The Best Pecan Pie Ever

I don’t know how or where I came across this recipe, but it is a favorite at our home. It’s by far the best pecan pie recipe, and was deemed so by everyone who tries it, even a couple of impossible-to-please pecan connoisseurs in our family.  If it can pass that test, then you bet it’s a GREAT recipe!  

This recipe is LOADED with pecans – whereas most recipes call for only 1 cup of pecans, this one has a whopping (almost) 3 cups!

For the Filling:

• 3/4 cup finely crushed pecans
• 3 extra large eggs
• 3 T butter, melted
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 3 T dark corn syrup or molasses
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• dash of salt

Extra pecans needed:

• 1 cup of quartered pecans (to line the bottom of the dish)
• 1 cup of halved pecans (for the top)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Mix all the ingredients for the filling.
• Line the pie dish with pastry dough of choice (homemade or store bought).
• Add the quartered pecans to the bottom of the crust.
• Add the filling mix on top.
• Carefully float the pecan halves on top in some orderly arrangement for best presentation.  I also further decorate the rim of the crust with a fall leaf decor using leaf cookie cutters and any leftover cold pastry dough.  After cutting out the desired number of leaves, I use the back (or dull side) of the knife to make the veiny parts of the leaves. Lightly moisten the rim of the crust (to create a “glue” effect) and firmly but carefully arrange the leaves like a wreath.
• Cover the top lightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and cut out the center of the foil.  (This creates a foil shield for the leaf wreath, so it won’t burn.) Place the foil back on the pie (it should just cover the outer rim where the wreath is).
• Bake for another 20-40 minutes, depending on your oven.  When done, the filling will be more like “jello jigglers” rather than the liquid-y stuff you started out with.  If it doesn’t jiggle at all, it’s overcooked.
• Cool for at least 1-2 hours before cutting and serving.