Pecan Cream Pie

Creamy and dreamy Pecan Cream Pie is sure to delight. It has a caramel sweetness from brown sugar, and the crunch and flavour from pecans all embedded in the creaminess of whipped cream and cream cheese. This is a great pie for the fall and the upcoming holiday season. This pie is easy and quick to make, and it is sure to please. The graham wafer crust is baked to melt the sugar, to give greater structure to the crust.

Pecans are rich in monosaturated fat, which are known to decrease both total and bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Pecans are an excellent source of vitamin E, a healthy fat-soluble vitamin which is known for its anti-aging skin benefits, strong cell walls, and antioxidant capabilities. Pecans are rich in B vitamins, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and copper. Pecans are also good sources of ellagic acid, that helps protects against certain cancers, and beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin which are protective for our eye sight.

Cream cheese, whipping cream, and butter, are all full of healthy fats. They are high in vitamin A, as well as butyric acid, which is a short chain fatty acid. Butyric acid is known to reduce inflammation. These dairy foods also contain conjugated linoleic acid, CLA, which has been studied for various health benefits. Interestingly, there are many studies that show that the higher the dairy fat that is in the diet, the lower the obesity. Maybe we can enjoy this indulgence, guilt-free!

Pecan Cream Pie

1 block of cream cheese (softened)

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup pecans

Graham Wafer Crust

1 cup graham wafers

1/4 cup melted butter

1 tablespoon sugar

Combine the graham wafer crumbs, melted butter, and sugar, and press into a 9” pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then cool. In a mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream to soft peaks, and then beat in the room temperature, softened cream cheese, vanilla, and brown sugar, Stir in the pecans. Pour the mixture into the graham wafer crust and chill well before serving. Optional: top with freshly whipped cream and garnish with a few pecans before serving.