Texas Trash Pie (Everything but the Kitchen Sink Pie)
Texas Trash Pie — The Everything Pie
Texas trash pie is the “throw everything good into a pie crust” dessert that Texans have been making for decades. It’s loaded with chocolate chips, shredded coconut, chopped pecans, and a sweet cream cheese filling — all baked until golden and gooey. The name is terrible but the pie is absolutely addictive. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy in every bite.
Why This Pie Is Famous
- 5 minutes to assemble — dump, mix, pour, bake
- Sweet + salty combo — the addictive factor
- No fancy technique — if you can stir, you can make this pie
- Serves a crowd — one pie feeds 8-10 easily
Ingredients
- 1 deep-dish pie crust (store-bought or homemade, unbaked)
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (175g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (85g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup (120g) chopped pecans
- Pinch of flaky sea salt for topping
How to Make Texas Trash Pie
Step 1 — Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place pie crust in a deep-dish pie plate. Crimp edges.
Step 2 — Make the filling. Beat softened cream cheese and melted butter until smooth. Add eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix until combined. Fold in chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans.
Step 3 — Pour and bake. Pour filling into the unbaked pie crust. Bake 40–45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is just set (it will jiggle slightly — that’s fine, it sets as it cools).
Step 4 — Cool and serve. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top while warm. Cool at least 30 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Tips
- Don’t overbake — pull it when the center still jiggles slightly. It firms up as it cools
- Deep-dish crust — a regular pie crust will overflow. Use deep-dish or make your own tall crust
- Flaky sea salt on top — this is NOT optional. The salt-sweet contrast is what makes it addictive
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Texas trash pie?
Because you “trash” everything sweet into one pie — chocolate, coconut, pecans, cream cheese. It’s a Southern no-rules approach to dessert. No delicate technique, just maximum flavor.
Can I use a different nut?
Walnuts or macadamia nuts work well. Pecans are traditional but not essential. For nut-free, add extra coconut or substitute with sunflower seeds.
Can I make Texas trash pie without coconut?
Yes — replace with an extra ½ cup chocolate chips or add butterscotch chips instead. The pie still works beautifully without coconut.
Can I make this ahead?
Yes — bake and store covered at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for 4 days. It’s actually better the next day when the flavors have melded.
Can I freeze Texas trash pie?
Yes — freeze baked and fully cooled pie wrapped tightly for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Can I use graham cracker crust instead?
Yes — a graham cracker crust adds a different flavor dimension. Reduce bake time to 30–35 minutes since graham crusts brown faster.
What makes a good Texas trash pie filling?
The cream cheese base holds everything together. The ratio of crunchy (pecans) + chewy (coconut) + melty (chocolate) + creamy (cream cheese) is what makes it work. Don’t skip any component.
Can I add peanut butter?
Yes — swirl 3 tablespoons of peanut butter into the filling before baking for a peanut butter Texas trash pie. This is a hugely popular variation.
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Texas Trash Pie
A decadent dessert with a Texan twist, Texas Trash Pie combines a rich, gooey chocolate filling with the crunch of pecans and the sweet chewiness of coconut. This dessert is a slice of Texan tradition, perfect for impressing guests or indulging in a sweet treat.
Ingredients
- 1 pre-made pie crust
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 eggs, beaten
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and place the pre-made pie crust in a pie dish.
- Combine chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut in a mixing bowl. Spread mixture over the pie crust.
- Mix sugar, flour, melted butter, and beaten eggs in another bowl until well combined.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the chocolate and nut mixture in the pie crust.
- Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the filling is set.
- Allow the pie to cool before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature.
