Classic Toasted Pecan Delight Pie

1. Preheat oven and prepare pie dough

First, preheat your oven according to the temperature needed for toasting pecans and prebaking the pie shell. Now, let's move on to preparing the pie dough. Start by combining the flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add the chilled butter and shortening, then pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the chilled vodka and ice water over the mixture and pulse until the dough begins to come together.

2. Roll out dough and refrigerate

Next, roll out the dough on a floured counter using a rolling pin, making sure it’s large enough to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Trim any excess dough and crimp the edges for a neat finish. Refrigerate the dough-lined pie plate until it is firm.

3. Prebake pie shell

For prebaking the pie shell, line the chilled pie shell with aluminum foil and fill it with pie weights. Bake according to the instructions for prebaking on page 720, removing the pie weights and foil midway through baking. Continue baking until the crust is a beautiful golden brown.

4. Prepare filling

While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. In a heatproof bowl set inside a skillet of simmering water, melt the butter. Add the dark brown sugar and salt, stirring until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This gentle heat will prevent the eggs from curdling later.

5. Mix egg and corn syrup

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, then incorporate the light corn syrup and vanilla extract. Gradually whisk this egg mixture into the butter-sugar mixture, ensuring everything is well blended. Stir in the toasted and finely chopped pecans, then pour the filling into the warm prebaked pie shell.

6. Bake the pie

Bake the pie at 275 degrees until the filling has a jello-like consistency when gently pressed with a soupspoon. This low temperature is crucial to prevent the filling from curdling.

7. Cool and serve

Allow the pie to cool completely so that it sets properly. If you like, you can warm the pie in a 250-degree oven for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve your Classic Toasted Pecan Delight Pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra treat. Enjoy!