a minimum of 3 hours. Serve.

A picture of a pecan pie slices with a piece missing, exposing the gooey center filling.

Storage and Serving

When removing the pecan pie from the oven, allow it to rest a room temperature for 3 hours. The pecan pie should be completely cooled before storing or serving. After 3 hours you can serve the pecan pie the same day, or you can leave the pie in its dish, cover it with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and refrigerate the pie until ready to use.

You can serve your pecan pie cold, straight from the refrigerator, but I find the best way to serve pecan pie is slightly warmed, or at room temperature. Pull the pecan pie out of the refrigerator an hour before serving, or add the cooked pie to a preheated oven at 300°F for 12-15 minutes.

You can also freeze pecan pie for up to 3 months. For this I recommend slicing the cooled pie into individual pieces, wrapping each piece tightly with aluminum foil, and then storing it in tupperware to avoid freezer burn. Remove the pie 24 hours prior to serving and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Expert Tips For The Best Pecan Pie

Prebake the crust: Prebaking the crust allows for a buttery flakey texture and firms the bottom of the crust. Once the pecan pie filling is added to the parbaked crust, add a pie shield to avoid the crust from further browning. For this pie, I use my homemade gluten-free pie crust recipe.
Toast the pecans: Toasting the pecans at 350°F for 5-7 minutes helps bring out the flavor. They really only need a couple of minutes, so make sure to watch them closely.
Do not chop the pecans with a knife: An easy way to avoid dusty pecan pieces from getting in your pie is to snap the pecans in half with your fingers as opposed to chopping them up with a knife.
Brown the butter: Brown butter is an essential ingredient that gives depth and flavor to this delicious pecan pie. It's definitely worth the extra effort.
Watch the pie closely: If the pecans look like they are toasting too quickly on top, add a piece of tin foil about halfway through. At the 45-minute mark, continue to check the pie every few minutes to avoid overbaking.
Let the pie cool: Let the pie cool at least 3 hours before serving. This allows the whole pie to be properly set. Add whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or flaky sea salt to the top.

A large picture of a piece of pecan pie on a ceramaic white plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

Pecan Pie FAQs

Why is my pecan pie runny?

This is a common problem that happens when the maple syrup is not cooked long enough or the pie is not baked long enough.

How do I know when the pecan pie is down baking?

Pecan pie should be set at the edges with a slightly puffed, jiggly center, with an internal temperature of 185 degrees.

What can I substitute for corn syrup in pecan pie?

In this recipe, I substitute corn syrup with a combination of honey and maple syrup. You could also use brown rice syrup or agave nectar.

Should I prebake my pie crust for pecan pie?

Yes! Prebaking the pie crust for pecan pie allows for an even flaky crust, with no soggy bottom. Adding a pie shield once you add the pecan pie filling, will protect the crust from over-browning.

Does pecan pie contain gluten?

Most pecan pie recipes do contain gluten, however, this recipe is 100% gluten-free.

Can I make pecan pie in advance?

Pecan pie will hold well in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Because of the eggs in the filling, it is not recommended to store pecan pie at room temperature.