Piccadilly Cafeteria Pecan Delight Pie

Pecan Delight Pie is a favourite dessert on the Piccadilly Cafeteria restaurant. It’s a light-weight, fluffy, creamy pie with a toasted pecan and Ritz cracker meringue crust.

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Piccadilly pecan delight dessert

For practically 80 years, Piccadilly Cafeteria has been serving up basic American meals in an off-the-cuff environment. Over time, the recognition of sure gadgets on the menu has waned, however Pecan Delight, one of many unique pies served on the cafe, continues to keep up a loyal following and be a Southern favourite.

This pie could look easy, however the advanced flavors and textures make it an absolute standout. However what makes this pie not like something you’ve got ever tasted is the ethereal menagerie crust studded with toasted Ritz crackers and items of pecans; actually not like something you’ve got ever eaten. This Pecan Delight recipe isn’t too troublesome to make, and it’s certain to impress, regardless of the place you serve it.

What makes the Piccadilly Pecan Delight Pie a brand new solution to get pleasure from pecan pie?

This delicious pie has related elements to a basic pecan pie, besides with a twist. It doesn’t have a typical pie crust however one thing far more particular. With a novel pecan-packed meringue shell and light-weight, fluffy whipped filling, you’ll be in heaven each time that you simply chew into this.

Because you toast the pecans and Ritz crackers, they tackle a golden-brown hue and deeper taste. The meringue shell completely bakes right into a crispy, candy masterpiece. When mixed with creamy filling, this dessert is really magnificent.  

Why you’ll love this recipe

With solely a handful of components required, this can be a easy recipe that anybody could make. However other than its simple baking strategies, your family members will likely be blown away by how scrumptious it’s. It’s merely mild and fluffy pie perfection!

This recipe will take them proper again to the primary time they tried it at Piccadilly Cafeteria. It’s a timeless basic with wealthy flavors and contrasting textures. Serve this at your subsequent work celebration, potluck, or household gathering, and it’ll quickly turn out to be everybody’s favourite due to how distinctive it’s!

What’s meringue and the way can I make it?

When most individuals hear the phrase ‘meringue,’ they instantly consider what’s on prime of a lemon meringue pie. However meringue is far more versatile than that. Pastry cooks use meringue to make every thing from tart shells to cookies. Whereas the ingredient checklist for meringue is brief, it does require a good bit of approach to get proper.

The best solution to make meringue is utilizing a stand mixer or an electrical hand mixer with a whisk attachment. In case you don’t have both, you possibly can nonetheless make meringue utilizing a balloon whisk, however prepare for a exercise.

There are two completely different sorts of meringue, comfortable and exhausting. Tender meringue is what bakers use to prime a lemon meringue pie or to mix with different components. It’s not the sort you need for this recipe. Ritz cracker pecan pies and tarts require exhausting meringue that may type a stable shell.

To make a tough meringue, first, you must separate the eggs. The best means to do that is to crack every egg right into a small bowl and use your fingers to scoop out the yolk. In case you choose, you possibly can all the time use an egg separator to maintain your fingers from getting messy. Make sure you examine that there are not any bits of yolk with the egg whites earlier than including the whites to the blending bowl. Repeat for every egg.

Add the vanilla and cream of tartar to the egg whites, and blend on low till foam begins to look. At this level, begin including the sugar, a tablespoon at a time. After including all of the sugar, you possibly can improve the pace of the mixer barely. Proceed to beat the egg white combination till it will get shiny. Test for stiff peaks by lifting the whisk or attachment straight up and turning the other way up. The meringue is prepared when the peaks don’t lose their form.

Components

Right here’s a listing of what it is advisable to make pecan meringue pie:

• Eggs
• Cream of Tartar
• Vanilla extract
• Sugar
• Pecans
• Ritz crackers
• Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)

In case you don’t need to use Cool Whip, you possibly can all the time make your individual whipped cream. Since you have already got the mixer out, why not make selfmade whipped cream? You’ll be able to’t beat the flavour.

Learn how to make pecan delight pie

1. Place chopped pecans and crushed Ritz crackers on a baking sheet.
2. Bake at 350°F for five minutes. They need to be mild golden brown.
3. Take away pecans and crackers from the oven and place them on a paper towel to chill.
4. Decrease oven temperature to 275°F.
5. Separate yolks from egg whites. Place egg whites in a mixing bowl.
6. Add vanilla and cream of tartar to the egg whites and beat till stiff.
7. Slowly add sugar and proceed to beat egg whites till very stiff peaks type and the sugar is dissolved.

8. Add pecans and crackers to the overwhelmed egg whites.
9. Fold in pecans and Ritz crackers.
10. Spray a 10-inch pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.
11. Unfold the meringue within the backside and up the edges of the pan, about 1-inch thick. You could have additional meringue (see tip under).
12. Hole out slightly gap in the midst of the underside of the meringue the dimensions of half a dime to assist with a fair baking of the shell.
13. Bake at 275°F for 1 hour.
14. Flip the oven off and let the meringue crust dry within the oven for an additional hour.
15. Take away the crust from the oven and let it cool to room temperature.
16. When the crust is cool, unfold the whipped topping in it.

17. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
18. Place the pie within the fridge to fully chill earlier than serving.

Tip: For a buttery contact, toast the pecans coated in melted butter.

Suggestions for whipping up egg whites

• Use clear gear. Utilizing a moist bowl or instruments that aren’t solely clear and have grease on them can inhibit the egg whites from fluffing up, which might be fairly irritating!
• Begin with a gradual to medium pace, and as soon as the egg whites turn out to be considerably fluffy, you possibly can improve the pace.
• Don’t below or overwhip the egg whites. Unfastened meringue gained’t bake appropriately, and overwhipped meringue turns grainy or curdled! Be cautious when the stiff peak stage is approaching.
• Use room-temperature eggs. They’ll foam up and mix into one another a lot simpler.
• Don’t use recent eggs to make meringue. Older eggs are higher, don’t use spoiled ones. You’ll be able to examine by putting an egg in a glass of water. If it floats, throw it away, however you need to use it if it stands up on the underside of the glass.

Bonus recipe – meringue nests

If in case you have any additional meringue, you can also make nests and bake them the identical means because the crust.

Simply drop mounds of the meringue combination onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use the again of a spoon to type a nicely within the middle.

Then you possibly can fill the baked nests with jam, pudding, fruit, or berries. Strawberries and raspberries make a pleasant dessert for Valentine’s Day.

What to serve this with

Take pleasure in this divine dessert with a chocolate drizzle, caramel sauce, recent fruit, or perhaps a scoop of ice cream. You can too sprinkle additional pecans on prime for garnish.

Learn how to retailer it

Cowl this pie with a dome lid or transfer the additional items to an hermetic container that gained’t smash the floor layer of whipped topping. Hold it within the fridge.

How lengthy will it final?

Between the Cool Whip and the baked meringue shell, this pie is certainly finest loved when it has simply been freshly chilled.

Nonetheless, this yummy pie lasts roughly 3-4 days when saved appropriately. After that, the Cool Whip may begin to break down, and the meringue turns softer.

Love selfmade pies? Attempt these recipes!

Favourite pecan desserts and treats

Make sure you take a look at extra of my simple pie recipes and the very best Thanksgiving dessert recipes on CopyKat!

Piccadilly Pecan Delight Pie

Make a light-weight and creamy pecan delight pie at residence.

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Course: Dessert

Delicacies: American

Key phrase: Pecan Delight Pie, Piccadilly Cafeteria Recipes, Pies

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time: 1 hour hour

Whole Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Energy: 243kcal

Components

• 3 egg whites room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 1/3 cup Pecans (chopped small, evenly roasted for crust)
• 1/4 cup Pecans (chopped medium, topping)
• 1/2 cup Ritz Crackers (chopped in advantageous items, evenly roasted for crust)
• 12 ounces Whipped Topping (Cool-Whip)

Directions

• In a preheated oven at 350 levels. Place 1/3 cup pecans and Ritz crackers for five minutes. You need to evenly roast the nuts and crackers. Watch them fastidiously so they don’t burn. The crackers and nuts must be mild golden in shade. Take away from oven when golden and place on paper towel till cool. 

• Add vanilla and cream of tartar to egg whites and beat till stiff. Slowly add sugar and proceed to beat egg whites till very stiff peaks type and sugar is dissolved. Fold in 1/3 cup pecans and Ritz crackers. Place in a ten” pie pan that has been evenly sprayed with a nonstick baking spray. Unfold the meringue to the edges and canopy the underside of the pan. 

• The meringue will likely be about 1″ – 1 1/8″ thick layer within the pie pan. Hole out slightly gap in the midst of the underside of the meringue the dimensions of half a dime, it will assist with a fair baking of the shell. If in case you have any meringue left make slightly nest bake the identical method and fill with leftover pudding or fruits. Place in a preheated oven at 275 levels for 1 hour. Test shell, the meringue mustn’t scorch, it would flip mild tan in shade. 

• Flip oven off and let shell dry within the oven for an additional hour. Take away shell and funky. When the shell is cool place the whipped topping within the shell and sprinkle with 1/4 cup damaged pecans. Place in fridge to fully chill earlier than serving. Meringue will whip fluffier and be fuller when ready at low humidity.

Vitamin

Energy: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 11g | Saturated Fats: 5g | Ldl cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 0.4mg