What to Do with Leftover Pecan Pie Filling (17 Ideas)
Pecan pie is a holiday classic, but the sad fact is that there are inevitably some leftovers.
When this happens, you have three options:
- Throw it out and have no idea what to do with it
- Put it in the fridge and forget about it until next year (don’t do this)
- Make something delicious with it!
So today we’re going to talk about some of our favorite ways to use leftover pecan pie filling.
If you’ve got a little bit of extra filling hanging around after your Thanksgiving feast (or if you just like pecan pie), here are some ways you can put that leftover goodness to good use.
Read Also: Pecan Pie Wine Pairing – The Best Wines for Pecan Pies
What to Do with Leftover Pecan Pie Filling?
If you have some leftover pecan pie filling, you can use it in a variety of ways. For example, you can bake it in a cookie, add it to brownies, or use it as a topping for ice cream.
In addition to the basics—such as baking it in a cookie—you can also use your leftover pecan pie filling to make other desserts.
For example, you could add it to brownies or use it as a topping for ice cream.
Still looking for ideas?
Then keep reading!
1. Make Frosting
Use your leftover pecan pie filling to make a sweet frosting for your next batch of cookies or brownies.
Simply combine the leftover filling with 1 cup butter and 4 cups powdered sugar and stir until smooth.
2. Make Crumble
You can also use your leftover filling to make a delicious crumble topping for ice cream, pie, or other desserts.
Simply combine the leftover filling with 2 cups flour, 2 cups brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a large bowl until combined.
3. Make Pecan Pie Cookies
Pecan pie filling is delicious, but if you have any left over and don’t want to eat it by itself, try making cookies!
It’s easy to do and can be done in about 20 minutes.
Here’s what you do:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Mix together 1 cup of white flour with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine (or other fat), 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/3 cup chopped pecans and 1 egg yolk (or just use an extra white). Stir until well combined.
- Press this batter into a 9-inch pie plate that has been greased with cooking spray or shortening; bake for 15 minutes until golden brown on top.
4. Add It to Your Morning Oats for A Special Holiday Treat
Pecan pie is the perfect holiday dessert, but it’s also a great way to start your day!
If you have some leftover filling, just stir in some oats and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
You’ll feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast, which is basically the best thing ever.
5. Use It as the Centerpiece of an Ice Cream Sundae Bar
If you’re planning an ice cream sundae bar for the holidays, consider using leftover pecan pie filling as the star ingredient in each one!
The creamy texture and sweet taste will make these sundaes even more delicious than ever before!
6. Pancake Topping
If you’ve got some leftover pecan pie filling, try adding it as a topping for pancakes.
This is especially great if you’ve got some friends over who are looking for something sweet or just want to eat something different from their usual breakfast routine.
7. Make Pecan Pralines
After Thanksgiving dinner and dessert night have come and gone, don’t let all that deliciousness go to waste!
Instead of tossing out that leftover pecan pie filling or just eating it straight out of the can (which is totally fine), try making pralines with it instead!
8. Make Some Pecan Pie Ice Cream
You can also try using it to make some pecan pie ice cream.
All you need is a can of sweetened condensed milk, a cup of chopped pecans, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a half gallon of your favorite vanilla ice cream.
- Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and spread over your favorite flavor of ice cream.
- Freeze for an hour before serving.
9. Use It as the Base of a Delicious Pecan Pie Smoothie
This is such a great way to use up leftover filling!
- All you need to do is blend it with milk (or water), ice cubes, and some simple syrup.
- Then top with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and some pecans.
You can also add chocolate chips if you’d like—that would be delicious too.
10. Bake some muffins
You can also make muffins by adding the filling to your favorite muffin batter recipe.
You could add a bit more sugar or spices, depending on how much you like those flavors—or even add a bit of bourbon if you want to kick it up a notch.
11. Make a quick bread
Another easy way to use pecan pie filling is in a quick bread.
You can either make a loaf of your favorite, or add it to an existing recipe—just make sure you don’t over-mix it, or else the texture will be too mushy.
12. Make a new pie
This one takes a little more effort than the other options, but it’s definitely worth it if you want an excuse to make another whole pie!
- Just mix together a few cups of leftover pecan pie filling with some flour, sugar, eggs, and butter until you have a batter that’s thick enough to spoon into your pie shell (or whatever kind of crust you’re using).
- Then bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes (or until golden brown).
13. Make a milkshake
This shake is simple and delicious, with just three ingredients—vanilla ice cream, milk, and the leftover pecan pie filling from your Thanksgiving feast.
It’s perfect for sipping while watching football games on Sunday afternoons or enjoying as a dessert after dinner.
14. Mix It Into Your Pancake Batter
If you want to get more mileage out of your leftover filling, try mixing it into your pancake batter!
This will give your pancakes a subtle but distinct pecan flavor that will make everyone wonder how you did it.
15. Make Pecan Pie Fudge
Pecan pie fudge is super easy to make and can be done with any leftover pecan pie filling (or just some sugar and butter!).
- Just melt together butter, sugar, and pecan pie filling in a saucepan over low heat until combined.
- Pour into a greased 8×8 pan and refrigerate until firm (about an hour).
- Cut into squares and serve!
16. Use It As A Dip For Apples Or Bananas
This is especially fun if you have kids at home who love the taste of pecan pie!
Simply mix together some of your pecan pie filling with marshmallow fluff or peanut butter (and maybe even some cream cheese) until well blended, then dip sliced apples or bananas into it.
You can even drizzle melted chocolate over the top for an extra sweet treat!
17. Freeze It In Ice Cubes
This is an easy way to get your fix without making another full-sized pie (and all the work that goes along with that).
Just freeze your leftover pecan pie filling into cubes and store them in an airtight container until ready to use!
What to Do with Leftover Pecan Pie Filling (17 Ideas)
Ingredients
- Make Frosting
- Make Crumble
- Make Pecan Pie Cookies
- Add It to Your Morning Oats for A Special Holiday Treat
- Use It as the Centerpiece of an Ice Cream Sundae Bar
- Pancake Topping
- Make Pecan Pralines
- Make Some Pecan Pie Ice Cream
- Use It as the Base of a Delicious Pecan Pie Smoothie
- Bake some muffins
- Make a quick bread
- Make a new pie
- Make a milkshake
- Mix It Into Your Pancake Batter
- Make Pecan Pie Fudge
- Use It As A Dip For Apples Or Bananas
- Freeze It In Ice Cubes
Instructions
- Pick your favorite idea from this list to use up your leftovers.
- Prepare the rest of your meal.
- Be ready to munch in no time!
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.