This Low Calorie Pecan Pie recipe is a lighter take on a classic dessert. Each slice delivers the same warm, rich taste you love!
Try my Low Calorie Key Lime Pie and Low Calorie Pie Crust for more holiday dessert recipes.
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Move over pumpkin pie and apple pie! This low calorie pecan pie is a great dessert option for those watching their calorie intake. Traditional pecan pie recipes can be high in sugar and calories.
I've replaced the standard pie crust with whole wheat flour and unsweetened applesauce. The filling is sweetened with a combination of natural sweetener and honey, with a perfect blend of chopped pecans and a hint of vanilla extract. There's no need for corn syrup or white sugar.
More healthier dessert recipes to try: Low Cake Lemon Cake with Yogurt
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Despite being a lighter version, this pecan pie has the rich and nutty flavors that make pecan pie an awesome Thanksgiving dessert.
This homemade pecan pie is straightforward and easy to follow, making it a good classic pecan pie for the holiday season. It's the best pecan pie recipe and perfect holiday dessert! It has a gooey filling and will become a family favorite!
Ingredients You Need
For the Crust:
- Whole wheat flour: A batter alternative to traditional all-purpose flour.
- Unsweetened applesauce: Used in place of butter often found in pie crusts. It still providing moisture and a tender texture.
- Salt: Added for flavor and to enhance the overall taste of the crust.
- Cold water: Essential for binding the crust ingredients together and forming a dough.
For the Filling:
- Granulated sweetener (granulated sugar substitute): This zero calorie sweetener is used in the filling. You can also use brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness and flavor to the filling. You can also use pure maple syrup.
- Unsalted butter (in moderation): While butter is included in the filling, this recipe uses it in moderation.
- Eggs: Provide structure and help bind the filling together.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the pie.
- Chopped raw pecans: Provide a rich, nutty flavor.
Step By Step Photos
Combine whole wheat flour and salt.
Add cold water and applesauce.
Shape the dough into a ball.
Roll out the chilled dough.
Whisk together filling ingredients.
Stir in the chopped pecans.
Transfer rolled-out crust to pie pan.
Pour filling into the pie crust.
How To Made Low Calorie Pecan Pie From Scratch
Step 1. Prepare the crust: Mix whole wheat flour and salt in a large bowl. Add cold water and unsweetened applesauce, form a dough. Shape into a ball, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Step 2. Preheat the oven: Preheat to 350 °F.
Step 3. Roll out the crust: Roll out chilled dough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Transfer and press into the pan, trim excess.
Step 4. Prepare the filling: Whisk sweetener, honey, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in chopped pecans.
Step 5. Assemble and bake: Pour filling into the prepared crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the filling is set.
Step 6. Cool and serve: Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack. Slice and serve. Optionally, add a dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Tips
- Opt for high-quality whole wheat flour, pure vanilla extract, and fresh pecans for the best flavor and texture.
- Allowing the low calorie pie crust dough to chill in the refrigerator helps it firm up and become easier to work with. This step ensures a flakier crust.
- To prevent a soggy crust, you can lightly brush the pie crust with a beaten egg white before adding the filling. This creates a protective barrier that helps maintain the crust's texture.
- Let the pie plate cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This allows the filling to set further and makes for neater slices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pecan Pie
Yes, you can experiment with different flours. You can also use all-purpose flour, almond flour, coconut flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
Yes, you can make a gluten-free version by using a gluten-free flour blend for the crust. Be sure that all other ingredients, such as the vanilla extract, are also gluten-free.
Yes, you can try making a vegan pecan pie by replacing the eggs with a suitable egg substitute like flax eggs or applesauce. Also, be sure that the sweetener used is vegan-friendly.
If you plan to consume it within 1-2 days, storing at room temperature is fine.
Pecan pie can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Yes, pecan pie can be frozen. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil, place it in a freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
More Holiday Recipes You Might Enjoy
Low Calorie Pecan Pie
Special Equipment
Ingredients
For Crust
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cold water
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
For Filling
- ¾ cup granulated sweetener
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour and salt.
- Add the cold water and unsweetened applesauce to the mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
- Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie pan.
- Transfer the rolled-out crust to the pie pan and press it into the bottom and up the sides. Trim any excess crust.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sweetener, honey, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Stir in the chopped pecans.
- Pour the pecan filling into the prepared pie crust.
- Place the pie in the middle of the oven and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the filling is set. You can check for doneness by gently shaking the pie; it should only have a slight jiggle in the center.
- If the crust edges start to brown too quickly, you can cover them with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
- Allow the pie to cool completely on a cooling rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Opt for high-quality whole wheat flour, pure vanilla extract, and fresh pecans for the best flavor and texture.
- Allowing the low calorie pie crust dough to chill in the refrigerator helps it firm up and become easier to work with. This step ensures a flakier crust.
- To prevent a soggy crust, you can lightly brush the pie crust with a beaten egg white before adding the filling. This creates a protective barrier that helps maintain the crust's texture.
- Let the pie plate cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This allows the filling to set further and makes for neater slices.
- Storing: If you plan to consume it within 1-2 days, storing at room temperature is fine. Pecan pie can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil, place it in a freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Jannel Teshera
The filling was fabulous and definitely a keeper!! The crust was inedible - tough and bland. Will be making the filling in the future, but will stick with my standard pie crust recipe.
Thanks!
Kate
So glad you loved the filling! Standard pie crusts have a LOT of butter to make them flaky. The applesauce pie crust definitely has a downside (tougher crust) but is an option for some people watching calories and fat who still want to indulge in pecan pie.
freddie
Hello! I haven`t tried this recipe yet, but I want to ask, is the 262kcals calories in all or in a single slice? I apologize if this is a dumb question haha. Can`t wait to try this recipe!
Kate
That's per slice, assuming 8 equal slices in the pie. However, keep in mind that ingredients vary in calories in nutrition, and how you measure or weigh them out will also differ slightly than how I measured them out. Also, all food blogs use an automatic calorie/nutrition calculator which isn't always perfect. If calories are important to you, make sure to weigh your exact ingredients and do the math of calories per slice.
Diane Nelson
Could you use coconut Flour instead of whole wheat flour??
Kate
I'm not sure off the top of my head, sorry. Coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid and crumbles easily, so I am not sure of the exact substitutions for pecan pie.