This vegan pecan pie has all of the sweet, salty, rich, nutty flavor you want and is surprisingly wholesome and allergy-friendly (except for nuts, of course)! Sweetened with maple syrup, it's not only dairy-free and eggless, but also gluten-free and made without coconut or soy!
Pair the filling with our popular gluten-free vegan pie crust for a gluten-free vegan pecan pie sure to please the whole crowd this Thanksgiving!
Though classic pecan pie isn't vegan, it's amazing how many different and delicious ways there are to make a fully vegan pecan pie.
Growing up in Alabama, I ate my fair share of gooey, way-too-sweet, Karo syrup pecan pies. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, no party or family meal was complete without one!
But since my mom leaned toward healthier ingredients, she always made a maple-sweetened pecan pie. And I really grew to love the warm flavor of maple syrup and how well it pairs with pecans.
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What makes this pie healthier?
In an effort to create vegan pecan pie without oil, I decided to use oatmeal to replace the volume and binding that eggs and butter provide in most pecan pie recipes. Many vegan pecan pie recipes opt for coconut oil or vegan butter, but we're skipping those, too!
Oats might seem like an unusual addition to pecan pie, but that's part of the fun! I just love baking with oats. Heck, not even just baking, as evidenced by my obsession with oat milk and oat-based vegan ice creams.
From banana bread to cookies to vegan pumpkin pie, the neutral flavor and versatility of oats continue to save the day. It's also nice that they're inexpensive and readily available.
Oats give this vegan pecan pie more stability (no one wants runny pecan pie). They also add fiber and reduce the total fat content.
And the naturally gooey consistency of cooked oats works perfectly alongside maple syrup to replace corn syrup in this healthy pecan pie filling!
Note: Pictured above is a test batch made with fewer pecans.
This is the third vegan pecan pie recipe on the blog, but it's the first one made with healthier, whole-food ingredients. As much as I love my bourbon pecan pie and the salted chocolate pecan pie I shared last year, it's possible I like this recipe even more!
This is a less-sweet vegan pecan pie that won't leave you with a sugar crash or feeling super weighed down.
Related: If you enjoy healthier versions of classic desserts, be sure to check out my vegan apple pie next!
Ingredients
- pie crust - the oil-free and gluten-free pie crust linked above (and in the recipe) is my go-to. But any pie crust you love will be fine, homemade or store-bought.
- pecans - look for raw pecans for this recipe, either halves or halves and pieces.
- rolled oats - as mentioned, oatmeal plays a few important roles in the pie filling. Look for regular, old fashioned oats, although quick oats or steel cut oats may also work. The key is to cook the oats until they're very soft and there's no water left in the pot.
- maple syrup - look for pure maple syrup, any grade.
- starch - I used arrowroot in the pie you see in the photos, but corn starch also works. I would avoid tapioca starch if possible because it tends to make the filling gummy.
- non-dairy milk - any milk you like is great! I've tested oat, soy, and almond.
See the recipe card below for amounts and full instructions.
How to Make Vegan Pecan Pie
From start to finish, not including the time it takes for the pie to cool and set, prep takes about 1 hour.
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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spread raw pecans on a baking sheet. Toast the pecans in the oven for 5 minutes, AND pre-bake the pie crust at the same time. Set both aside. Increase oven temp to 350 degrees.
While the pecans are toasting, bring the oats and water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Reduce to low and cook for about 8 minutes or until thick and creamy.
Now it's time to blend the filling. Combine the oatmeal, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, ¼ cup of the pecans, salt, and starch in a blender. Also add the orange zest, cinnamon, and/or bourbon, if using. A high speed blender works best but isn't necessary. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Transfer the toasted pecans to the pie shell, and pour the filling over the top. Gently stir to make sure the pecans are coated and dispersed. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Substitutions
- Pecans: Depending on where you live, pecans are sometimes difficult to find and/or ridiculously expensive! Luckily, walnuts also work, like in this new vegan walnut pie.
- Oats: Unfortunately, I can't recommend a replacement for the oats. As the recipe is written, they're critical to the body and texture of the filling.
I recently tested a version of this pie without oats and increased the starch. It needed more volume to fill the pie plate, which means more syrup and more of some other ingredient. So in keeping with the "healthier pecan pie" intent, I decided to stick with the previously tested and successful version. - Arrowroot starch: Corn starch may be used instead. I tested the recipe once with tapioca starch and didn't care for the texture, as it made the filling gummy.
Variations
Less Pecans
While this pie is healthier and lighter than traditional pecan pies filled with butter and eggs, it's definitely not low in fat. It is pecan pie after all!
However, if you'd like to reduce the overall fat content, you can reduce the amount of pecans to 1 or 1 ¼ cups (that's approximately half the amount found in most pecan pie recipes).
I actually really like this pie with fewer pecans because it allows the custard-y maple filling to shine!
Additions & Flavorings
There's an option to include a bit of orange zest or cinnamon in the pie filling, and that's totally up to you! They're both fairly subtle.
The orange contributes a nice sweetness while cinnamon adds a touch of warming spice. Or skip them both for straight up maple pecan vibes.
You can also add a splash of bourbon or dark rum similar to this Vegan Bourbon Pecan Pie.
Serving Suggestions
Vegan pecan pie is especially delicious with a scoop of Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream on top. The contrast of cold and creamy ice cream with chunky pecans and crisp pie crust is hard to beat!
Or serve it with homemade Vegan Whipped Cream or store-bought dairy-free whipped topping like the one from So Delicious (not oil-free, but it IS delicious, as the brand name promises).
Vegan Pecan Pie FAQs
Pecan pie is typically served cool or at room temperature. This is because the filling may become runny if served warm or hot. However, the filling in this vegan pecan pie recipe is more stable than most and can be served warm if desired.
Absolutely, especially if you use the vegan gluten-free pie crust linked in the recipe. It stays more crisp and holds up better than pie crusts made with flour.
Either cover the whole pie plate with cling wrap or transfer the pie to an airtight storage container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 4 to 5 days, or freeze for up to one month.
Top Tip
Since ovens vary, I recommend keeping an eye on the pie during the last 10 to 15 minutes just in case the filling is getting too bubbly or the crust too brown.
If you use a traditional flour-based crust you may need to cover the edges of the pie with foil or a pie shield to prevent burning.
But if you use my Almond Flour Pie Crust recipe you won't need to worry about the crust getting too brown. It bakes up perfectly in this amount of time.
More Holiday Desserts
Recipe Video
Tap to play the video and see how the pie is made.
I hope you enjoy this healthy vegan pecan pie as much as we do. If you try the recipe be sure to comment below and let us know!
Recipe
Healthier Vegan Pecan Pie (No Corn Syrup or Oil)
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked 9-inch vegan pie crust - tap for the recipe (GF & oil-free)
- 1 ½ cups raw pecan halves - reduce for a lighter pie
- scant ½ cup rolled oats (see Notes) - certified gluten-free if needed
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch - sub corn starch if needed
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Optional additions:
- zest from half an orange
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ounce bourbon or dark rum
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread pecans on a baking sheet. Toast the pecans in the oven for 5 minutes, and pre-bake the pie crust at the same time. Set both aside to cool. Increase oven temp to 350 degrees.
- In a small sauce pan, bring the oats and water to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until thick, soft, and the water has been absorbed.
- In a blender combine a palmful of the pecans, oatmeal, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, starch, salt, and addition(s), if using. Slowly increase speed, and blend on high until smooth and creamy, about 45 seconds.
- Add the toasted pecans to the pie crust. I like to break some into smaller pieces. Pour the filling over the pecans, making sure they are covered and coated. Bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for 40 to 42 minutes, keeping an eye on the pie during the last 15 minutes. The filling may puff up slightly but shouldn't overflow. If the crust begins to brown too much, cover with foil or a pie shield. If using my GF crust it should be fine uncovered the whole time.
- Set the pie aside to cool for at least 2 hours before slicing. If not serving the same day, let cool completely before covering and refrigerating. Or speed up the process by refrigerating the pie uncovered until cold.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Jocelyn J Kahn
Hmmmm.... Making this now - a couple more minutes until it's about to come out of the oven, and none of the pecans have risen to the surface! I just now double-checked the amount of liquid and everything else I used, and it all checks out... Wondering what the problem might be? Has anyone else had this problem?
Jocelyn
(Also, I did use regular oatmeal, Trader Joe's brand, so I don't believe it was because the oatmeal was too thick.)
Lori Rasmussen
Hi Jocelyn - Hmm I'm not sure. I've never had that happen and don't recall anyone else mentioning it. What type of milk did you use? And after blending, did the consistency of the filling look similar to what you see in the video and photo above where I'm pouring it into the crust?
Jocelyn
I believe it looked similar - I used Edensoy unsweetened soymilk, which is a bit thicker than other plant milk.
Just to be on the safe side, maybe next time I'll use the 1/3 c oats instead of the scant 1/2 c. (And there will be a next time - I love the concept of the recipe, and it did taste good!) Also, loved the almond flour pie crust, which I made for the first time.
Eli
Hi, the taste is great, however since I didn’t add the bourbon which adds more liquid to the recipe mine came out more thicker than expected. I’ll definitely try to adjust the oatmeal to less than a cup.
Jessica
Hi! I just have a question. You linked a 9.5" pie dish (which I have), but under ingredients a 9" pie crust is referenced, but even that recipe links to the 9.5" dish. I'm wondering which is preferred for this pecan pie filling recipe?
I'm concerned about depth and the pie filling not actually being enough for a 9.5" dish. Any suggestion/help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Lori Rasmussen
Hi - sorry about that! For the pecan pie you’ll need a 9-inch deep dish pie plate, not 9.5. Thank you for catching that! I’ll fix the links.
Jessica
Thanks for confirming! I'm no novice, so wanted to double check 🙂
I'll follow up once I have results
Jessica
Sorry, one more question. My guess is no, but can this recipe be pulled off with an 8.75" dish that's 1.15-inches deep? :/
Lori Rasmussen
Hi - it won't hold all of the filling, but you could pour the extra filling into a ramekin and bake it at the same time. That would probably be easier than adjusting the ingredient amounts for the smaller pan. You'll also want to keep an eye on it since the smaller pie will bake faster than the 9-inch, deeper one.
Toni
Absolutely delicious. Saw your post on Facebook and took your advice to do a Thanksgiving test run ha. Whole family loved it. Might even make again *before* the holidays. Thanks for the recipe.
M
Well done 🙂 love the oats idea and I think I'm going to use dates rather than a maple syrup maybe like a date syrup paste. Thanks for the idea of using oats. I've used zucchini maybe try and see what you think. peace and blessings Thanks for your wonderful recipes appreciate on Saturday.
Karen
This pie tastes better than any traditional pecan pie I've ever eaten! Thanks Lori for this wonderful recipe!
Kathy
I’m a new vegan and a food snob raised in the south. I am in pecan pie heaven! Made the GF crust which reminds me of shortbread and followed the directions for the pie as written. It is the perfect texture and flavor - even better because it is not overwhelmingly sweet so the pecans are the star. Thank you for this delicious taste of home!!
Ruth
What could I use to replace oats?
Lori
Hi Ruth,
I'm really not sure since the oatmeal is what gives the filling body and an egg-y consistency. I'm sure you could increase the milk and arrowroot slightly to make up for the lost volume. You could likely also use cooked sweet potato (maybe a Japanese/white sweet potato so that it doesn't alter the color). That should work well. You would probably only need about 2/3 cup of cooked and mashed sweet potato.
If you give that a try let us know how it goes!
Karen Ricketts
It's hard to believe just 3/4 cup of maple syrup sweetens this deliciousness. I used your Vegan Gluten Free Pie Crust recipe, which was so easy to work with, just like you said it was! I was hoping to have leftovers, but everyone ate it all up.
Lori
Thank you for the great feedback, Karen. I'm so happy you all loved it!