Butterscotch Meringue Pie


Recipe by: LACTAID® Brand
For the best flavor, toast the pecans before adding to the pastry. To toast pecan halves or pieces, spread in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned, watching carefully and stirring once or twice to avoid burning.
For the Pecan Pastry Shell
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup shortening
¼ cup very finely chopped toasted pecans
4 tablespoons cold water, or as needed
For the Filling
¾ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
3 beaten egg yolks
2 tablespoons butter, sliced
2 teaspoons vanilla
For the Meringue
3 egg whites
⅓ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
For the Pecan Pastry Shell
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Combine all-purpose flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size. Stir in toasted pecans.
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of flour mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to one side of the bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon cold water at a time, until all of flour mixture is moistened. Form dough into a ball.
- On a lightly floured surface, slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edge into a 12-inch circle.
- Transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim pastry to ½ inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry.
- Line with a double thickness of foil. Bake in a 450 degree F oven for 8 minutes.
- Remove foil. Bake 7 to 10 minutes more or until lightly golden; set aside.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
For the Filling
- In a medium saucepan combine the brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in LACTAID® Reduced Fat 2% Lactose-Free Milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
- Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot filling into egg yolks, stirring constantly. Pour yolk mixture into remaining hot filling in saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted. Stir in vanilla. Keep warm.
For the Meringue
- Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl).
- Gradually add the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until mixture forms stiff peaks (tips stand straight).
- Spoon hot filling into pastry shell.
- Immediately spread meringue evenly over hot filling, carefully sealing to edge of pastry to prevent shrinkage.
- Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack 1 hour.
- Chill at least 3 hours or up to 6 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
For the best flavor, toast the pecans before adding to the pastry. To toast pecan halves or pieces, spread in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned, watching carefully and stirring once or twice to avoid burning.