Description
This Pecan Pie Dip is a luscious, creamy dessert perfect for entertaining or a sweet snack. It features a smooth cream cheese base topped with a warm, gooey pecan pie topping made from corn syrup, butter, and vanilla. Serve it with apple slices, pretzels, or cookies for a crowd-pleasing treat that combines the classic flavors of pecan pie in an easy-to-share dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Base:
- 8 ounces cream cheese (227g), softened
- 4 ounces Cool Whip (113g), thawed
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Pecan Topping:
- 1 cup chopped pecans (120g), see notes
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup (107g)
- 3 tablespoons salted butter (42g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make the Cream Cheese Base: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, thawed Cool Whip, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Chill the Base: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly in a pie dish, cover it, and refrigerate while preparing the topping or for up to 1 day ahead to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare Pecan Topping: In a medium saucepan, combine chopped pecans, light corn syrup, salted butter, large egg, vanilla extract, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to boil in the center.
- Cook the Topping: Continue to slow boil for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Watch as the mixture changes color from dark to pale and back to dark again, indicating it’s thickened properly.
- Cool and Assemble: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the pecan topping cool in the pot for 10 minutes to thicken slightly. Then pour the topping over the refrigerated cream cheese base evenly.
- Serve: Enjoy the dip immediately with fresh apple slices, pretzels, cookies, or your favorite dippers for a delightful dessert experience.
Notes
- Smaller pecan pieces work best for this recipe to create an ideal texture; Trader Joe’s Chopped Pecans or a mix of Fisher Nuts Chopped Pecans and Pecan Chips are recommended.
- For a gooier dip with less chunk, reduce the amount of pecans by half.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
