Isn’t this a pretty pie? I don’t mean to brag, but I was impressed with how this pie turned out. Usually, my pies taste good but are ugly. Like really ugly.
Pecan pie is one of my most favorite kinds of pie, but I only eat it on Thanksgiving. I have some strong feelings about pecan pie. One being this is strictly for Thanksgiving consumption. The second, (I am cyber-ducking because of what I am about to say) is that there should be no chocolate in it whatsoever. I really like a simple, chocolate-free pecan pie. Eons ago, my grandmother made a Grand Marnier pecan pie and it truly was heavenly. I remember fighting my brother for it. I also remember hiding pieces in the back of the fridge so that he could not find any the next day. Did I type that out loud? Shh… don’t tell.
Years later, as I am making my own Thanksgiving dinners, I asked my Nonnie for the recipe and she had no idea what I was talking about. I guess I dreamed of this pie. So I am taking credit for it, because this is the pie that I love and remember.
Grand Marnier is pricey. I got a nice bottle on sale at my grocery store, but you could use any orange liqueur or regular orange juice. I make a few pie crusts at a time and keep them in the freezer. I use the same pie crust recipe for everything that I make. If I am using a frozen dough, I let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Pecan pie is also one of the easiest pies to make. You mix everything together and pour it in the crust. I can do that. So can you.
Happy Veterans Day! For all of our friends and family serving, we love and appreciate you.
pie crust (for a single crust)
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons melted butter
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 Tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
zest from one orange
2 1/2 cups pecan halves
In a bowl, whisk together the corn syrup and brown sugar.
Whisk in the butter, Grand Marnier, and vanilla.
Whisk until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time.
Whisk in the orange zest, salt, and cinnamon.
Prepare your pie crust. I keep mine chilling in fridge until just before I am going to fill it. Add the pecans to the crust.
Pour the corn syrup mixture over the pecans.
Put the pie on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Put the pie in a preheated 425 degree oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Make a ring out of tin foil to protect the crust from getting too brown. Bake for another 20 minutes. You will know when it is done when it stops jiggling when you move it and when the top is puffed and golden.
I make this the day before Thanksgiving and leave it out on the counter. I also make a cinnamon whipped cream to serve on top. Sinful I tell you.
Grand Marnier Pecan Pie
Grand Marnier Pecan Pie - A little orange liqueur takes a really good pecan pie to a new level.
Ingredients
- pie crust (for a single crust)
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons melted butter
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 Tablespoons Grand Marnier
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- zest from one orange
- 2 1/2 cups pecan halves
- cinnamon whipped cream
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the corn syrup and brown sugar.
- Whisk in the butter, Grand Marnier, and vanilla.
- Whisk until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time.
- Whisk in the orange zest, salt, and cinnamon.
- Prepare your pie crust. I keep mine chilling in fridge until just before I am going to fill it. Add the pecans to the crust.
- Pour the corn syrup mixture over the pecans.
- Put the pie on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Put the pie in a preheated 425 degree oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Make a ring out of tin foil to protect the crust from getting too brown. Bake for another 20 minutes. You will know when it is done when it stops jiggling when you move it and when the top is puffed and golden.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
This Post Has 26 Comments
This looks gorgeous! Perfect for our Thanksgiving pie trials!
You do pie trials? Can I get in on that action?
So yummy! This looks absolutely divine, can´t wait to try it!
I hope that you do.
Looks terrific – I love both pecan pie and Grand Marnier. I’ll definitely try it! Have you ever tried toasting the pecans in the oven first, before putting them into the pie? I don’t remember where I picked up that tip, but I do it every time and find it adds a real richness of flavor to pecan pie. You can really taste the difference and my husband and others rave about my pecan pie!
I never thought to toast the pecans, I will have to try that next year.
My mom always called a pecan pie with chocolate a Kentucky Derby pie. I am totally in love with the idea of adding Grand Marnier though! This looks incredible!
Thank you Cara!
Sinful indeed….love Pecan Pie!!
me too! One of my favorites.
Such an amazing looking pie!! I love pecan pie but we don’t get them a lot here, I would need to make one really soon!
thank you Kimba!
Oh Bree, I must agree! This IS a beautiful pie! From the color of the pecans to the whimsical shape of the crust! Makes me wanna get in the kitchen and practice, b/c lets face it, my pies never look like that 🙂
I completely agree. Chocolate and pecan pie should never be used in the same sentence, let alone in the same pie. However I have to disagree about pecan pie only on T-day. Having grown up in Texas, no pot-luck was complete without a mouth watering pecan pie. Three main ingredients in a Texas pot-luck… Brisket, potatoes, and pecan pie 😉
Thank you, thank you for sharing your recipe. I can not wait to try it out! My husband’s mouth has been watering for weeks since I mentioned it.
I want to get an invite to that potluck.
Good pecan pie recipe, I like the idea of using Grand Marnier and Orange zest in your recipe, for sure this would taste good and be very enticing to eat since the aroma from the orange will boost the aroma of the pecans.
This is my favorite version of pecan pie. It cuts some of the sweetness too.
I totally agree about the chocolate….it does not belong everywhere…..traditional pecan pie is so great..your blog is so beautiful as well as your photography!!
thank you Sparklenurse! Chocolate has a place, and it is not in my pecan pie!
Totally agree with you about no chocolate in pecan pies. Too much decadence. I really enjoyed reading your comment about hiding it in the back of the fridge. That’s probably what I’ll need to do when I try this recipe. I’ll need to hide it from my husband & boys!
No chocolate in a pecan pie ever! And yes, hide some for later.
I know it’s been 2 years since folks commented on this post, and so you may very well never see this comment, but I wanted to take a moment nonetheless to say that my son found this recipe as his “pie” for our annual Pie Night, and it was the surprise hit of the night! Hands down, the BEST pecan pie we’d ever tasted. It is being repeated for Thanksgiving this week even though Pie Night was only last week! It’s that good! Thank you for sharing!
Deb
Thank you! I love this pie and make it every single Thanksgiving. It would not be turkey day without it.
This recipe looks fantastic and easy. I’m considering making a similar version with pretzel crust and a white chocolate drizzle. Thoughts?
I think that the white chocolate might make it too sweet, but I like the pretzel crust idea.
I was looking for a great pecan pie recipe and came upon yours! It was a hit! Everyone loved it! My daughter Aubrey was here with her family and they all loved it too! Aubrey has a blog too. She blogs over at real house moms. Thanks for the wonderful recipe that will now be a holiday tradition for our family!
I’m glad that you liked it, I love this pie and it is my brother’s favorite.