Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Pie (gluten-free, whole grain, all-purpose flour options)
This caramel pecan cheesecake pie has a layer of caramel pecans over a cream cheese filling. With gluten-free, whole grain and all-purpose flour options. Thanks to Bob’s Red Mill for making today’s post possible!
I rarely post pies because they’re hard to recipe test. Baking a fourth pie is a whole lot more difficult than baking a fourth batch of cookies! The other reason is that gluten-free pie crust is my nemesis.
But with Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought I’d better get on the pie bandwagon. So here we have a super delicious adaptation of my blueberry cream cheese pie. If you want a whole grain or all-purpose flour crust, that’s the crust recipe you’ll be using instead of the below gluten-free pie crust.
I first made this caramel pecan pie last year with an almond flour-based crust. It was delicious, but I would hardly call it a crust. It fell apart and got soggy within hours. If you want to make this pie grain-free, you can use the crust in my paleo vegan pumpkin pie.
With all those pecans, it’s not the cheapest pie to make, so I just gave up. But when I came across Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free Pie Crust Mix, I thought I’d give it another try.
I’ve posted several recipes this year in partnership with Bob’s Red Mil,l but just so you know, I pick which products I want to incorporate into these recipes. I wasn’t asked to write about this pie crust mix – I chose it. :) After reading the rave reviews for it on Amazon, I knew that I had to try it.
So here’s what I love about it:
- The lack of preservatives and artificial junk! I’ve never posted any kind of mix on the blog before because I generally prefer to make everything from scratch, but after looking at the ingredients – rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, sugar, rice bran, sea salt, xanthan gum – I felt good about using this one.
- How easy it is to prepare – all you do is toss the mix, butter and / or shortening, and water into a food processor. Then roll it out.
- The dough is easy to work with. Gluten-free pie crust dough is notoriously difficult to work with, but this was a breeze. You can even crimp it! My crimping looks bad just because I’m a lousy crimper.
- It’s really tasty! And flaky. I was actually really surprised!
- The pie pieces are SO easy to get out of the pan. You know how crusts sometimes cling to the pan or fall apart while cutting? This was the easiest pie-cutting experience I’ve ever had.
What I don’t love about it:
- There’s no sugar cookie pie variation. Haha. It’d be awesome if there were the possibility to dump in 1/2 cup of sugar to make it taste like a sugar cookie pie crust. :D Unfortunately, that’s not how baking works, so I’ll just have to wait for them to make a sugar cookie pie crust mix. ;)
I just realized I haven’t really written anything about this pie, other than about the crust. But is that really necessary? I mean, it’s caramel pecans over a cream cheese filling. ;)
I think all you really need to know is that the filling is slightly softer and creamier than cheesecake (the one in the pictures is slightly overbaked). I’d take this caramel pecan cheesecake pie over regular pecan pie any day!
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Pie (gluten-free, whole grain, all-purpose flour options)
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1/2 bag Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free Pie Crust mix or this whole wheat pie crust, which can also be made with all-purpose flour, or the grain-free crust in this paleo vegan pumpkin pie
For the filling:
- 16 ounces (450 grams) full-fat cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup (240 grams) plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) raw sugar or granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs 50 grams each, out of shell, room temperature
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For the caramel pecan topping:
- 3/4 cup (180 grams) brown sugar packed
- 3/4 cup (177 ml) heavy cream
- 7 tablespoons (98 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups (275 grams) pecans chopped
Instructions
For the crust:
- If using the gluten-free pie crust mix, follow the instructions on the bag for preparing ONE 9" or 9.5" pie crust. That means you only need half the bag (so 8 ounces), 10 tablespoons of fat and 3 tablespoons of water. Here's a step-by-step tutorial tutorial with lots of pictures – note that you'll need to blind bake the crust before pouring in the filling.1/2 bag Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free Pie Crust mix or this whole wheat pie crust, which can also be made with all-purpose flour, or the grain-free crust in this paleo vegan pumpkin pie
- Once the crust is in the pie pan, place a piece of parchment paper over the crust and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Cover with a pie crust shield and bake at 425 °F (218 °C) for 30 minutes. The pie weights and parchment paper are ready to be removed when the crust is dry but still appears undercooked. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the pie weights and parchment paper. If the sides of the crust haven't lightly browned, then remove the pie crust shield so that the crust will brown a bit.
- Reduce the heat to 350 °F (176 °C) and continue baking for 12-18 minutes or until the bottom of the crust has lightly browned.
- If making the whole wheat / all-purpose flour version, then follow the instructions (Steps 1 -7) for preparing and baking the crust found on that recipe. Use a 9" or 9.5" pie plate.
- If making the grain-free crust, bake the crust at 350 °F (176 ° C) for 8-12 minutes (without pie weights).
For the filling:
- For all three types of crust, let the crust cool for at least 10 minutes while preparing the filling.
- Beat the cream cheese until fluffy and then add the Greek yogurt, sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt and beat on low until well combined. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the bottom of the pre-baked crust and use a silicone spatula to make it as even as possible.16 ounces (450 grams) full-fat cream cheese, 1 cup (240 grams) plain full-fat Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup (100 grams) raw sugar, 2 large eggs, 4 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until just the middle is jiggly when the pan is tapped and then remove the pie from the oven.
For the caramel:
- Heat the sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt in a heavy bottom saucepan (do not use non-stick) over medium heat.3/4 cup (180 grams) brown sugar, 3/4 cup (177 ml) heavy cream, 7 tablespoons (98 grams) unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3/8 teaspoon salt
- Stir until combined and then simmer for 8 minutes. Do not stir. If needed, tilt the pan to redistribute the mixture.
- Remove from the heat. The caramel will be quite thin at this point. Let it cool for 20 minutes or until considerably thickened and just barely pourable. Stir in the pecans and then pour over the chilled pie. Place the pie in the refrigerator until the caramel has firmed up. The second picture was taken after the pie had chilled overnight. If you want that kind of firmer topping, refrigerate the pie (after the caramel has been added) for about 4 hours. If you want it less firm, like what you see in the first picture, then only refrigerate the pie (after adding the caramel) for about 1-2 hours.2 1/2 cups (275 grams) pecans
- Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Best served on the day of making or the next day.
Notes
- For the flour use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free Pie Crust mix or this whole wheat pie crust, which can also be made with all-purpose flour, or the grain-free crust in this paleo vegan pumpkin pie.
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator. This recipe yields 8-12 servings. The nutritional info was calculated based on 12 servings.
- If you live outside of North America and have the kind of cream cheese that’s meant for toast (that comes in a little plastic tub) rather than American style brick cream cheese, then get 600 grams of cream cheese, place it in the center of a cheesecloth, and wring out the liquid until you have 450 grams of cream cheese left.
This is like having of my favorite desserts in one amazing pie! :) What an impressive dessert for the holidays.
Thank you! :)
These are the flavors I love! Looks and sounds amazing.
Thanks so much!
Wow, that looks positively, absolutely and completely scrumptious!!
Thanks! :)
Great fusion of 2 fave desserts!
Thanks!
Yum this pie looks to die for! Your pictures are great as well!
Thanks! It only took me 3 days of attempts. Haha. I need to get better + faster at this whole photography thing. ;)
I bought this GF pie crust mix and I need to use it for the GF folks.
Yay! I hope you and the others will enjoy it. :)
Will this filling work without a pie crust?
I haven’t ever made crustless cheesecake but I think it would. Hope you’ll enjoy it! :)
I’m obsessed with that gooey caramel! Soon to be a Holiday classic!
It’s hard to go wrong with gooey caramel!
YES! Pie crusts can be so difficult! I had no idea Bob’s Red Mill made a crust, I need to check that out. I just love this pie!
They’re definitely the most challenging part! Hope you’ll like the crust. :)
I am loving everything about this pie!
Thanks!
What a great recipe and its gluten free!
It is gluten-free! :)
This has got to be one of the prettiest pies I have ever seen!
So nice of you to say! Thank you. :)
This is such a stunning, gorgeous pie!!
Thanks! :)
Erin, this looks amazing. I love all your recipes, and we LOVE Bob’s Red Mill!
Aww, thanks! And I’m totally with you on Bob’s. :D
I feel that – pie is so hard if it fails. Like, now I have to make a whole new pie??!! But worth it because they’re so good. This one is gorgeous and I need it in my belly!
Right?! It’s such a huge investment. And thank you! :)
Oh my! This pie looks beyond amazing!!
Thanks!
My mom has been looking for a good gf pie crust recipe, and this makes it so much easier. Perfect timing, too – I’ll let her know about the mix! Plus, YUM.
Oh, yay! I’m happy to hear that. I hope you’ll both enjoy the crust + pie!
Hah! Looks like we had similar ideas for Bob’s this month. Hip Hooray for pecan pie!
Can’t wait to try yours! :)
This might just be THE most genius pie. EVER. <3
Haha. I don’t know about that but thanks. :D
This pie sounds heavenly! I usually make pecan pie every year, I will have to make this version too!
I hope you will! :)