The Internet Is Going Absolutely Wild for Our No-Bake Pecan Pie Dip
This quick holiday dip is “pure genius.”
Don’t get us wrong—the classics are king around the holidays. But sometimes, it’s fun to try a new spin on the tried-and-true favorites to liven up the usual spread (especially when the originals take a whole lot of time and effort to prepare).
This year, we're all about fresh takes on pecan pie. We adore this Upside-Down Apple Pecan Pie and we can’t get enough of Chef John’s latest Pecan Pie Brownies. And, come on, have you seen these precious Pecan Tassies?
So, when we found inspiration for another pecan pie-themed treat online, we couldn’t resist giving it a try. And we’re glad we did because our community is loving it just as much as we are.
What Is Pecan Pie Dip?
Introducing our latest Test Kitchen-developed dessert: No-Bake Pecan Pie Dip. It’s a dessert that incorporates the best parts of a slice of pecan pie in a simple, inventive holiday spread. It’s creamy, sweet, tangy, and nutty, and will be the crown jewel of any dessert table.
This double-layer dip looks elegant and impressive, but is all too easy to prepare. The crunchy nuts and gooey, warm caramel mimic a pecan pie filling, while the cool, creamy cream cheese and Cool Whip base adds the richness of fresh whipped cream. Scoop it up with a graham cracker or ginger snap, and it's a mini pecan pie in your mouth.
We posted this adapted recipe just last week and our social media followers are already obsessed. The video has been viewed more than 15 million times, and that number only continues to grow.
“This sounds delicious!!,” an Instagram user commented. “Forget the fruit and crackers. I’m eating this with a spoon!”
Requiring only 20 minutes, this simple, two-step dessert can be made right before company steps in the door. And best of all, it’s a “pecan pie” that’s almost impossible to mess up. So, no more peering into the oven wondering if your star dessert has set (or worse, burnt). This holiday, give our no-fail, no-bake version of a pecan pie a try.
“It was delicious! It couldn't be easier and everyone loved it,” raved an Allrecipes member.
How to Make Pecan Pie Dip
It all starts with softened cream cheese, half a container of thawed Cool Whip, and powdered sugar. Blend those together until smooth and silky, then spread it onto a serving platter or pie plate and move it to the fridge to chill.
Next, you’ll make the pecan pie topping. In a saucepan, stir together brown sugar, cold butter, corn syrup, pecans, an egg, vanilla extract, and salt, then bring the mixture to a boil. Why the egg? It acts as a binder and gives the caramel topping a custard-like texture.
Let the bubbly, golden brown mixture cool, then pour it evenly over the cream cheese base. You can serve the dip immediately, or keep it in the fridge until ready to serve. Just be aware the caramel topping will begin to harden as it cools.
Pro tip: If any of your guests have a nut allergy, you can substitute the pecans with pretzels to keep the crunchy texture.
Then, serve it with whatever you want: ginger snaps, apple slices, vanilla wafers, Biscoff cookies, Oreos—whatever you’d like. “Make pie dough cookies to serve with it! It’s the bomb,” said one Instagram user. You could even dish it into a premade pie crust if you still wanted the classic pie look. However you serve it, you’re going to love this fresh and flavorful take on a beloved holiday dessert.
Read the original article on All Recipes.