Oh My, It’s a Pie!

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slice5When I was a kid, it was hard for me to eat pie.

That sounds strange, doesn’t it? But the truth is that at it’s best, pie is quite rich, not to mention the things we top it with. And for some reason as a kid I had problems with very rich foods (and spicy foods) and pie was at the top of that list. In fact, it’s only been in recent years that I’ve come to really enjoy pie and actually crave it sometimes. I still have to be somewhat careful, but I can happily enjoy a piece now and then without trouble…which maybe IS trouble in another way, come to think of it!

All this to say that one reason you haven’t seen much pie other than my mom’s blueberry pie on this blog is that I don’t make it very often for the reasons I just stated. So recently when we were participating in a gathering, I needed to make a dessert. And it just so happened that the friends we were gathering with had given me this wonderful and interesting cookbook. It seemed only right that I should make something from this cookbook to share with them, and that’s how I ended up making this Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie.

This recipe is adapted from one in Martha Stewart’s very recent cookbook, Martha’s American Food, which celebrates foods from different regions in the U.S., coast to coast. It’s a great read and filled with fun tidbits of background information on how these dishes came to be. This particular pie is one associated with the South, and it’s a pie I’ve wanted to make for a long time.

I have to say this makes a beautiful and delicious pie, but words can’t really describe how good this is. And making her crust is key. I don’t make a lot of pie crust and quite frankly, it’s usually my least favorite part of a pie, but this one is terrific. Imagine this sweet filling, enhanced by a touch of bourbon and the crunch of beautiful toasty pecans, with a thin layer of rich chocolate on the bottom, all bound together by a buttery and flavorful crust. Uh, huh…I know you want it. Yessireee, good eating. I mean if you’re gonna make and eat a piece of pie with all of those calories, you might as well go for broke. I served this topped with a dollop of locally made Fleur de Sel Vanilla ice cream and that little kick of salt and vanilla really brought forth the nuttiness of the pecans and enhanced all of the flavors. A work of art.

Then, just to see if we could make a great thing any better, we revisited the pie with a dollop of whipped cream, scented with a little bourbon…oh, my!

So far I’m loving this cookbook, though I’m certainly not being paid to say so, nor am I a reviewer. It has a lot of great recipes in it and is just plain fun, especially if you live in the U.S. or love old-fashioned, American regional foods. And because I love it, I’m adding it to my bookshelf on this blog. Check it out!

In the case of this pie, I did find the need to adapt ever so slightly, as sometimes instructions and proportions just aren’t all they seem to be, or should be, in my opinion. All a part of cooking.

Is there anything more inviting than a freshly baked pie? No, perhaps not.

Is there anything more inviting than a freshly baked pie? No, perhaps not.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
(Slightly adapted from Martha’s American Food)
Makes one 9-inch pie which serves 6-8

Crust, makes two and you’ll need one for the pie, freeze the other:
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon regular salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1/4 cup water, plus 1-2 tablespoons more if needed

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, salt and sugar just to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is coarse and crumbly with bits of butter still evident. Drizzle the 1/4 cup of water evenly over the dry mixture and pulse until the dough just begins to come together, it shouldn’t be wet or sticky. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too dry and isn’t coming together. I found that one more tablespoon over the 1/4 cup did the trick. Remove the dough, shape into two equal disks, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled. Can be frozen for a month and thaw before using. (I found that the dough was quite hard after being in the fridge, and I had to bring it back to room temp to roll it out.)

For the Filling and making the pie:

Flour for dusting and rolling out the pie crust and 1 disk of pie crust dough from the above recipe
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated cane sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons good quality aged bourbon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
3/4 cup whole pecan halves
3/4 cup coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate
1 tablespoon heavy cream and 1 egg yolk for egg wash

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly flour a flat surface and roll out the dough into an 11-inch round about 1/8″ thick. (If dough is too stiff, let it come back to room temperature and then roll it out.) Wrap the dough around the rolling pin to transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and fit the dough into the pan, pressing into the edges of the pan. Trim the dough to about 1 inch all the way around the pan, fold it under and crimp the edges decoratively, pinching and pressing with your thumb and fingers, or use a fork. Prick the bottom of the crust several times with a fork. If it’s warm outside and dough is soft, return to the fridge for about 15 minutes.

Crust rolled and draped. Pinch together any cracks before crimping.

Crust rolled and draped. Pinch together any cracks before crimping.

Line the pie shell with parchment, pressing into the sides of the pan. Fill the parchment with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 20 minutes (you may need to cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil if they start to brown). Remove the parchment and pie weights and bake another 5 minutes until the crust is dry but not turning brown. Transfer to a wire rack and allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

"Blind bake" your crust, cool it and then fill it. Cover your crust edges as needed to keep them from browning too much.

“Blind bake” your crust, cool it and then fill it. Cover your crust edges as needed to keep them from browning too much.

In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, flour, corn syrup, eggs, bourbon and salt. Stir in the chopped pecans and the chocolate. Pour the filling into the crust and decorate the top with the remaining pecan halves. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and the cream and brush over all the exposed edges of the pie. Bake the pie until just set in the center and the crust is golden, about 40 minutes. Tent with foil and/or cover the edges of the crust if browning too quickly. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and cool completely before serving. Cut into 6 to 8 wedges. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream…or eat it plain in all it’s glory.

More pie, please!

More pie, please!

45 thoughts on “Oh My, It’s a Pie!”

  2. Sounds divine. Wish I could eat all those nuts right now. Again, I promise. Sometime I’ll make you my family recipe for lime pie. Like you, I only do it rarely just because pie eating can easily get out of hand but, oh, what a treat!! Birmanslave (Sallie)

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  3. This is a gorgeous pie! Chocolate, bourbon and pecans, that’s a combination I know I’d love! I’ve always loved pies….and really, I’m not sure there has been any dessert I’ve not liked!!

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    • Thanks so much for your kind comments. This really is a special pie, although how can one go wrong with chocolate, bourbon and pecans? It is a sleepy winter afternoon and I’m wishing the pie wasn’t gone. 🙂

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    • Same here, Smidge…always liked the filling and not the crust, although it was the whole shebang that didn’t agree with me. I, too, am so glad to be over that phase of life….even if my waistline isn’t! 😉

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  10. In KY a facsimilie of this recipe is known as Derby Pie, if you can believe that! 😉 It’s very rich, very delicious and almost too good!

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  13. I, too, have a similar recipe, Betsy, though I’ve not made it in years. It’s a great combination with a fantastic taste and I’m sure your pie is every bit as good, if not better. I’ve always been a pie lover, with cherry or blueberry topping my list of favorites. And apple … and strawberry … and peach … and pecan … and pumpkin … OK .. I really don’t have a favorite. I love ’em all. 🙂

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    • Once you see the road to loving pie, seems there’s no turning back! 🙂 Like you, I’m not sure I really have a favorite because I’m growing fond of the fruit pies, cream pies, chess pies…whatever, and more every day. Just the mere mention of all those fruits and berries make me excited about making some pies this spring and summer, too! Meanwhile, apple may be next in line!

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    • I am…I am so glad I like pie, now! 🙂 Thank you for the kind words about my crust. That’s about the second time I’ve ever made one. And yes, bourbon and pecans were made for each other, in my book at least. The little addition of the chocolate doesn’t hurt either!

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  16. I’m not huge on sweets and rich desserts. I was always certain Betsy that I wouldn’t like pecan pie. I’m just as certain that I would like yours! You, girl, have described it in the language of a true food writer, and yes, I want it! I want it! 🙂 (And that photo, sun glinting off the surface of those toasted pecans….my!) xo

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    • I have to say, Spree, that pecan pie was one of the first pies that I did like, at least the way my mom made it. I’m still not a fan of super rich desserts, but this one is just right for an indulgence…I think you’d love it! 🙂 Thank you so kindly for your great comments, and I wish I could have gotten a shot of the slice with the sunlight! You know, the curse of the night time shot. 😉

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  18. Pecan Pie was my husband’s family favourite, but in reality, I think it was only his Mum who loved it’s rich sugary filling. For me, I find this type of pie really too rich and sweet, but I would have one bite, just so you don’t think I’m rude. I may even sneak another when no one is looking.

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  19. This is one of my favorite pies. I was given a recipe from a restaurant that we used to go to often…our favorite waitress surprised me with it. Your crust looks so nice and flaky.

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  20. I know what you mean about richness Betsy. To this day I can only eat so much sugary things and sometimes not at all. At least you’re enjoying pie now!!

    Of course then you present me with a bourbon pie with chocolate. Oh dear lord!! 🙂

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    • Hi Claire! Like you, I prefer the filling over the crust…until I tasted this crust. It’s really good and not so bland and unnecessary as most crusts seem to me. The pie is really sinful..not something I make too often, but something I really do enjoy eating!

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