Each holiday season, the amazing folks at the Betty Crocker Kitchen select a list of culinary trends they feel will be hot in the coming year. Betty Crocker’s Red Hot Holiday Trends is a fun way to see what kinds of things are popular across the nation. This year, they asked the Betty Bloggers to get in on the game by assigning each of us one of the 10 hot trends to use in developing a recipe.
I was thrilled to find out that I had been assigned the “All American Pastries” trend because us Southerners know some pastries. And when it comes to classic Southern pastries – pies top the list. There’s not another Southern pie quite like the pecan pie. But I knew I couldn’t just produce a plain old pecan pie – I had to kick it up a notch. So I turned them into hand-pies and deep fried them. Now, this is true decadence…
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the pecans. Simmer for about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Bring the crusts to room temperature. Unroll one on a lightly floured surface and cut circles using a 4-inch circle cutter. Re-roll the dough and repeat until all of the dough has been used. You should end up with about 24 circles.
Place a heaping tablespoon of the pecan filling mixture in the center of a pie crust circle.
Lightly moisten the edges of the crust with water, then fold the crust over.
Crimp the edges together with a dinner fork. Repeat the process until all of the pie crusts have been used.
Deep Fried Pecan Pies
Ingredients
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 (14.1-ounce) packages Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts
- vegetable oil for frying
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the pecans. Simmer for about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Bring the crusts to room temperature. Unroll one on a lightly floured surface and cut circles using a 4-inch circle cutter. Re-roll the dough and repeat until all of the dough has been used. You should end up with about 24 circles.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of the pecan filling mixture in the center of a pie crust circle. Lightly moisten the edges of the crust with water, then fold the crust over, crimping the edges with a dinner fork. Repeat the process until all of the pie crusts have been used.
- In a large dutch oven, heat about 1 inch oil in the bottom to 350° F. Fry the pies in batches for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side - or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels then lightly dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm.
Stephanie @ PlainChicken says
Hold on, I need to wipe the drool off my keyboard. These look crazy good!
Stacey says
Thanks, Steph!
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
I adore pecan pie, and these little fried pies look amazing! My grandmother made the best fried pies, but I’ve never been brave enough to make them myself. Some day!
Happy holidays, Stacey!
Stacey says
Thanks, Jennifer! They are an undertaking for sure, but so worth it. I know YOU won’t have any trouble with them at all. Happy Holidays, friend!
cindy says
These pies look awesome! I love a hand hand pie…and fried, even better!
Stacey says
Thanks, Cindy! They are true decadence. 🙂
Lela says
They look fabulous, I am going to make some soon with the left over pecans we have from Thanksgiving. Yumo!
Stacey says
Thanks, Lela! I hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.
Corey @ Family Fresh Meals says
These look like yummy bundles of joy 🙂
Stacey says
Perfect description! Thanks, Corey!!
Pat says
I wonder how long they would take to bake in the oven? These look great.
Stacey says
I’m not exactly sure. You’ll just want to bake them until they are golden brown. Enjoy!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
I can’t even deal with how good these look! So yummy!
Stacey says
Thanks, Stephanie! That is so sweet!
Erica says
Oh my-those look wickedly delicious .In order to make then just a tad less fattening-do you think that one could bake th eassembled pies on a baking sheet instead of the deep fry method?
Stacey says
Absolutely! You’ll just want to watch them closely and bake until they are golden brown.
Mary says
WOW!! Fantastic recipe and great pictures. Can’t wait to make these with my Granddaughter…this will be so much fun. Thanks for a way to make memories! Merry Christmas!
Stacey says
Thanks, Mary!! Hope y’all have fun and enjoy them! Merry Christmas to you, too!!
bootsie says
I make pecan pie all the time for the holidays. My question is, I have some family member that are older and have a hard time with pecan half. So I blind them in the blinder to chip them up find for my pie. Do you think that would work for those little fry pies.
Stacey says
Yep, it think it would work just fine. 🙂 Enjoy!
Jack Newcomb says
Looks great, however being diabetic I have to watch deep fried fook….could these be baked????
Stacey says
Absolutely! I would simply bake them in a 350° oven until they are golden brown.
Martha Reaves says
Looks yummy.
Sabrina says
Thanks for all the great messages & recipes throughout the years!
Merry Christmas, Stacey, to you & yours!!!
Stacey says
Thanks, Sabrina! Merry Christmas to you, too!!
TrudyAnn Willis says
I love this…..in Spanish, a turnover is empanada…and I could eat anything that is enclosed in a pie crust! Fried pies, empanadas fritas, are the best, and when the filling is pecan…OMG! Heaven! Thank you! Thank you! Love it!
Stacey says
You are so welcome!!
Jessica says
Any chance I could swap out the pecans with apple? These would be great little mini apple pies…
Stacey says
Hi Jessica! I wish I could give you a definitive answer. In theory, I think it would work, but I’m afraid that the apples wouldn’t have enough time to cook through. If you give it a try, please come back and let me know!!
Dorothy says
You can take apples and cook them before you put them in the pies. try to keep them looking like apple slices add apple pie spice, sugar and butter. I think it would work.
Stacey says
It should!
mary colyer says
cook the apples first….
Toodie says
Oh my heavens, I think I’m going to faint! Quick, revive me with one (or two) of these pies!!!
Stacey says
🙂
Jennifer C. says
Stacey, I have been selling baked goods to raise money for a dance camp my daughter will be attending this summer. So far in 2 months I have raised close to $800. I am always looking for ideas and receipes to make for these sales. Do you think these pies would do okay if I fry them then put them in a bag after they have cooled to sale the next morning? If you have any great ideas or bake sale recipes, I would appreciate those too! Thanks!
Stacey says
Hi Jennifer! Listen at you! That’s amazing! The thing about these is that they are really best when they are hot. I would recommend them for a bake sale. My Easiest Cookies Bars Ever, Pecan Chewies, and Sweet and Salty Toffee Cookies would work really well, though! Good luck!
Ale Byrum says
can they be served cold? I am baking for my boyfriend.
Stacey says
These are one of those things that are really best served warm.
Gloria says
These look amazing! Is there a link to this dough recipes? Some are too flaky and will just come apart. Thanks!
Stacey says
I used a pre-made refrigerated pie dough.
Jan McClellan says
Made these tonight and they are Devine! Bravo! I feel like FALL now 🙂
Stacey says
I’m tickled y’all enjoyed them!
Robin says
I made these but used canned biscuits for the dough. Do you think you could make them up but freeze to fry later?
Stacey says
Perhaps, but I can’t say for sure.
Margaret says
These are the absolute BEST! I’ve had to double the recipe 2x already! Kids and grandkids can’t get enough. They like taking them to school-their friends are soooo jealous! Thank s for sharing.
Stacey says
So glad y’all are enjoying the recipe, Margaret!
LindY G says
Being a Southerner, born and raised, and a Pecan Pie lover….I am soooo going to make these! Bless your heart for sharing this with us.
Stacey says
I hope you’ll enjoy them!
Denise says
I can’t wait to make these!
What is the best way to store and reheat them?
Stacey says
These are really best fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container and reheated in the oven.
Melody Watson says
Oh. Dear. Lord.
1. Thank you for taking me back to my great-grandmother’s fried pies from my childhood.
2. Why have I never seen anything like this in my 38 years on this planet?
I’m drooling and I think that I just gained 10 pounds. EXCELLENT recipe. Thanks!
Stacey says
Ha! I hope you’ll enjoy them!
Lauren Hunt says
Thanks for the recipe! I literally just finished making these and they are FANTASTIC!!! Going to make deep fried apple ones and chocolate filled ones as well!
Stacey says
Wonderful! SO glad they turned out great for you!
Terri says
Made these for my husband last night. They were so good. I had a little filling left over and I used it as a ice cream topping. Thanks for the recipe!
Stacey says
What a great idea! So glad y’all enjoyed them!
Krystal says
Can you use crest rolls
Stacey says
I haven’t ever tried that. The trick would be in the frying part with those. If you give it a try, please let me know how it turns out!
Karena says
Can these be made ahead ? I want to try them and would love to save time.
Stacey says
They can be made and ahead and fried when ready to serve, yes. Enjoy!
Mt says
Can eggs be omitted or substituted?
Stacey says
I’m not aware of a substitute for them in this recipe.
Beverly says
I LOVE pecan pie and I have a fantastic recipe for it, but I have never had a fried pecan pie. Oh, yeah, I’m making these!!!
I’d like to take them to my club meeting for dessert, so I don’t eat all 24 of them!!! I know you said they’re best served warm–can they be reheated? Or does that make them soggy or otherwise ruin them?
Stacey says
I think they’re best right out of the oil, but they can be reheated.
Belinda Tompkins says
Are these good a week later
Stacey says
Not really. They’re best served warm, right out out of the oil.
Barbara says
Can the pecan hand pies be baked instead of fried? I’m not physically able to stand but about a minute or so at a time.Thank you.
Stacey says
Hi Barbara! In theory it should work, but I have to admit I’ve only fried them.
Momma C says
Hello. Can these be mase, froze and then dry as we want to eat them? Thanks.
Momma C says
I apologize my typing is horrible. I was wondering if these could be pre made, frozen and then fried as we want to eat them? Thanks
Stacey says
Absolutely! Just allow them to come to room temp before frying.
Rhonda Brady says
Best ever at Goat Rodeo restaurant in Houston. Came back to California and Googled the recipe. Making them for Thanksgiving.
Stacey says
🙂
Lisa Wood says
I don’t boil my pecan pie ingredients. Is it necessary?
Stacey says
For this recipe it is. The quick cook time in the oil won’t be enough to cook the filling completely.
Morrica says
Wonder if you could air fry these?????
Stacey says
I don’t have much air fryer experience, so I can say for sure. Probably, though.
Millican Pecan says
Stacey, I look at pecan recipes all the time, (of course, I am in the pecan business) and this one is really unique compared to anything I have ever seen before. Wonderful recipe. Well done. Props from Texas!
Stacey says
Thanks so much!!
DonnaC says
Made these tonight and just WOW. I used molasses instead of dark karo, an old fashioned deep south ingredient, and baked them instead of frying (convection350 x 15 minutes). This recipe is a keeper!
Stacey says
Wonderful to hear! I’m so glad they turned out great for you!!
Paula says
Can we use biscuits
Stacey says
I’ve not done them that way, but I think several folks mentioned in the comments that they had tried it.
Michelle Smith says
These deep fried pies are the best. I made 12 of them couple of nights ago, woke up to only 1 left. My husband ate every single one of them. I’ve had to make another batch of them so me and the kids could enjoy them as well. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I have forwarded on to everyone in my family and told them this is a must have to fix.
Stacey says
Thanks, Michelle! I’m so glad that y’all have enjoyed this recipe!
BZ BUG says
One fix on your recipe, right here you say “Boiling the pecan pie filling In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter and salt.” You don’t specify Brown sugar.
Anyway, love the recipe and thanks.
Stacey says
I’ll add that so it’s more clear. Thanks!
Kathryn Cochran says
I made these pies last fall and sold them at the Farmers Market and they were hit. About to make me first ones this year and I know they will be a hit again. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Stacey says
Awesome! So glad they turned out great for you!!
Booneyshouse says
My husband might marry me again if I make these for him! Thank You !
Stacey says
Ha! Good luck!