Mama Lane Cooks
Food from My Kitchen
Baldwin Pecan Pie
We are getting close to Christmas and the one pie that HAS to be on my family’s Christmas table is Great Grandma’s Pecan Pie.
Nothing fancy about this recipe, it’s simple and easy – BUT classic. I’ve tasted the Chocolate Pecan Pies before and they are good, but sometimes it’s just best to keep it simple and go back to the basics.
That’s what the recipe is, basic and scrumptious! And you will notice I use pancake syrup, instead of the dark Karo syrup that most pecan pies consists of. That makes the pie not so sugary sweet.
Texas Pecan
3 eggs
2/3 cups sugar
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/3 C butter
1 C. syrup (1/2 pancake syrup and 1/2 white Karo syrup)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup of whole Missouri Pecans
Beat the eggs well, add sugar gradually, salt, melted butter, syrups and vanilla. Do not mix hard for a long time or mixture will become foamy. Pour onto unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle with whole pecans (about 1 C.) Bake at 375 degrees until nicely set and browned on top. Normally 40 minutes. The pie will be a little jiggly in the middle when you take it out, not to worry though…it will set up.
Pie Crust
I use this pie crust recipe from Julia Child (which I will say I do believe is the best cook ever.) Here are some of her pie crust tips that I live by in my kitchen.
Perfect Pie Crust
(makes 4 single crusts)
5 1/4 C. of flour
1 tablespoon of kosher salt
1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter
1 3/4 C. shortening, chilled (Crisco)
1 C. ice water
Place flour and salt in large deep bowl and stir. Cut cold butter up and then with your fingers or a pastry cutter crumble the butter and flour together. There should be no lumps in the mixture and it should resemble coarse crumbs. Next, cut up the cold shortening and cut it into the mixture as your did with the butter. The dough will come together and you’ll be able to form a ball. Take the ice water and pour into the mixture. You will be worried that it’s too much water, but keep mixing with a spoon or your hands, and eventually the water will absorb into the dough. Roll dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator. Keep in the frig for at least 2 hours.
Rolling The Dough Out
The dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. When you are ready to roll out a pie, cut dough ball into four quarters. Take one quarter out at a time and place the rest back into to he frig. This dough needs to stay cold. Roll out dough on a well floured surface and when dough is the correct size for the pie plate, roll it up around your rolling pin (see link for images of this). The link I’ve included gives great images on how to roll out dough and putting it into your pie plate.
How to Give Your Crust the Perfect Final Touch
Ever wonder why some people’s pie crust are perfectly golden and shiny? Well listen closely, I’m going to let out the secret: 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of water or heavy cream. Whisk together and you have a perfect baste for your crust. Baste just the tops of the pie crust with the mixture before placing your filling into the pie and place in the oven. I guarantee you’ll have a beautifully golden crust when it comes out. And, for your fruit pies, I like to sprinkle the tops of the crusts with raw sugar for an added crunch.
Merry Christmas, hope this pie brings smiles to your family’s faces.
417localista
Mama Lane Cooks 