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If you think you can’t love pecan pie anymore than you already do, you’ve got to give this Bourbon Pecan Pie a try. A touch of bourbon makes a delicious difference!
Pecan pie is a must at the holidays but add a little bourbon and you’ve really got something!
I added some bourbon to one of my holiday pies on a whim many, many years ago and I’ve been reaching for that bottle every single time I’ve baked a pecan pie since. It enhances the other ingredients with a touch of its rich, smoky flavor and takes pecan pie to a truly delicious place.
It isn’t an overwhelming flavor and it does’t taste especially boozy.
It’s just better.
It works especially well in this pie but does wonders in a number of other desserts as well. I don’t drink the stuff but I’m happy to consume it when it is baked into sweets.
For more delicious bourbon-enhanced dessert options that are perfect for a holiday buffet check out my Sweet Potato Bourbon Bundt Cake and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars.
As long as I’ve been married, I’ve had a bottle of Jim Beam in my pantry. No, marriage has not driven me to drink.
It was my mother and father-in-law’s drink of choice. After we lost my husband’s mom, my father-in-law would come every Sunday to join our family for dinner. He’d sit at the kitchen table with his bourbon and water while I was busy in the kitchen preparing our dinner.
He appreciated a home cooked meal and the boys loved the tradition of Sunday supper with Grandpa. Since I always had a bottle of it on hand, I started to play around with using bourbon in recipes and found it does something really special to pecan pie.
We lost Grandpa a little over a year ago and I will think of him every time I bake this pie. This recipe gives me an excuse to keep a bottle of Jim Beam in the pantry.
It just wouldn’t seem right otherwise.
Pretty as can be and all ready for the oven.
Take a look at my super, duper, easy as pie, Food Processor Pie Crust recipe. Once you’ve got your crust rolled out the rest is so easy that I didn’t bother with the step by step. The easy instructions are included on the recipe card below.
And, just one more thing….
Be sure to have lots of vanilla ice cream on hand! Bourbon Pecan Pie and vanilla ice cream are a match made in heaven.
More holiday classics you will love:
Apple Cobbler | Miss in the Kitchen
Praline Pumpkin Pie | Valerie’s Kitchen
Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie | A Family Feast
Mom’s Lemon Bars | Valerie’s Kitchen
This post was originally published on November 23, 2011. It has been updated with new text and images.
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter melted and slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons bourbon whiskey
- 1 ½ cups coarsley chopped pecans
- 1 prepared pie crust (unbaked)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch pie dish with the prepared pie crust and place the pie dish in the freezer while preparing the filling.
- Lightly whisk eggs in a medium mixing bowl. Using a spoon, mix in corn syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla, and bourbon and mix until well combined. Stir in pecans. Remove pie dish from the freezer and pour filling into the prepared pie crust.
- Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 65 minutes until center seems set. Allow to cool before serving.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
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Carolyn Kelly says
We are nit not big on adding sugar especially 1 cup will it mess this up if we reduce the sugar? I will makes it with what you say just wonder about maybe 1/2 cup?
Valerie says
Pecan pie is definitely supposed to be on the sweet side. I’ve never made it with less sugar so I can’t say how that would turn out. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Jennifer says
Can any liquor be subbed? I have a bottle of pecan praline whiskey in my pantry now.
Valerie says
Well, heck, maybe that praline whiskey would be delicious in this pie! I can’t say for sure as I haven’t tried it but let me know how it works out for you 🙂
Mary says
Taste so yummy and easy to make but followed instructions to a T for two pies, but it didn’t make enough for two pies was a bit disappointed since I needed two for Thanksgiving! Will defiantly need adjust if and when I need to make more than one pie. Other than that was quite happy!
Miranda says
Is it fine to make this the day before serving?
Valerie says
Definitely! I always get my pie baking done the day before the holiday.
Laura says
I have to start off by saying, I don’t drink, and I don’t like pecan pie. I was looking for a recipe to make, since i was hosting Thanksgiving for more than just my immediate family, and i know one guest loves pecan pie. So i found a recipe i could only guess looked good. I pinned it and kept scrolling and then found this recipe. I honestly debated whether or not to go through the hassle of buying bourbon just to make a second pecan pie. After a two-day battle, I decided to give it a go. IT. WAS. A. HIT!!! The regular pie still sits untouched while my guests went back for seconds on this one. Followed the recipe to a T. Thank you for your recipe!
Valerie says
So glad to hear this, Laura! Here’s a tip regarding the bourbon. This year I went to a local liquor store and bought one of those itty bitty little bottles of Jim Bean for $2.00. You could easily get two pies out of one of those small bottles without breaking the bank. Thanks for your comment 🙂
Vicki Ioannidou says
Look forward to your recipes, Vakerie. I have not made one recipe that wasnt a success sbd appreciated by my family and friends.
One thing though, I dont want to use corn syrup. Is there a substitute I xan use in this recioe?
glena says
When you say prepared pie shell, do you mean already fully baked?
Valerie says
No, the pie crust should be unbaked Glena.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I hope you had a wonderful holiday. This pecan pie is amazing. I almost forgot how delicious pecan pie was when I first tried it. I definitely need to have some pecan pie soon… yours look gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the story behind this pie. 🙂
Angie@Angiesrecipes says
What a gorgeous pie with a lovely story behind!
Dana B says
Love the story with this pie. Makes me think of my Grandpa; he drank Old Grandad whiskey 🙂 Haven’t made a pecan pie this holiday season yet and this sounds yummy!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets says
What a lovely way to remember him! Wishing you a lovely holiday!