Pecan[esque] Pie
Holiday or any day! Substitute Whole Cacao Beans for pecans (a portion or all) in your favorite pecan pie recipe for an irresistibly rich, chocolatey crunch. Honey-sweetened for a healthier, more elegant and flavorful alternative to corn syrup.
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Effort: Medium* |
Total: 45 min Active: 10 min |
Yield: 16 slices |
*This recipe is easiest with a stand mixer.
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons (1 oz.) Cocoa Butter
- 1 Cup Honey
- Pinch of Salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces (~2 Cups) Whole, Cacao Beans or Nibs
- Frozen Pie Shell (or make your own!)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Beat eggs slightly.
- Add brown sugar, butter, honey, salt & vanilla. Mix well.
- Stir in cacao beans until distributed throughout.
- Pour into a 9" pie crust.
- Bake at 425°F for 10 min., then lower heat to 350°F and bake for 25 min. or until set.
Notes:
This is a family recipe that has been passed down from Kim's mom's lifelong friend's mom... ♥ With a few modifications.
- Cocoa Butter - You can substitute other butters or oils, but they will not taste as chocolatey. The original recipe called for butter.
- Cacao Beans - The original recipe called for pecans. I recommend substituting these completely because the texture of cacao is markedly different than pecans. I also prefer a higher ratio of cacao beans (or nuts) to pecan pie filling, so I typically use two cups (a full 8 oz. bag) instead of one cup as the original recipe called for. If you prefer more filling, reduce this by as much as half.
- Honey vs. Corn Syrup - The original recipe called for corn syrup. Not only is honey healthier, but the flavor is more elegant and complex.
- Cacao Beans Origin - I prefer using our Indonesian cacao beans for this recipe. The fruity undertones of this cacao pairs so nicely with honey and a buttery pie crust. That said, the Honduras would give a more pure dark-chocolatey, nutty taste profile.
Food For Thought:
Where I have an opinion, I provided links to fair- and direct-trade, organic ingredients that I love and, in some cases, brands I use for our own Good King products. While it may not be possible to shop these brands all the time, every time, even a single purchase makes a difference. And, when quality counts, these brands deliver!
Nutrition:
In case you really want to know this for a pie... 😉 Please note this is for 1/16 of the pie, but I generally go for 1/8 of the pie. 😲 It is NOT low calorie, but it's worth it. So proceed with caution - especially if you also enjoy it with ice cream!
