This homemade Gluten Free Chocolate Pecan Pie is full of flavor. You may recognize it as a derby pie. It is moist, decadent, and even better ala mode! You will love how the chocolate, pecan, and bourbon flavors combine with the flaky gluten free pie crust!
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If you are looking for the easiest gluten free pecan pie recipe, this gluten free chocolate pecan pie recipe is the easiest!
If you haven't heard of this pie, it is a special pecan pie called a derby pie, popular during the Kentucky Derby horse race. Before I was gluten free, we would travel to Kentucky, and I used to love ordering this pie! It has a rich, sticky chocolate filling and a sort of cookie-like top crust. This chocolate pecan pie is made without corn syrup!
I have lots of delicious pie recipes. You can use a store-bought gluten free pie crust or my flaky homemade Gluten Free Pie Crust recipe. If you need even more inspiration, here is the Ultimate Guide To Gluten Free Pie with 50+ Easy Gluten Free Pie Recipes.
Why This Recipe Works:
- Sweet and rich flavor: This gluten free derby pie is made with a combination of gluten free flour, sugar, butter, chocolate chips, and pecans, which gives it a sweet and rich flavor. It is an incredible dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Texture: Derby Pie has a unique, gooey, and crunchy texture. The filling is gooey and soft, while the pecans add a crunchy texture that complements the smoothness of the chocolate filling.
- Nostalgia and tradition: Derby Pie is a traditional dessert that has been enjoyed for generations in Kentucky and beyond. It is a traditional cake served in the spring to celebrate the Kentucky Derby horse race.
- Versatility: Although Derby Pie is a specific recipe, it can be enjoyed anytime. It also makes an excellent chocolate pecan pie to serve during the fall and on holidays like Thanksgiving.
Tips For Success:
- If you are in a hurry, use a store-bought gluten free pie crust. You can find them in the freezer section at most grocery stores.
- Make it dairy-free by using plant-based butter and dairy-free chocolate chips. Enjoy Life makes some that are great.
- Note if you use a pre-made crust, it can crack, as you can tell from my photos. If you do not want to risk this, use a mix or my crust recipe.
Check out my gluten free pie recipes on the blog for even more tasty ideas.
This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten Free Pie Crust - I used a frozen pre-made gluten free crust by Wholesome brand. You can also use a mix like Bob's Red Mill or my Gluten Free Pie Crust recipe.
- Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure. Other blends should work, but I haven't tested them.
- Butter - I recommend using unsalted butter.
- Eggs - Use size large.
- Vanilla Extract - Try to use pure vanilla extract.
- Chocolate Chips - I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips; if you are dairy-free, I recommend Enjoy Life.
- Sugar - This recipe calls for both white and brown sugar. Use any brand.
- Pecans - I used raw unsalted pecans. Walnuts are also delicious in this recipe.
Tools For Making Pie:
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
If you are making my homemade gluten free pie crust, make that first. If you use a store-bought gluten free crust, be sure it is thawed to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350º F and check that the oven rack is in the middle position.
Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a large
Step 2: Add the chocolate chips and chopped nuts to the dry ingredients. Mix well.
Step 3: Partially melt the butter for 25 seconds in the microwave oven. Remove it and add the eggs and vanilla extract. Do not melt the butter too long; it can cook your eggs!
Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix them into cookie dough.
Step 5: This is what your cookie dough texture should look like. Every gluten free blend is different due to having different starch-to-grain ratios. If your dough is more firm, add more melted butter. If your batter is runnier, add more flour.
Step 6: Pour the batter into the prepared gluten free pie crust. My pie crust tin is 9 inches.
🔑 Sandi says: You do not need to prebake the pie crust for this recipe.
Step 7: Bake this gluten free chocolate pie for 30 minutes until the filling is set and the top is golden. If you use a deeper pie dish, you must bake it longer.
Step 8: Remove the pie from the oven and place it onto a wire cooling rack. Serve when the pie has cooled.
Recipe FAQ:
A derby pie is very similar to a pecan pie, but a derby pie is a little more cookie-like in consistency. Pecan pies have a more gooey filling.
Store this pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This is a good pie storage container because it keeps the air from drying the pie.
This pie will keep fresh for up to 4 days in the fridge. You can also freeze this pie in a freezer-safe zipper bag. It will keep fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Gluten Free Pie Recipes:
- Gluten Free Blueberry Pie - Hands down, this old-fashioned gluten free blueberry pie recipe is as good as your mom's!
- Gluten Free Mixed Berry Pie - This delicious pie celebrates fresh summer fruits.
- Gluten Free Apple Pie - This recipe will fill your house with incredible cinnamon apple scents.
- Gluten Free Strawberry Pie - I made this as mini single-serving gluten free pies, but you can also make one large pie with this recipe.
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Derby Pie (aka Chocolate Pecan Pie)
Ingredients
- 1 gluten free pie crust * See notes
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup gluten free flour blend * See notes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons bourbon optional
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1 ¼ cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Make your gluten free pie crust. If you are using a store-bought crust, be sure it is thawed to room temperature. See the notes for my easy gluten free pie crust recipe.
- Preheat the oven to 350º F and put the oven rack in the middle position.
- In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients. Use a wire whisk to blend them.
- In a smaller microwave-safe bowl, warm the butter. Don't make it too hot, or it can cook your eggs. You just want the butter very soft. Add the rest of the wet ingredients and whisk.
- Pour the wet into the dry ingredients. Add hte pecans and chocolate chips.
- Mix the pie filling.
- Pour the pie filling into the prepared pie crust.
- Use a large spoon to spread the batter evenly in the crust.
- Bake the crust for 30-40 minutes. The baking time will vary depending on the size pie crust you use.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on a rack.
Notes
- Use a store-bought pie crust or my flaky Gluten Free Pie Crust recipe.
- You can use any gluten free flour blend in this recipe, but check to ensure it contains a binder. If yours doesn't, add one teaspoon of xanthan or guar gum to the dry ingredients.
- Store the baked pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can store it for up to 4 days. This pie also freezes really well.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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James Savanella
I don’t see in the directions where a top crust is used or was that just in the description of the Derby Pie from the Kentucky Derby?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi James, there isn't a top crust. It bakes its own crust on top.