Smoked Pecan Pie

Who's ready for a fun twist on a classic holiday dish? This Smoked Pecan Pie has all the familiar flavors that you crave, with the perfect balance of smokiness. This is an excellent pie for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners.

Making pecan pies on the smoker or grill is really quite simple to do. Why take up that space in the oven when you can let the grill be a part of the holiday meal planning as well? Everything about this recipe is simple, right down to the pie crust.

It's always fun to tell people that you made the holiday dessert on the pellet grill or in the smoker because it sounds just so "out there" and unique. Once they have a bite and realize that there is a whole world of cooking and smoking that they never knew existed, you just might change their minds about pie making!

Having the crispy pecan topping paired with the warm and gooey center is an awesome texture that is easily achievable just by smoking it. With the holidays coming up quickly, claim your fame this year by volunteering to make the pies. You're going to wow everyone with your baking ability.

Speaking of delicious smoked desserts, check out my Smoked Pumpkin Pie and Smoked Apple Pie as well. Fill the holiday table with smoked sweets!

Ingredients

Pie crust - Buying and using your favorite brand of pie crust is a time saver. 

Eggs - I use large eggs at room temperature. 

Light brown sugar - Be sure to pack it down while measuring. 

Salted butter - Unsalted or salted butter will work, but I prefer salted.

Maple syrup - Adds sweetness and helps with the coloring of the pie filling. 

Flour - Helps to thicken up the center of the pie. 

Bourbon - Could be optional, by why? It adds warmth and flavor.

Vanilla extract - Pure vanilla extract adds the most vanilla flavor. 

Chopped pecans - You can purchase them already chopped to save on prep time or add them to your food processor to chop quickly. 

How to make Smoked Pecan Pie

Step One: Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees F.

Step Two: Add the pecans to the pie crust. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Once the mixture is smooth, pour it into the pie shell over the pecans.

Optional: decorate the top of the pie with pecan halves.

Step Three: Put the pie on the smoker and smoke until the filling is set, which will take about 75-90 minutes.

Step Four: Once the time has passed, take the pie from the smoker.

Step Five: Put the smoked pie into the oven that is already preheated to 400 degrees. Bake for 10-15 minutes on the bottom rack so that the crust browns.

Optional: Move to the top rack and broil for 1-2 minutes for more browning of crust and pecans.

Step Six: Cool to room temperature before slicing the pie and serving.

Variations

Add a hint of citrus - Add orange zest to the pecan pie filling.

Use a homemade pie crust - If you want to make your own pie crust, do so. Just have it ready to go when you're going to smoke the pie. Generally, all you need for a homemade crust is flour, cold butter, and ice water so they aren't too complicated if you have the time.

Add different toppings - While traditional pecan pies are topped with pecan pieces, you can easily change that up. Topping the cooled pie with semisweet chocolate chips, whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream are all great options, too.

Corn syrup - I chose to use maple syrup in lieu of light corn syrup but you can use corn syrup if you prefer.

Common Questions

Can I use frozen pie dough?

If you have pie dough that is frozen in the freezer, you need to move it to the fridge and let it thaw first before using it. It needs to be fully thawed before adding it to the pie pan.

How do I keep my pie crust and dough from getting soggy while baking?

Use a fork and poke holes all over the bottom of the pie crust. This will help prevent it from getting soggy.

What is the best way to crush pecans?

Using a food processor is the fastest way, but you do have to be careful that you don't crush them too much. If you pulse them too much in the food processor, you'll have pecan dust instead of pieces.

You can also add the pecan halves to a sealable bag or place them between two pieces of plastic wrap. Simply using a rolling pin and rolling over the top of them can easily break them into pieces.

How do I store leftover pecan pie?

You can store leftover pecan pie at room temperature or in the fridge. Just be sure to cover it with a pie plate lid or plastic wrap so that it retains that yummy flavor and texture.