Texas Trash Pie Recipe

If you love every bite to be an adventure, Texas Trash Pie is about to become your new obsession. This ridiculously scrumptious pie is a glorious mix of salty, sweet, gooey, and crunchy — all layered into a single, show-stopping dessert. Imagine a buttery crust overstuffed with chocolate, caramel, pecans, toasty coconut, and a riot of crunchy crackers and pretzels. Every mouthful delivers a new flavor and texture, which is exactly why people go wild for Texas Trash Pie. Whether you’re making it for a potluck, holiday, or just to treat yourself, this is the kind of treat everyone talks about long after the last crumb disappears.

Ingredients You’ll Need

One of the best things about Texas Trash Pie is how each ingredient pulls its weight. It’s a fuss-free lineup, but every element brings something irresistible — from crunch to creaminess to a pop of flavor — that turns a simple pie into pure crave-worthy magic.

• Frozen deep dish pie crust: The sturdy, buttery base that holds all of the delicious “trash” together — easy, and no rolling required!
• Semisweet chocolate chips: Melty, rich chocolate that adds deep sweetness and a smooth texture in every bite.
• Pretzels (coarsely crushed): These bring irresistible salty crunch and help balance the sweetness.
• Graham crackers (coarsely crushed): Mild, sweet, and toasty, they fill out the filling and soak up all that buttery goodness.
• Shredded coconut: Adds a sweet, tropical flavor and a chewy texture that pairs perfectly with the other mix-ins.
• Pecan pieces: A Southern staple! They give nutty richness, crunch, and toasty notes throughout the pie.
• Kraft caramel bits: Little pockets of gooey caramel are the secret surprise in every slice.
• Butter (melted): This keeps everything moist and helps the pie meld together beautifully as it bakes.
• Sweetened condensed milk: The creamy, dreamy binder that pulls all the magic together.

How to Make Texas Trash Pie

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Start by setting your oven to 350°F, and move the oven rack to the second-to-lowest position. This little move helps the pie crust cook through and avoids a burnt topping — totally worth the effort for the perfect Texas Trash Pie.

Step 2: Melt the Butter

In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter until it’s fully liquid. You want it warm but not sizzling, so keep an eye on it! The melted butter is what makes this pie rich and allows all those fabulous flavors to blend.

Step 3: Crush and Prep the Mix-Ins

Coarsely crush your pretzels and graham crackers with your hands or in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Don’t pulverize them — a rough chop keeps things chunky and fun, which is totally the spirit of Texas Trash Pie.

Step 4: Combine the Filling Ingredients

Pour the chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, graham cracker pieces, shredded coconut, pecan pieces, and caramel bits into your butter bowl. Give everything a playful stir until well mixed. Add in the sweetened condensed milk and stir again until every piece is glossy and coated. The aroma at this step alone is pure joy.

Step 5: Add Filling to the Crust

Take your frozen deep dish pie crust straight from the freezer and set it on a baking sheet for easy handling. Gently pour (or pile!) your filling into the crust, smoothing out the top and spreading the yumminess edge to edge. It’ll look full — that’s perfect.

Step 6: Bake

Slide your pie into the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling looks set. Begin checking the pie at 25–30 minutes, and if the top gets too dark, simply tent it loosely with foil to prevent burning. The goal is a golden, bubbly masterpiece.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Once out of the oven, let your Texas Trash Pie cool for at least 15 minutes. This helps it set up so you get beautiful slices with every wild filling layered perfectly. Serve while still a little warm for extra gooeyness!

How to Serve Texas Trash Pie

Garnishes

A little extra flair never hurts! Dust the top with powdered sugar, drizzle with a bit of chocolate or caramel sauce, or sprinkle on extra chopped pecans for crunch. A swirl of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the cherry on top for your Texas Trash Pie.

Side Dishes

This pie is rich, so something simple on the side pairs best. Fresh berries or a fruit salad offer a burst of freshness that cleanses the palate between bites. Coffee or iced cold milk are perfect accompaniments for soaking up all the decadent flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

Want to make your Texas Trash Pie even more fun? Bake mini versions in muffin tins for easy-to-hold party treats or slice into bars for a dessert tray that looks (and tastes) out-of-this-world. You can even serve pie squares on popsicle sticks for a whimsical, shareable dessert.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Wrap leftover slices tightly in foil or store in an airtight container. Texas Trash Pie will keep its glorious flavor and texture for up to 4 days in the refrigerator — it never seems to last that long!

Freezing

Want to prep ahead? Cool the pie completely, then double-wrap in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. It’ll keep well for up to two months. When the craving hits, just thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.

Reheating

If you enjoy your Texas Trash Pie gently warmed, pop slices in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes or microwave for 20–30 seconds. This revives all those luscious, gooey textures that make this pie so beloved.

FAQs

What makes Texas Trash Pie different from other dessert pies?

Texas Trash Pie stands out because it throws all caution to the wind, packing in salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy, and gooey in one bite. The mix of pretzels, crackers, coconut, pecans, chocolate, and caramel makes every forkful totally unique.

Can I use a homemade pie crust instead of store-bought?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite deep-dish homemade crust, feel free to use it. Just make sure it’s rolled out thick enough to handle the hearty filling and baked on a baking sheet for support.

Is it possible to make Texas Trash Pie nut-free?

Definitely. Just skip the pecans and, if you want, substitute with more pretzels or seed-based snacks. The pie will still deliver on that crunchy, chewy goodness.

Can I swap ingredients in the filling?

This pie is all about creativity! You can swap in white chocolate chips, toffee bits, dried fruit, or crushed cookies — whatever mix-ins you fancy or have on hand. The more variety, the better.

Does Texas Trash Pie need to be refrigerated?

It’s not mandatory, but keeping it in the fridge helps the pie stay fresh longer and makes slicing neater. If you like it warm, just let it come to room temp or warm it up before serving.

Final Thoughts

The real magic of Texas Trash Pie is how fun it is to make and share. Every time you serve it, expect big smiles and plenty of happy sighs. Give it a try — you just might start a whole new dessert tradition!

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