This freezer-friendly and make-ahead pecan praline pumpkin pie combines my tried-and-true flaky pie crust, smooth and spiced pumpkin pie filling, and a sweet/salty crunchy pecan topping. It’s salted pecan pie meets pumpkin pie—in the best way possible! Use my helpful video tutorial to walk you through each step.
As far as Thanksgiving desserts go, pumpkin pie is an icon. And this pecan praline pumpkin pie is a fun twist on my traditional pumpkin pie recipe. I won’t call this rendition an “upgrade” since you can’t mess with perfection, but the crunchy praline topping definitely adds a tasty contrast to the smooth and spiced filling below. If you ever craved a little crunch with your pie, this recipe is for you.
For another fun twist on the classic, try chai pumpkin meringue pie next!
3 Parts to Pecan Praline Pumpkin Pie
- Pie Crust
- Pumpkin Pie Filling
- Pecan Praline Topping
For the ultimate finishing touch, I recommend topping this pecan pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of sea salt. The crunchy salt helps cut the praline’s sweetness and whipped cream is ALWAYS a good idea with pie. Agreed?
Partially Blind Bake the Pie Crust
Like my traditional pumpkin pie recipe, today’s version includes partially blind-baking the pie crust which means that we are pre-baking the crust before adding the filling. Do you know how to blind bake pie crust? Let’s review:
- Make pie dough ahead of time, then refrigerate or freeze until you’re ready to make the pie. Pie crust must chill for at least 2 hours before rolling out. You can use my favorite pie crust or my all butter pie crust recipe. I prefer the shortening/butter blend in my pie crust because the shortening promises that prized flaky texture. If needed, you can use a graham cracker crust or the gingersnap crust from this pumpkin swirl cheesecake instead. See recipe note.
- Roll the dough out, then fit into a 9-inch pie dish. Crimp or flute the edges. My trick to beautiful edges—don’t trim the excess pie dough. See step 2 in the recipe below and my full tutorial on how to crimp and flute pie crust.
- Chill the shaped pie crust for at least 30 minutes. This prevents shrinking. Remember that pie dough must be cold when it hits the oven. You can chill the shaped crust before or after you fill with pie weights (next step).
- Fill with pie weights. As the pie dough bakes, its fat will melt. The melting fat causes the pie crust to shrink down the sides of the pie dish. To prevent the pie dough from completely losing its shape, weigh it down with pie weights. Carefully line the pie dough with parchment paper first, then pour in pie weights or even dry beans. (Note: 2 packs of these pie weights are needed.)
- Bake until the edges are relatively set, about 10 minutes.
- Remove pie weights + parchment paper, then dock the crust, add a little egg wash around the edges, and bake for a little longer.
Some recipes, like my coconut cream pie and banana cream pie, require a fully blind baked pie crust because the filling doesn’t go into the oven. With this pecan pumpkin pie, however, we’re only partially pre-baking it. (Which is even easier!)
Pumpkin Pie Filling + Secret Ingredient
If you’ve made my beloved pumpkin pie recipe before, you know how good this filling is! To make room for the pecan praline topping, I reduced some of the ingredients so the filling doesn’t overflow. Instead of 3 eggs, we’ll use 2. I also reduced the sugar and liquids, too. This recipe uses an entire can of pumpkin, which is always convenient. I kept the spice amount the same, so we’re getting extra spice flavor in each bite. And you can use homemade pumpkin pie spice here—see recipe Note.
Speaking of spices, I add a pinch of fresh ground black pepper to pumpkin pie filling. I got this tip from King Arthur Baking and pumpkin pies are NEVER the same without it. The black pepper brings out the pumpkin pie spice flavors and no one ever realizes it’s hiding in there. (They’ll just ask you why your pie is so good!)
Don’t Forget the Egg Wash
You don’t have to wait for the partially blind baked pie crust to cool down before pouring in the filling—it can still be warm! To prevent a pale and lackluster crust, brush the partially blind baked pie crust with egg wash. Egg wash, a mixture of egg and milk, promises a golden sheen on the edges of your pie.
Pie Crust Shield: Do you notice the edges of your pie crust browning too quickly? Sometimes the crust edges are finished baking before the filling. A pie crust shield helps prevent over-browning. (I link to my favorite one in the recipe notes below.) You can also use aluminum foil. Fold a 12-inch piece of aluminum foil in half, then cut a semi-circle out from the folded edge. Unfold the foil to reveal a circle. Remove the cooking pie from the oven, then carefully place the foil on top so the center is exposed and edges are covered. Return pie to the oven.
Unlike in this pecan pie cheesecake where the topping is spooned over the finished dessert, we bake today’s topping right on the pie.
To start, let’s almost fully bake the pie before we add the praline topping. Why? First, the topping would burn if it’s in the oven that long and second, we could risk under-baking the filling if it’s hiding under the topping the whole time.
Pumpkin Pie Praline Topping Ingredients
As the pie bakes, make the 3 ingredient praline topping. You need:
- Chopped Pecans: This is a pecan praline topping, which is reminiscent of my favorite pecan pie filling and the topping on my sweet potato casserole. If you don’t like pecans, feel free to substitute with chopped walnuts or pistachios. Or instead of using 1 cup of chopped pecans, try 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1/2 cup pepitas. Yum!
- Brown Sugar: Praline is the mixture of cooked sugar and nuts, so we can’t have a praline topping without sugar! I recommend brown sugar, which pairs with the brown sugar in the pumpkin pie filling.
- Honey: We need a sticky liquid sugar for this praline topping. The honey cooks and melts down, creating a delectable sticky crunch. If needed, you can substitute the honey with light corn syrup or even maple syrup.
Top the pie with the praline topping, then return to the oven for about 15 more minutes.
How to Make Ahead + Freeze Praline Pumpkin Pie
Pecan praline pumpkin pie is perfect for entertaining because (conveniently!) it needs to cool completely before serving. I always make pumpkin pie the day ahead of time, let it cool, cover it with aluminum foil, and refrigerate overnight. You can bring to room temperature before serving or serve cold. And with whipped cream, of course.
Freezing: You can also freeze the baked and cooled pie. If freezing, I recommend baking your pie in a disposable aluminum pie dish because its thin weight will help prevent ice crystals from forming on your pie. Cool the baked pie completely, then wrap the whole thing—pan included—in plastic wrap or Press & Seal, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This is how to freeze cakes, too. Freeze for up to 3 months, then keep pie in the wrapping and thaw in the refrigerator before topping with whipped cream and serving.
- You can also freeze the semi-baked pie before adding the praline topping. To maintain the praline topping’s crisp texture, this is what I recommend. Follow the recipe below through step 7, cool the pie, follow the freezing and thawing instructions above, then bring the pie to room temperature. Continue with step 8 in the recipe below. This way your praline topping is fresh!
I honestly don’t know which is the best: the crunchy sweet/salty topping, the creamy pumpkin filling, or the flaky pie crust. But who has to pick favorites? If you’re looking for more inspiration for your Thanksgiving dessert table, here are all of my favorite Thanksgiving pies.
See Your Pecan Praline Pumpkin Pies!
So many of you have tried this recipe. Feel free to email or share your recipe photos on social media.
PrintPecan Praline Pumpkin Pie
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours, 10 minutes (includes pie crust)
- Yield: one 9-inch pie
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This pecan praline pumpkin pie combines flaky pie crust, smooth and spiced pumpkin pie filling, and a sweet/salty crunchy pecan topping. For recipe success, read my recipe notes and watch the helpful video tutorial above before you begin.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 unbaked Buttery Flaky Pie Crust (what I used) or All Butter Pie Crust*
- egg wash for pie crust: 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon milk or heavy cream
Filling
- one 15oz can (about 2 cups; 425g) pumpkin puree*
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon (8g) cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger*
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg*
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves*
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2/3 cup (160ml) heavy cream*
- 1/3 cup (80ml) whole milk*
Praline Topping
- 1 cup (130g) finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons (43g) honey*
- for garnish: sea salt and whipped cream
Instructions
- For best success, read the recipe in full before beginning.
- Pie crust: I like to make sure my pie dough is prepared before I begin making pecan praline pumpkin pie. Make pie dough the night before because it needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before rolling out and blind baking (next step).
- Roll out the chilled pie dough: On a floured work surface, roll out one of the disks of chilled dough (use the 2nd pie crust for another recipe!). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is completely smooth. To make a lovely thick edge, I do not trim excess dough around the edges. Instead, fold the excess dough back over the edge and use your hands to mold the edge into a nice thick rim around the pie. Crimp the edges with a fork or use your fingers to flute the edges. You can see me do this in the video tutorial above or in my detailed how to crimp and flute pie crust tutorial.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Pre-bake the crust: Line the pie crust with parchment paper. Crunching up the parchment paper is helpful so that you can easily shape it into the crust. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. (Note that you will need at least 2 standard sets of pie weights to fit.) Make sure the weights/beans are evenly distributed around the pie dish. Par-bake the crust for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment paper/pie weights. Brush edges lightly with egg wash. Prick the bottom of the crust all over with a fork to create steam vents and return crust (without weights) to the oven for 7–8 more minutes or until the bottom is *just* starting to brown. (Review this how to par-bake pie crust page if you need extra help with this par-baking step.)
- Whisk the pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, cream, and milk together in a large bowl until completely combined and smooth. If desired, you can use an electric mixer for this step.
- Pour filling into warm crust. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the center is no longer jiggly. It can still be a little sticky in the very center on top, just as long as it no longer jiggles when you lightly tap the pan. During bake time, if you find the edges of the pie crust are browning too quickly, apply a pie crust shield or a ring of aluminum foil to protect it.
- Topping: Remove pie from the oven and add the topping. I like to make the topping as the pie bakes so I have it ready. Using a fork, mix the pecans and brown sugar together. Drizzle in the honey and mix until combined. Spoon on top of the pie, then *very* gently press it down with a spoon or fork so it sticks on the filling.
- Return pie to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Use a pie crust shield to protect the crust from over-browning, if needed.
- Remove the pie from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely, at least 3-4 hours. If not serving right away, cover cooled pie and store at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Serve room temperature or cold with a sprinkle of sea salt and whipped cream. I used Ateco 849 piping tip for the whipped cream, but you can just use a spoon to top each slice with a dollop.
- Cover and store leftover pie in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: See post above for detailed make-ahead and freezing instructions.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Rolling Pin | 9-inch Pie Dish | Parchment Paper | Pie Weights | Pastry Brush | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Pie Crust Shield | Cooling Rack | Piping Bag (Reusable or Disposable) | Ateco 849 Piping Tip
- Pie Crust: Both linked pie crust recipes make 2 crusts. You only need 1 crust for this pie, so freeze the 2nd half for another use. If using store-bought pie dough, you still need to pre-bake it. If needed, you can use a graham cracker crust or gingersnap crust instead of traditional pie crust. Pre-bake the cookie crust at 350°F (177°C) for 10 minutes. No need for pie weights if using a cookie crust.
- Pumpkin: Canned pumpkin is best in this pumpkin pie recipe. If using fresh pumpkin puree, lightly blot it before adding to remove some moisture. The bake time may be longer.
- Spices: Instead of ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper, you can use 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Be sure to still add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
- Heavy Cream & Milk: Do not substitute a lower fat milk– the fat in whole milk is needed. Feel free to use 1 cup of half-and-half instead of heavy cream + whole milk.
- Honey: If needed, you can substitute the honey in the praline topping with light corn syrup or even maple syrup.
Hi! Is it possible to make this into mini pies? If so, would I need to change anything?
Hi Samantha, yes! We’ve made them as mini tarts before. See Salted Pecan Pie Tarts for the full directions.
Pie crust in the oven to blind bake at 375? It ended up collapsing into a pile of goo. THE PROPER TEMPERATURE FOR BLIND BAKING A PIE CRUST IS AT LEAST 425! But I made then mistake of thinking “Sally” knew what she was talking about.
Every “Sally” in the world seem to know how to get a website for a “blog” but they don’t know how to cook. You owe me a pie, “Sally”. God – how I despise food bloggers –
I parbake successfully all the time at 375. Any chance you neglected to:
(a) chill shaped dough prior to putting it in the oven,
(b) weight the chilled dough with parchment paper filled with pie weights (i.e. rice, beans),
(c) perhaps your oven temperature is “off”, in which case it can be tested and adjusted.
“THE PROPER TEMPERATURE FOR BLIND BAKING A PIE CRUST IS AT LEAST 425!”
Your statement is not accurate. Heidi, you have been misinformed.
Was a big hit at Xmas
Oh my goodness!!! This pie is delicious & looks so beautiful on the table! I used honey as directed in the praline & it was perfect!! This will be part of our holiday traditions from now on!!! I used a silicone crust protecter but took it off when I added the praline mixture & it browned just right! Thank you Sally for another wonderful recipe!! Happy Holidays!!
I love pecan pie-but no one else does-this pie gave me the pecans I love and just enough sweet! It was awesome-the pumpkin wasn’t too sweet-delicious!
this was a wonderful pie! It was a much more interesting take on a pumpkin pie..but not that different that you couldn’t say you had a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
Very easy.
The only thing to note is that the recipe says to finely chop pecans, but actually the video shows the pecans to be large pieces…which worked out very well.
thanks again for another dependable recipe!
My 2 favorite pies…in one! I made this to bring to work after Thanksgiving, for something a little different. Oh my gosh it’s absolutely fantastic!! Loved the sprinkle if sea salt on top. Pie Perfection!
This was my first time making a pumpkin pie and I was so happy I chose this one! The topping was a genius move! Everyone loved this on our Thanksgiving table, I might even make it for Christmas!!
Made this for Thanksgiving with a few variations, including using a pre-made gluten free graham cracker crust. Used a can of organic pumpkin pie filling and added a pinch of freshly ground black pepper as suggested. Impossible to taste the pepper – it just brings out the other flavors. Accidentally used sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk. Was worried that it would be way too sweet, but it gave the pumpkin filling a pudding-like texture, and it was delicious. Everyone raved!
Hi, what temperature should this be baked at for step 7 with the filling added, still 375?
Thanks! Looking forward to a 2 for 1 Thanksgiving pie, great idea!
Yes, you will keep the oven temperature the same the entire time. Happy baking!
Do the pecans need to be finely chopped? In our family’s more traditional pecan pie we like to have whole/half pecan pieces. This year we’re going for a half pumpkin half pecan pie so this recipe seems great. Would using bigger pieces be an issue?
Hi Meredith, Feel free to leave the whole if you prefer.
I’m going to make this for Thanksgiving this year (2021). My only concern is the black pepper. Can you taste the pepper in the pie? It seems like a strange spice to add to a pumpkin pie. Thanks.
Hi Wendy, you can’t taste the black pepper at all — it simply brings out the pumpkin spice flavors. Your Thanksgiving guests will love it!
Thanks for the recipe! My family and I have never eaten a pumpkin pie before – it was delicious! Greetings from Germany / Bavaria, Diana
So happy to hear that this pie was a hit for you and your family, Diana!
My family loved it and requested I make it for Thanksgiving. I prefer your regular pumpkin pie so it looks like I will be baking two. XD
Can you substitute the corn syrup with an alternative?
Hi Kristin, there is no corn syrup in this recipe. The praline topping calls for honey and you an use corn syrup as an alternative to that if you don’t have honey. Enjoy!
I just made this for thanksgiving (Canadian) and it was absolutely delicious! 10/10 would recommend!!
Hi Sally!
I made this at Thanksgiving and everyone LOVED it!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I am looking to make a hand held version for Christmas. Am I able to make these in tart form? Would the pie crust still need blind baked?
Thanks!
Nikki
Hi Nikki, We made them as mini tarts! See Salted Pecan Pie Tarts for the full directions.
This recipe, among many, is the reason you’re my go-to for all things baking. Such easy and clear instructions and such a great outcome!
The homemade whipped cream is a game changer, so I would suggest it to anyone that’s willing to put in a little extra time.
Made this and it came out delicious! My only struggle was getting my pie to set and determining if it was still jiggling or if I was tapping too hard on the cooking sheet lol. This is definitely a pie recipe I will using again in the future!
Great recipe. Where I live I can’t find caned pumpkin so I baked my pumpkin at 380f for 25 min. Also pie crust is the best I have ever baked. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
My husband has always been a lover of the pecan pie. Pie, as a whole genre, is my favorite food. However, pecan has always been at the absolute bottom of my list. To be fair, I have only had it once, at his mothers, and someone may have severely overcooked it… but as it was never around growing up, its just never a pie that I think to make. Feeling bad for my poor husband, I decided to look for a recipe that could perhaps combine pumpkin and pecan pie, since it sounded yummy and maybe it would be a decent compromise. I found this recipe. It looked amazing. It sounded amazing. The reviews all said it was amazing. Decided to take a leap of faith and give it a go for Thanksgiving. Oh my… I am so glad I found this. To give you an accurate representation: Day one, bite one: my husband stopped, looked at me and declared “this is now and forever the only pie you will be making for Thanksgiving”. Day 2, bite one: my husband stops and says “Not only is this the best because it combines the two pies, but its the best part of the pecan pie paired with literally the best pumpkin pie I have ever tasted”. Day three, bite one: Husband stops and says “Ok, I think this is seriously the best pie recipe in the world. Make copies of the recipe. Laminate them. Hide them all over the house. Please do not lose this”. So there you have it. I hope this has convinced you to make this because it really is THAT GOOD.
Best pumpkin pie I have ever made! Everyone loved it & I have shared this recipe with so many people already. Amazing combination of pecan & pumpkin pie. I used a store-bought pie shell since I’m gluten free, but otherwise followed the recipe to the letter. Freaking phenomenal.
lovely blend of flavors-sweet, salty, spicy bite (from the freshly-ground black pepper…genius addition)
…a Winner!
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it great! A perfect cross between pumpkin and pecan…a lovely combo!
We made the pie for Thanksgiving. It tasted amazing and even better the next day.
I used frozen shortening and refrigerated butter for crust, used amts listed in recipe. refrigerated discs for 2 days before rolling out 1 disc & putting it in glass pie pan. Covered with parchment paper, added 1 cup uncooked rice as weights over parchment paper. Covered with plastic wrap, chilled in freezer for 30+ minutes. Removed plastic wrap, baked in preheated 350 degree F oven for 12 mins.
Help: Sides of crust shrank considerably, 1/4” – 1/2” in a few places! Any idea what happened? Perhaps I didn’t use enough rice to weigh down crust? Homemade Buttery Flaky Pie Crust recipe notes to prick bottom of crust before baking. Pecan Praline Pumpkin Pie recipe doesn’t state to prick so I didn’t.
Perfect balance of flavors. So easy. A keeper. For me, time matters so I cheat and buy Pillsbury pie crust sheets.
You will have to work very hard to mess this up.
Oh my head! Best pie EVER!! This crust is amazing (I used half cold vodka). This is the perfect sweet and pretty! Will definitely made this a regular holiday pie. Thank you.
amazing recipe, again :)!! My pie crust does turn out with an amazing taste but its so hard to work with after I refrigerate it (I usually prep it a day in advance) and breaks so much. What can I do differently? Thank you.
This happened to me too, I added 3 more tablespoons of water to the dough, reworked it, and refrigerated it for another hour. It still turned out great!
Thank you so much I will try that next time. I read somewhere else to let it sit for a few min out of the refrigerator before rolling it to make it easier but have not tried that method.
Hi Sally, I would like to make a pumpkin pie (for my non-nut lovers) then have the praline topping for anyone who wants the addition. I’m thinking I will bake the praline in a separate pie plate for a short bit. Any thoughts or different suggestions on this idea? Thank you!
Hi Valerie, We haven’t tested it this way but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work to have the toppings separate. Happy baking!
For the pecan praline topping…Instead of honey used half light corn syrup half Lyle’s Golden Syrup. Added a Tablespoon of Bourbon to the recipie. It came out more than amazing. In a jam I have purchased a store bought pumpkin pie and made the topping and everyone gave me credit. Takes 5 min.