My Maple Frangipane Pecan Pie recipe is a delicious tart filled with a rich pecan frangipane flavored with vanilla bean, bourbon, and maple.
maple frangipane pecan pie is for pecan pie lovers who want to mix it up a bit this season
If you’re asked to bring a dessert this Thanksgiving, bring this one, it’s a new holiday tradition waiting to happen! I love the flavor of pecan pie (who doesn’t?) but could never quite get into the ultra sweet gelatinous texture. So I gave my favorite frangipane filling a pecan twist, flavored it with vanilla bean and bourbon, and spread it into a flaky, buttery pie crust. Of course I topped the whole thing off with more pecans brushed with maple syrup. I’m telling you the result is pure pecan loving heaven, that fluffy frangipane filling is lightyears ahead of the competition. It’s…seriously really good.
what is frangipane?
Frangipane is a traditional French pastry filling usually made with ground almonds. You might know it best as the irresistible filling inside almond croissants from the bakery. It also features in my White Peach Frangipane Galette, and my Ranier Cherry Almond Tart. The texture of frangipane is moist, soft, and a little chewy, and perfect as a filling for a tart or pastry. It’s dense and rich without being cloyingly sweet and heavy.
A few simple swaps resulted in an absolutely delicious pecan version of a frangipane filling that I’m LOVING as an alternative to the traditional corn-syrup based pecan pie.
Since almond frangipane usually gets a nice boost of flavor from almond extract in addition to the nuts themselves, I added some vanilla bean paste (you can use vanilla extract, too), a couple teaspoons of bourbon, and a generous (but not overwhelming) dash of salt to this version.
I toast my pecans before blending them into the pecan pie filling, which really brings out their natural nutty, caramel-y flavor.
how to toast nuts
Toasting any kind of nut explodes their flavor and crunch, and it’s so easy, you can’t afford not to do it:
- Preheat your oven to 350F
- Lay out your nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast for about 10-15 minutes, giving the nuts a shake or stir every 5 minutes.
- Let cool before using, they’ll crisp up as they cool.
The pecan halves that top the pie are left raw, because they get toasted as the pie bakes. The whole surface is brushed with maple syrup both before going in the oven, and again after it comes out. The syrup gives the top a really nice sweet glaze and glossy shine, plus added flavor.
I love this maple frangipane pecan tart served warm, and it’s just about perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For perfectly neat slices, however, I recommend cooling the tart completely, even overnight.
maple frangipane pecan pie is ideal for making ahead
- Let the pie cool completely after baking. Loosely cover with foil and keep on the counter for up to 12 hours. For longer storage, refrigerate.
- The cooked pecan pie can be frozen, just let it cool completely, then wrap in plastic, then in foil, and freeze for up to a month.
other holiday desserts to wow everybody
- Cranberry Gingersnap Pie ~ you’ve gotta see this one to believe it.
- The Ultimate Maple Cheesecake ~ so silky and creamy.
- Black Bottom Bourbon Pecan Pie ~ because everything’s better with chocolate.
- Libby’s New Fashioned Pumpkin Pie ~ the first innovation in the beloved recipe on the can in 75 years!
- Maple Walnut Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting ~ for some people, cake is the ONLY dessert that matters.
a note about tart pans
Tart pans with removable bottoms are great to have in the kitchen. I think they make a more elegant presentation than a regular pie, and tarts are a lot easier to slice and serve, too, thanks to the removable bottom.
I recommend a 9 or 10 inch size, like this one.
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Maple Frangipane Pecan Pie
Video
Equipment
- 10 inch tart pan with removable bottom
Ingredients
For the pie crust (makes 2 crusts)
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup ice water
For the frangipane filling
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 2 tsp bourbon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups ground toasted pecans, see note about making them below
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 70 or so pecan halves, for topping
- 1/4 cup maple syrup, for brushing
Instructions
To make the pie crust
- Place the cold butter, flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food process and pulse until there are no large chunks of butter. Slowly add the ice water and pulse until the dough comes together.
- Remove the dough from the food processor to a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half and pat each half into a flat disk. Wrap each disk in plastic, and place one in the fridge to chill for at least an hour or so. (Freeze the extra crust for later.)
- Remove the chilled dough from the fridge, and roll out on a lightly floured surface until you have a roughly circular shape about 14 inches or so in diameter.
- Lay the rolled out dough into a 10 inch tart pan with a removeable bottom, and gently press the dough into the pan, pinching off any extra that comes up over the sides of the pan. Place in the fridge to chill again while you make the pie filling.
To make the frangipane filling
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Cream the butter and dark brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, or with electric beaters, for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, and continue to mix until combined.
- Mix in the vanilla, bourbon, and salt.
- Add the toasted pecan meal and the flour, and blend until everything is evenly incorporated. If you are using an electric mixer, I like to give everything one last mix by hand with a spoon or a spatula to make sure all the ingredients at the bottom of the bowl have been evenly combined.
- Spread the filling into the chilled tart crust. Top with the pecan halves, and brush the surface of the tart lightly with maple syrup.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, tenting loosely with aluminum foil towards the end of baking if it seems like it is browning too much. I covered mine with foil for the last 10 minutes or so. The tart should be puffed up, a rich brown color, and not wobbly in the middle at all.
- Once out of the oven, allow to cool slightly and then brush again with maple syrup. Serve warm or allow to cool overnight for easier slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
I am super excited about this dessert! My husband likes the simple old-fashioned corn syrup style- which I did make. But I love trying new things and this looks fabulous! So wish I could share a picture- it’s in my heart shaped tart pan and is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!!!
I hope you love it as much as we do Jolene ~ no kidding, this is the only dessert we’re having tomorrow.
Wish your recipes had grams as an alternative.
Many of them do, including this one, just click the metric conversions button after the ingredients. I have to convert older recipes one by one, so it takes a while!
I am also confused about te directions for the pecan meal. Measure two cups of nuts, toast them, then measure two cups again?
I just tried to clarify, you want 2 cups ground pecans. If you’re making them yourself, you’ll need 2 heaping cups of pecan halves to start with.
I made this and it was delicious and a big hit. I will say I was confused by the Cook’s Notes that say: “and then measure out your nut meal for the recipe, once the nuts are ground.” Is there a specified amount of nut meal? I’ve already measured out the whole nuts. Thanks so much, I will be making this again.
This was so good and easy to make! Any tips on keeping the frangipane moist? Mine was a little dry but I’ve never made frangipane of any kind before- pecan or almond. Thanks!
The frangipane should be moist, but if necessary you could reduce the amount of almonds, and that should make it moister.
Would there be any changes in the recipe that you think would need to be made if I were going to make mini tarts (other than reduced bake time)?
This recipe look absolutely incredible! Forgive me, but if I wanted to use only pecans in the filling and add a different topping, would that just be wrong? I was thinking either caramelized rice krispies, caramelized graham crackers, or maybe just slivered almond instead?
You sound like an inventive cook Stephanie, and I would say go with your instincts. I’ve never tried to caramelize rice krispies or graham crackers, you’ve got me intrigued!
Hi Sue! Had a problem today with the pecan frangipane pie which looks to be a high altitude issue. The filling bubbled out of my 12” tart pan and the pie collapsed. I followed the recipe exactly. (We all say that, but I did!) It looks like a disaster but tastes delicious!! Welcome your recommendations on how to adapt the recipe to my kitchen at 6200 ft. Thanks so much. Love your blog which I read everyday!! Happy Holidays, T
What a lovely pie. I would love to make this for a special occasion. ?
This is such a beautiful pie. Would make an excellent addition to the Thanksgiving table.
Thanks Lisa, we’re over the moon about it, the pecan frangipane is a real discovery 🙂