The Sweetest Texas Trash Pie Recipe That’s Simply Addictive

Indulgent Texas trash pie combines a wild medley of sweet and salty ingredients that dance across your taste buds with delightful abandon.

Southern kitchens have long celebrated this decadent dessert as a quirky culinary creation that defies traditional baking expectations.

Pantry staples refine into a rich, gooey masterpiece that feels like a delicious rebellion against standard dessert rules.

Unexpected flavor combinations meld together, creating a treat that simultaneously honors and challenges classic pie traditions.

Layers of contrasting textures promise a sensory experience that surprises and delights even the most discerning dessert enthusiasts.

Crumbly, crispy, and creamy elements merge in a symphony of taste that captures the bold spirit of Texas cuisine.

Comfort food lovers and adventurous bakers will find this recipe irresistibly tempting.

Why People Keep Talking About Texas Trash Pie

• Indulge in Irresistible Layers: This Texas Trash Pie combines multiple textures and flavors in one epic dessert, creating a crazy-good mix of crunchy pretzels, sweet chocolate chips, nutty pecans, and rich caramel that dance together in every single bite.
• Super Simple Throw-Together Technique: With just one bowl and minimal prep, anyone can create this dessert in minutes- no fancy baking skills required! Crush, mix, pour, and bake makes this recipe perfect for novice bakers or busy home cooks looking for a quick sweet treat.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Dessert: Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or when you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of sweet condensed milk, chocolate, and caramel creates an addictive dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds and begging for the recipe.
• No-Fuss Customizable Treat: Feel free to swap ingredients based on what's in your pantry- swap pecans for another nut, change chocolate chip varieties, or adjust mix-ins to make this truly your own signature dessert that reflects your personal taste and creativity.

Ingredients Needed to Make Texas Trash Pie

• Butter: Rich base that helps bind ingredients and adds depth of flavor, unsalted preferred for better control of saltiness.
• Pretzels: Provides a salty, crunchy texture with classic American snack appeal, preferably small twisted or stick style.
• Graham Crackers: Adds sweet, graham-like foundation with classic sandy texture, traditional honey flavor works best.

• Chocolate Chips, Caramel Bits: Decadent sweet components that create gooey pockets of rich flavor, semi-sweet or milk chocolate recommended.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creamy binding agent that adds richness and helps set the pie's structure, smooth consistency crucial.

• Shredded Coconut, Pecan Pieces: Provides additional crunch and nutty complexity, unsweetened coconut and fresh pecans preferred for best taste and texture.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Texas Trash Pie

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Workspace

Adjust oven rack to second lowest position. Preheat oven to 350°F. Gather all baking tools and ingredients.

Step 2: Crush Dry Base Ingredients

• Pretzels
• Graham crackers

Crush into small, uneven pieces without pulverizing completely.

Step 3: Melt Butter

Place butter in microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 15-second intervals, stirring between each, until completely melted.

Step 4: Combine Filling Ingredients

• Crushed pretzels
• Crushed graham crackers
• Chocolate chips
• Shredded coconut
• Pecan pieces
• Caramel bits
• Sweetened condensed milk

Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 5: Transfer to Pie Crust

Pour mixture into frozen pie crust. Use spatula to spread evenly across surface.

Step 6: Bake with Careful Monitoring

Slide pie into preheated oven. Bake 40-45 minutes.

Around 25-30 minutes, check browning. If top colors too quickly, gently cover with aluminum foil.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Remove pie from oven. Allow to rest 15 minutes before slicing. Serve at room temperature.

Handy Tips to Nail Your Texas Trash Pie

• Crush with Care: Break pretzels and graham crackers into varying sizes for a more interesting texture, avoiding powdery crumbs.
• Melt Butter Gently: Use low microwave power to prevent butter from burning or splattering.
• Watch the Golden Brown: Monitor the pie closely during the last 10-15 minutes of baking to achieve the perfect caramelized top without burning.
• Cool Completely: Allow the pie to rest for at least 15 minutes to help it set and make slicing easier.
• Strategic Foil Protection: Keep aluminum foil nearby to quickly cover the pie if the top browns too quickly, preventing burnt edges.

Storing and Reheating Tips for Texas Trash Pie

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Texas Trash Pie in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated for up to 4 days. Cover the pie with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
• Freezing: Wrap individual slices or the entire pie tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Place a label with the date to track storage time.
• Reheating: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. For a crispier texture, reheat in a preheated oven at 325°F for 10-15 minutes. Let the pie sit for a few minutes after reheating to allow the filling to stabilize.

What Goes Well with a Slice of Texas Trash Pie

• Pair with Creamy Bourbon Delight: Complement the rich, sweet Texas Trash Pie with a smooth bourbon-based cocktail that echoes its caramel and nutty undertones, cutting through the dessert's intense sweetness.
• Serve alongside Cold Vanilla Bean Scoop: A classic vanilla ice cream provides a cool, smooth contrast to the pie's crunchy texture and warm, toasty flavors, creating a perfect balance of temperatures and textures.
• Match with Strong Espresso Shot: A bold espresso offers a robust, slightly bitter counterpoint to the pie's overwhelming sweetness, cleansing the palate and enhancing the dessert's complex flavor profile.
• Elevate with Tawny Port Wine: A rich, amber port wine brings out the pie's caramel and nutty notes, providing a sophisticated alcoholic companion that complements the dessert's decadent ingredients.

Creative Spins to Try on Texas Trash Pie

• Nutty Caramel Crunch: Replace pecans with almonds and add extra caramel drizzle on top for a rich, crunchy texture.
• Tropical Paradise Pie: Swap coconut for macadamia nuts and mix in dried pineapple chunks for a Hawaiian-inspired version.
• Salted Chocolate Sensation: Incorporate sea salt flakes and dark chocolate chips for a sophisticated flavor profile that balances sweet and salty notes.
• Berry Decadent Remix: Fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips to create a fruity, creamy variation that adds vibrant color and tangy sweetness.

Texas Trash Pie Recipe

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4.8 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Indulgent Texas trash pie combines beloved pantry staples into a rich dessert celebrating Southern baking tradition. Sweet graham cracker crust cradles layers of chocolate, caramel, and pecans that invite eager spoons to explore delicious comfort.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup pretzels, coarsely crushed
• 1 cup graham crackers, coarsely crushed
• 1 cup Kraft caramel bits
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• ¾ cup pecan pieces

Crust and Binding Ingredients:

• 1 frozen deep-dish pie crust (9 or 10-inch)
• ½ cup (8 tablespoons) butter, melted
• 1 can (14 ounces / 396 grams) sweetened condensed milk

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Instructions

1. Calibrate the oven temperature to 350°F and position the rack on the lower third of the oven for optimal heat distribution.
2. Liquify the butter using a microwave-safe container, ensuring complete melting.
3. Deconstruct the pretzels and graham crackers into rustic, uneven fragments, maintaining a coarse texture that provides delightful crunch.
4. Consolidate the melted butter with pretzels, graham crackers, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, pecan pieces, caramel bits, and sweetened condensed milk in a spacious mixing vessel.
5. Thoroughly blend the ingredients, creating a harmonious mixture that intertwines each component’s unique flavor profile.
6. Transfer the concoction into the pre-chilled pie crust, meticulously spreading the mixture to achieve an uniform layer.
7. Slide the pie into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, monitoring its transformation.
8. Midway through baking, assess the pie’s surface color. If browning occurs too rapidly, drape a protective aluminum foil shield to prevent excessive caramelization.
9. Remove the pie from the oven once the surface achieves a golden-brown hue and the filling sets completely.
10. Allow the pie to rest and stabilize for 15 minutes before slicing, enabling the ingredients to harmonize and set.

Notes

• Elevate your dessert game with this indulgent, no-fuss Texas Trash Pie that combines sweet, salty, and crunchy textures in one irresistible slice.
• Crush pretzels and graham crackers coarsely to maintain a satisfying crunch and textural contrast throughout the pie.
• Use room temperature sweetened condensed milk for easier mixing and more even distribution of ingredients.
• Cover the pie with foil halfway through baking to prevent excessive browning while ensuring a perfectly golden top.
• Allow the pie to cool completely for cleaner slicing and to let the caramel and condensed milk set properly.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, wrapped tightly to maintain freshness and prevent absorbing other flavors.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 445
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg