The Pioneer Woman Adds a Shocking Ingredient to Her Signature Pecan Pie

It's time to turn up the heat.

Pecan pie is one of my favorite pies, mostly because I love pecans. I prefer the traditional version, and if it’s got a twist, then the only acceptable one has a healthy splash of bourbon. Otherwise, I’m not open to interpretations on one of my favorite foods. At least that’s what I thought. But after trying the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s pecan pie, I’ve had a change of heart.

The Secret Ingredient in the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie

Traditional pecan pie is made by mixing sugar, corn syrup, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, salt and pecans together, then pouring the mixture into a pie shell and baking. It’s simple, super sweet and delicious. Drummond takes things to the next level with her pecan pie and adds not just ancho chile powder to her pie, but also cayenne and cocoa powder.

I’ll admit, it felt wrong to add both cocoa powder and chile powders to the base of this pecan pie. While I am normally adventurous with flavors, this one tore at my heart a bit. Maybe it was because pecan pie reminded me of my grandma or maybe it was because the phrase “why ruin an already good thing?” was running through my head the entire time. As much as I didn’t want to add them, I somehow found myself  begrudgingly measuring and angrily releasing them into my bowl. It wasn’t Drummond’s fault I wasn’t excited, but with so many good reviews, I was curious, and it turns out the results are magical.

Why You Should Add Chile Powder to Pecan Pie

While I love sweet desserts, I don’t love cloyingly sweet desserts, and sometimes pecan pie can fall into that category. Drummond’s addition of two kinds of chiles balances the sweetness in a fun and unique way that I loved. It didn’t necessarily add much in the way of flavor, instead it gave a little fun “kick” at the end. She smartly adds a bit of cocoa powder as well. This pumps up the bitterness and complements the earthy flavor of the pecans, again balancing the sweetness and elevating the pie in a fun and unique way. Plus, it's no secret that chile and chocolate make a dynamite pairing.

While I’ll always still love a traditional pecan pie (with or without the bourbon), I’ve discovered that a little heat is fun. I’d absolutely make this pie again and play with the spice even more. There are plenty of chiles and chile powders to try and maybe, if I can convince her, I’ll share a slice with my grandma.

Read the original article on All Recipes.