Use Fresh Ingredients: Start with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Fresh pecans are crucial for flavor, so make sure yours are not stale.
Prebake the Crust: To prevent a soggy bottom crust, prebake it (blind bake) before adding the filling. Line the pie crust with parchment paper or aluminum foil, fill it with pie weights or dried beans, and bake it for about 15 minutes.
Toast the Pecans: Toasting the pecans before adding them to the filling enhances their flavor and gives the pie a deeper, richer taste.
Balance Sweetness: Pecan pie filling can be quite sweet, so balance the sweetness by adjusting the amount of sugar or using a combination of sugars.
Avoid Overmixing: Stir the filling ingredients just until incorporated. Incorporating too much air into the filling can cause the pie to puff up during baking and collapse when chilled.
Cover the Crust: To prevent the edges of the crust from over-browning, cover them with aluminum foil or a pie crust shield during baking.