Is Pecan Pie Vegan? What You Need To Know
Pecan pie is a popular sweet treat, particularly enjoyed during the fall season and for Thanksgiving dessert. With the rise in plant-based diets over the years, many people are wondering: is pecan pie vegan? Here’s everything you need to know.
It’s coming up to September now and it’s not long until it’s *officially* autumn in the UK. After the terrible summer we’ve all had here, I am very much looking forward to the cooler, crisper weather. And of course, the cosy comfort food that comes with it.
I’m a huge lover of all kinds of desserts but I particularly enjoy sweetly-spiced baked goods and pies during the colder months. I recently wrote posts about apple pie and pumpkin pie, so I thought I’d write one about pecan pie too.
What is pecan pie?
Pecan pie is a classic American pie with a rich, nutty, caramel flavour. It’s made with a traditional pie crust and a wonderfully decadent pecan filling. It’s a sweet dessert with a gooey, crunchy texture.
Although its exact roots are not well documented, this pie is said to have originated in Southern US. Some culinary historians believe that French settlers in New Orleans created the first pecan pie. Some people claim that it originated in Kentucky, while others believe Alabama or Texas birthed the first ever recipe. Regardless, it’s widely accepted and known as a Southern US dessert.
Pecan pie is a particularly popular dessert to eat after Thanksgiving dinner, and throughout fall/autumn in general. It’s usually served chilled or at room temperature, alongside a good helping of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, which helps to balance out the sweetness.
Is pecan pie vegan?
No, traditional pecan pie is not vegan because it contains butter and eggs which are unsuitable for a vegan diet. However, it is possible to make a plant-based pecan pie using egg and dairy substitutes.
Ingredients
Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients in a typical pecan pie recipe:
- Flour. Flour is the main ingredient in the pie crust and is suitable for vegans.
- Butter. Butter comes from cow’s milk so is not vegan, but there are plenty of dairy-free butter substitutes available to buy now.
- Pecans. Of course, you can’t make a pecan pie without pecans! Like all nuts, these are suitable for vegans.
- Sugar. Some recipes call for brown sugar, while others use a mixture of white and brown. In the USA, where pecan pie is most commonly eaten, some types of sugar are filtered using bone char, meaning they are not vegan-friendly. To ensure your sugar is vegan, always buy organic.
- Corn syrup. Corn syrup helps to keep the pie filling soft and smooth as it bakes. This ingredient is vegan.
- Eggs. Eggs act as a binding ingredient in the recipe but sadly they are not vegan because they come from hens. A good alternative to eggs in pie fillings is cornstarch (cornflour in the UK) plus some extra liquid such as soy milk.
- Spices. Some people like to add warming spices such as cinnamon to their pecan pie. All natural spices are vegan.
Dairy and egg-free pecan pie recipes
If you’re a vegan baking beginner, I’d recommend using an existing vegan recipe rather than trying to substitute the ingredients in a traditional pecan pie recipe. Here are some of the best-reviewed recipes I found online:
- Lazy Cat Kitchen pecan pie
- Chocolate Covered Katie pecan pie
- Nora cooks pecan pie
- Loving it Vegan pecan pie
Summary
Pecan pie is not vegan because it contains animal products such as butter and eggs. It is possible to make pecan pie with egg and dairy substitutes and there are plenty of vegan recipes online to choose from.
