Easy No Fail Pecan Nut Pie Crust Recipe | Flour on My Fingers (2024)

FAQs

How do I keep my pecan pie crust from sticking? ›

How do you keep pie crust from sticking to the pan? There's usually enough fat in pie crust to keep it from sticking. It can be sticky if you add too much water, in which case it will also be tough. Try a light spray of cooking oil or line the pan with parchment paper if it's a persistant problem.

Seal the Surface

Brush the surface of the unbaked crust with a beaten egg or egg white mixed with water before adding the filling. As the pie bakes, the proteins in the egg will form a moisture barrier over the crust and provide a layer of protection.

It may be the type of pie you are baking. If you pre-bake the pie crust, poke holes in it, bake, then add the filling. However, if you are baking a pie with filling (pecan, pumpkin or blue- or blackberry), do not poke the shell with a fork. Doing so will let sticky liquid seep through and will cause the crust to stick.

Pecan pie has a somewhat similar set of issues—the filling can crack, the bottom can be under-baked, the filling can seep under the crust, and the nuts can be soggy. Like the pumpkin pie, the filling will crack if the pie is over-baked or cools too quickly.

Pre-baking is a must if you're looking for a flaky pie crust. It's especially helpful for recipes with a wet center. Recipes for most tarts, pies, and quiches call for pre-baking to ensure that the final product doesn't end up soggy.

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

Butter plays a key role in creating the delicate flakiness of the pie crust, and only if the butter is incorporated correctly and COLD when it goes into the oven. Tip: Cut the butter into cubes and place in the freezer 10 minutes before you need to incorporate it into the dough. This way it will be ICE COLD.

This is entirely up to you! I don't think you need it, but you can certainly use a parchment paper round on the bottom of the pie dish to prevent sticking. I don't recommend having the parchment paper come up the sides of the dish as the wrinkles will bake into the crust and can be hard to unstick later.

You've spent time and effort putting the pastry together, so don't sell yourself short by skipping the final step—the egg wash for the pie crust. The truth is that cream and egg washes are a simple but vital step to improving the appearance and flavor of pies and other baked goods.

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Coating the inside surface of the bottom crust will create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

Why is my pecan pie crust soggy? ›

Wet pie fillings + raw dough are a tricky combination. If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

How do you keep pecan pie from being runny? Make sure to bake your pie for the full amount of time (it shouldn't be at all jiggly when it's done!) AND let it have plenty of time to cool and set up. I like to let my pie sit on the top of my oven for two hours before transferring it to the fridge.

This pie is essentially a custard pie that means a runny center is a result of under baking. Most recipes suggest baking your pie for at least 60 to 70 minutes at 350 degrees to get the perfect pecan pie. However, depending on the oven, a pie can take more than 75 minutes.

If the butter softens, the dough will be sticky and difficult to manage. Before you begin the transfer, dust a little flour lightly on the top of the crust. One method is to fold the crust into quarters and gently transport to the pie pan, placing the folded corner in the center of the pie pan and gently unfold.

Patch up any cracks

Cracks also cause your pie crust to stick to the pan. This is because your fillings will likely leak from the cracks and run to the bottom of the pan, making the pie crust soggy and sticky. By the time the pie is done, it'll be difficult to remove it from the pan.

A perfect pie dough walks a fine line between dry and moist. If you're rolling it out and it's sticking to your rolling pin, your dough has too much moisture. What now? Adding more flour is always an option, but add too much flour and your dough will end up like a cracker—not a pie crust.

Line the bottom of your pan with nonstick parchment, then coat the pan's sides with nonstick pan spray. Some people espouse coating the bottom of the pan with spray before adding the parchment, then spraying the parchment as well; if you lean toward a “belt and suspenders” approach, feel free to do this.