Grandma's Surprise Pecan Pie
Unlike any pecan pie you've ever had! Crispy baked meringue with a chewy cookie-like center, warm and scrumptious with a scoop of ice cream.
Recipe can serve 8 if you can bear to share it.
Ingredients
Three egg whites at room temperature
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 cup sugar - half white, half brown
1 tsp vanilla (Option: 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp amaretto liquer)
3/4 cup chopped pecan pieces
3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers
1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F
Grease a pie plate (I just used a pan spray), line with foil, then grease the foil.
Prepare the pecan pieces and crushed saltines by pulsing them in a small food processor or chopper. If you do not have one, you can simply crush the pieces manually while they are in a plastic food storage bag. AFTER the pieces are crushed or processed, that is the point at which to measure out the 3/4 cup of each.
Mix the pecans and crackers in a small bowl, add baking powder and set aside.
In a small, narrow bottomed bowl with hand mixer on high speed, whip the egg whites and salt until soft peaks form.
Gradually add the sugar mixture, 2 Tbsp at a time, whipping the egg whites after each addition, until stiff glossy peaks form. Beat in the vanilla and amaretto.
Now fold in pecan pieces, crushed crackers and baking powder gently, then spread into pie plate.
Bake 35 minutes, until top is light golden but not brown. The inside will be crumbly and somewhat moist - the toothpick test doesn't work well with this dish. Just trust the process.
Cool on a wire rack for at least an hour, then serve warm with ice cream, or whipped cream - but it is also great all by itself.
Filed as
Dessert
