Pecan Crusted Caramel Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Crusted Caramel Pumpkin Pie is a gluten-free, rustic and over-the-top delicious Thanksgiving and holiday dessert. The crust is a treat in and of itself and the caramel notes in the filling will make you swoon!

This is no an ordinary pumpkin pie.

With a warmly spiced caramel mixed into the filling, and a (gluten-free) crust made almost entirely of pecans, this pumpkin pie has an edge to it.

The crust is reminiscent of a pecan pie, in and of itself, and the pumpkin mixture is so silky smooth and rich -- you and your guests won't be able to get enough.

The ingredients

• pecans - Whole, roasted and salted.
• unsalted butter - I bake (and cook) with unsalted butter to better control the flavor.
• granulated sugar
• Spiced Caramel Sauce - This adds incredible flavor to the pie! You can make this portion of the recipe days ahead (see details in recipe card).
• canned pumpkin purée
• pure vanilla extract - I like this one.
• ground cinnamon
• ground ginger
• cornstarch - Just a little. This will help thicken the filling a bit.
• milk - Low or whole-fat.
• eggs

(See recipe card below for quantities.)

Substitutions and Variations

• If pecans aren't your thing, you can also use walnuts or a combination of nuts, like I've done in this Butternut Squash Pie.
• Though part of what makes this Caramel Pumpkin Pie so interesting is the nut crust, you can also use a store bought pie crust, or really any other homemade crust you like. It will still be tasty.
• Feel free to mix up the spices, or use more or less, depending on your taste.
• Don't want a crust at all? Go for it -- you can either fill a pie plate or individual ramekins with the filling ans serve pumpkin caramel custard.

Can you use a different caramel sauce?

While I highly recommend my Spiced Caramel Sauce because of its unique flavor profile, you can use any caramel you like. There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you do:

• First, most store bought caramels don't have all (or any) of the spices that my recipe has, so you should add those directly to the filling (about ½ tea. cinnamon, ¼ tea. cardamom, ⅛ tea. nutmeg).
• Second, not all caramels will be exactly the same consistency and/or have the same ingredients, so baking times and the texture of the filling might vary.

Recipe Tips

• When you're blending the pecans, be sure not to over do it. If you process them too long, they'll turn into a paste. Blend just until the nuts are tiny crumbs.
• Be sure to let the pie cool for at least two hours before serving. It will be easier to slice and the pieces will be neater.

How to Make it

The Pecan Pie Crust

This is my favorite way to make a delicious gluten-free pie crust, and you won't believe how easy it is.

- Preheat the oven to 350°F.

- Blend the pecans in a food processor with the blade attachment -- do not over mix or they will become pecan butter. You can also use a knife to finely chop the nuts.

- Add the ground pecans to a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir in the sugar and melted butter.

- Pour the pecan mixture into a 10-inch pie plate. Gently use your hands to press it evenly onto the bottom and sides.

- Bake the crust in a preheated 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. It will "fall" a bit. Use the back of a large metal spoon to gently press on the crust so the side rise back up a bit. (You may have to do this a couple of times as it cools.) Do not turn the oven off.

- Set aside to cool to room temperature.

The Filling

- You can make the Spiced Caramel Sauce up to a few days ahead. If you haven’t already made it, do it before you being the filling.

- In a small to medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugar, vanilla and spices. Then in a tiny bowl, combine the milk and cornstarch, and stir until it's smooth. Add this, along with the eggs to the pumpkin mixture. Mix until all of the ingredients are incorporated and it's a very smooth consistency.

- Now mix the caramel with the pumpkin mixture until it's smooth. Then, pour this into the prepared pecan crust.

- Place the pie plate on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the filling is set, about 55 minutes. (During the cooking process, if the edges of the crust are becoming too dark, loosely lay a sheet of foil over it.)

- Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve at room temperature.

Can you make this pie ahead?

• This Caramel Pumpkin Pie can be made up to four days ahead. How great is that during the holidays!?
• It should be kept refrigerated, ideally in a pie container, like this one -- or, wrapped in foil carefully so as not to have it come in contact with the top of the pie (simply for aesthetics). 😉
• If you do make it ahead, set it out at room temperature several hours before serving, and if desired, you can warm it up a bit.
• This crust will be at its best the day or day after it's baked. It'll still be delicious the following days, just just maybe not as crunchy.

More Dessert Recipes With Pumpkin

• Pumpkin Almond Cookies
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Streusel
• Pumpkin Spice Glazed Air Fryer Donut Holes

I hope you love this Pecan Crusted Caramel Pumpkin Pie as much as my family and I do.

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