Peg Leg Pete’s Pecan Pie

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so today I am sharing my one of my absolute favorite recipes. This peacan pie recipe is rich, nutty, and swirled with the most incredible homemade caramel you will ever have the pleasure of tasting. Let’s get into it!

About this recipe:

Growing up in the 60s, getting the family together for Thanksgiving is one of my favorite childhood memories. In fact, my uncle Pete would bring this pecan pie recipe over to our family Thanksgiving party! There he is on the left (and you can spy a baby Doris right in front!).

My Uncle Pete was in the navy, and unfortunately lost his leg in a freak crocodile accident in Vietnam. Though the accident was pretty grizzly, Pete survived and even thrived with one leg. He fully embraced his new prosthetic limb, even nicknaming himself Peg Leg Pete.

I have the fondest memories of celebrating the holidays with my Uncle. We used have spitting contests, where the loser would have to run around crazed and pantless down the street, pretending they were convinced they were a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (Pete always lost on purpose), and him and my mother would always play hide and seek with me. I could never find them!

But enough reminiscing. Let’s talk about what makes this recipe special:

• Trader Joe’s Ingredients: This recipe is made with only Trader Joe’s ingredients, meaning it’s both delicious and affordable.

• Ooey Gooey Caramel: We’re making our own caramel for this recipe. None of that store bought stuff!

• Roasted Pecans: Trader Joe’s sells these bad boys for $2 less per bag than other grocery stores. What a steal!

• Time Saving: Trader Joe’s sells premade pie crusts, so no need to bust out your rolling pin. As my son would say, “f*ck that noise!”

Tips & Tricks

So are you ready to get started creating the perfect pecan pie, that would make even PLP proud? Of course you are! But here are just a few tips to make sure it comes together for you without issue.

Pre-bake Your Crust:

No one likes a soggy pie. Not even Carl Jacobs himself would enjoy such a monstrocity. So you’re going to need to pre-bake your pie crust before adding your filling. Preheat your oven to 500° C and pop your crust in there for about 10-15 minutes. Trust me, this makes ALL the difference.

Not all Nuts are Created Equal:

I once had a reader ask me if he could swap out the pecans for another nut, since he’s allergic. I mean, you totally could do that. But it wouldn’t be a pecan pie anymore. My recommendation? Pop 6 bennys and say a prayer, because this pie recipe is worth going to heaven for.

Clean While You Go:

My bitch ass ex-husband used to offer to cook for me, only to dirty every pan in the damn house! Not considerate! To avoid ending up on an episode of Forensic Files, I highly recommend washing the measuring spoons and bowls as you go.

Ingredients:

Okay, now that you’ve read all of my tips to make this pie even better, let’s get into what you’ll need to make this recipe!

1. Lemon

Tangy, Juice, and Tart. What’s not to love!?

How to Make This Dessert:

Follow the instructions for this recipe carefully. Remember that baking is more of a science than cooking, so pay close attention to the amounts listed:

Recipe Card: