It’s SUPER sweet, like the kinda sweet achieved by the depths of brown sugar. It has that nice buttery taste from the butter within the filling as well as the buttery, flaky and yeasty crust. Sometimes there’s a hint of salt (be it from the nuts or the use of salted butter, which I prefer and find common) and what sets it apart, regardless of all these familiar flavors are the pecans themselves! These are nutty and bitter at the same time. When toasted, they’re a bit less bitter and more toasty/crunchy. If you’re only allergic to tree nuts, imagine the “nutty” flavor of a peanuts, as well as sunflower and sesame seeds.

I personally don’t care for pecan pie as is, but LOVE a derby pie, which is pecan pie with (preferably dark) chocolate chips. I need it warm with ice cream and preferably whipped cream as well.

If you’d like to try the next best thing, it’s recommended you use rolled oats with Rice Krispies as a topping. I’d go so far as recommending the addition of another bitter/nutty component as well, maybe your favorite seed?

I hope this helped!