Texas Trash Pie

Savor the unique blend of sweet and salty in Texas trash pie. This deliciously different dessert delivers a wide variety of flavors and textures in every bite.

Does homemade pie make you all weak at the knees? If so, you might also like to try drumstick pie, Oreo pie, or even this coconut cream pie.

Why You’ll Love It

A Texan favorite: This wonderful pie is the kind of dish everyone loves and I expect you’ll want to make it again and again.
Easy to make: You’re starting off with a readymade pie crust and filling it with all kinds of delicious filling ingredients. After this, all that’s left to do is bake it in the oven. So simple!
Great to customize: Got some chocolate bars left over or a bag of candy? You can throw all kinds of snack foods in there!

Texas Trash Pie Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Pie crust: You could make your own but grabbing a pie crust from the store is a great time-saving help.
Graham crackers: Adds a cookie-type element to the pie.
Pretzels: For a salty crunchy.
Shredded coconut: Adds an exotic touch.
Chocolate chips: Any kind you want.
Pecans: Or your preferred nuts.
Caramel bits: For sweetness and richness.
Melted butter: Adds a luxurious flavor and helps hold the filling together.
Vanilla extract: Subtle and sweet.
Salt: Helps balance out the sweet flavors in the pie.
Sweetened condensed milk: For sweetness and to get the consistency just right.

How to Make Texas Trash Pie

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the pie crust: Put it in a pie dish and freeze until ready to use.
Make the pie filling: Mix the graham crackers, pretzels, coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, and caramel bits together in a large bowl, and then stir in the butter, vanilla, salt, and sweetened condensed milk.
Bake the Texas trash pie: Fill the pie crust with the filling mixture and bake until set and golden brown. Let it cool completely on a wire rack at room temperature before serving with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, choose a gluten-free pie crust and gluten-free graham crackers or cookies.
Pie dough: You can use homemade pastry for your pie crust if you prefer. A graham cracker crust isn’t the best choice for Texas trash pie – you need something sturdy, so opt for a homemade, fresh or frozen pie crust that’s sturdy enough to hold the filling.
Crushed pretzels: Substitute chopped salted crackers if you prefer.
Sweetened shredded coconut: Use unsweetened if you prefer.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Sub white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips if you don’t mind the extra sweetness.
Pecan pieces: Try almonds, pistachios or walnuts instead.
Caramel bits: Chopped soft caramel candies would be good instead, or you could use butterscotch chips or even a chopped candy bar.
Salted butter: You can use unsalted butter with a pinch of salt.
Vanilla extract: Try almond extract or coconut extract instead.
Salted topping: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top before baking.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Begin your Texas-themed meal with Texas cowboy caviar dip and chips or a smoked buffalo chicken dip.
Main dishes: Next up, how about hearty cowboy stew with cornbread and cowboy beans? Another tasty idea is cowboy soup. A meal of lemon pepper chicken thighs and truffle mashed potatoes would be nice, too!
Desserts: Finish with a slice of Texas trash pie paired with whipped cream.

How to Store Sweet and Salty Texas Trash Pie

Store: Texas trash pie can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you prefer to refrigerate it, it will stay fresh for up to a week.
Freeze: To freeze, wrap the pie tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw the pie in the refrigerator overnight before serving for the best results.