Grilled Pecan Pie for Dad's Day

This post was originally written for inclusion on the Virginia-Highland Civic Association website on June 14, 2013:

Given all that our fathers have endured over the years; endless games of catch, Christmas Eves spent assembling a variety of gifts (with instructions in German), forced politeness toward dates with odd hairdos, and teaching us how to parallel park, Dad clearly deserves royal treatment. So on his day, let's give him what he really wants: the chance to relax, have fun and, to top it all off, enjoy a big juicy steak that he has grilled to his exact preference.

So what better Father’s Day gift than grilling tools or even better a new grill. And, what better place to shop for grills and accessories than our neighborhood Intown Hardware? With a selection of Weber grills and grilling equipment, there is something for every Dad. Intown Ace Hardware also carries the full line of Big Green Egg cookers and accessories. Resident grillmaster, Phillip Ramsey, is a proponent of the Big Green Egg for its versatility; “You can cook almost anything on an Egg. You have the ability to control the temperature far better than any other grill on the market.” An added benefit to cooking on a Big Green Egg is that you don’t heat up your kitchen on a hot summer day. His favorite example of the Egg’s flexibility is a grilled chocolate pecan pie:

• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup bourbon
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 (9-inch) pie shell

Set the Egg for indirect cooking with the Plate Setter, legs down. Preheat the BGE to 400°F.

Using a wooden spoon, mix the com syrup, eggs, butter, brown sugar, bourbon, and flour in a medium bowl until combined. Add the chocolate and pecans and blend well. Pour the filling into the pie shell.

Place the pie plate on the Plate Setter. Close the lid of the BGE and bake for 45 minutes, or until the filling is set and the pie is golden brown. Remove the pecan pie from the grill and let cool completely, and then refrigerate.


Don’t have a Big Green Egg? Don’t despair! You can bake the pie in a traditional oven for your Dad or you can try pecan hand-pies that can be cooked on a traditional grill.

For tips on selecting the perfect grilling equipment for Dad, head over to Intown Hardware and chat with Phillip or  visit the Ace Hardware’s online Guide to Grills and Outdoor Cooking.