Description
This Pecan Cream Pie is a luscious no-bake dessert featuring a crunchy graham cracker crust and a light, fluffy cream cheese and whipped cream filling, topped with crunchy pecans. Perfectly chilled for hours to set, it offers a delightful balance of creamy and nutty flavors with an optional touch of sweetness from brown sugar or maple syrup.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Topping
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs. Mix the crumbs with granulated sugar and melted butter until fully combined. Press the mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie dish to form an even crust. Place it in the refrigerator to chill and set while you prepare the filling.
- Whip the cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream using a mixer until stiff peaks form, which means the cream holds shape well and doesn’t collapse. Set aside this whipped cream for folding into the cream cheese mixture.
- Make the cream cheese mixture: Beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in another bowl until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and free of lumps.
- Fold in whipped cream: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula. Use slow, careful movements to maintain the light, fluffy texture without deflating the whipped cream.
- Fill the crust: Spoon the cream filling into the chilled graham cracker crust, smoothing the top evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon to create a uniform surface.
- Add pecan topping: Sprinkle chopped pecans generously over the top of the pie. For added flavor, you can mix the pecans with brown sugar or maple syrup before sprinkling if desired.
- Chill the pie: Refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours to allow the filling to set properly. For best results, chill overnight to achieve a firm, sliceable texture.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove the pie from the fridge, slice into 8 pieces, and serve chilled. Enhance the dessert by adding extra whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce, if you like.
Notes
- This pie requires significant chilling time, so plan ahead to allow at least 4 hours in the fridge.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and heavy whipping cream for the best texture and flavor.
- Optional sweetener with pecans adds a nice touch of caramelized flavor but is not necessary.
- Graham cracker crust can be substituted with digestive biscuits or similar crackers if desired.
- For a gluten-free option, ensure graham cracker crumbs are gluten-free or use gluten-free cookies.
