Cut The Sweetness Of Pecan Pie With Martha Stewart's Secret Ingredient - Tasting Table

"Without proper attention, a pecan pie recipe can run cloyingly sweet. Thanks to Martha Stewart, however, these offensive slices of pie don't need to be served to any dinner party guest. As she shares on TikTok, Stewart adds the zest of one lemon to each of her pies. "Adding a little grated lemon zest to the filling nicely balances out the flavor of the sweet pecans," she explains."

"If you don't have a lemon to mix into the pecan pie's filling, the zest of an orange will also do. Alternatively, try lime zest or use one tablespoon of lemon extract or lemon juice to bring freshness to your dessert recipe. The sneaky citrusy addition may even inspire you to add an extra garnish of citrus to the top of a whipped-cream-coated slice just prior to serving."

Grated lemon zest added to pecan pie filling counteracts cloying sweetness and brightens the overall flavor. Orange or lime zest, or one tablespoon of lemon extract or lemon juice, provides a similar freshening effect when lemon is unavailable. A small citrus garnish on a whipped-cream-topped slice further offsets residual sweetness. Additional flavor enhancers include brown butter, muscovado sugar, ground ginger, spiced bourbon, and fresh vanilla beans to deepen complexity. Serving freshly baked pie with unsweetened or lightly sweetened whipped cream or a complementary ice cream helps balance the dessert for a more enjoyable finish.

Read at Tasting Table