Pecan Pie: a fantastic recipe for a classic nutty dessert

An old-fashioned pecan pie is always a welcome addition to any holiday gathering whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a festive party with your friends and family. Pecan pie is a classic Southern dessert with a sweet, salty, nutty flavor and chewy texture.

It's a super easy dessert to make and tastes absolutely phenomenal. This easy homemade pecan pie is perfect if you want to serve up an incredibly delicious dessert that doesn't take too much effort to make. The best part is you can make pecan pie a few days ahead to make your Thanksgiving or Christmas day prep a little easier!

What is Pecan Pie?

Pecan pie is an ultra-classic dessert that originated in the Southern part of the United States. It's a popular treat to serve any time of year, but it's a fixture during the holidays, especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other festive occasions.

Pecan pie is a type of sugar pie similar to the treacle tart, which was made in Europe for centuries. Some food historians believe the French created the pecan pie after local Native American tribes in the New Orleans area introduced them to the pecan.

Pecan Pie Filling Ingredients 

Pecans star as the main ingredient in pecan pie. Corn syrup is another major ingredient that helps give pecan pie its characteristic chewy texture. You can use either dark or light corn syrup to make pecan pie. Many people prefer dark corn syrup because it has a richer, almost toasty flavor and darker color.

You'll also need eggs, sugar, and butter to make pecan pie, plus a pie crust. For convenience, you can buy a store-bought pie crust, but you can make one from scratch for that authentic flavor.

How to Make Pecan Pie

Making old-fashioned pecan pie is absurdly easy. Preheat your oven to 350F. If you're worried about a soggy crust, you can prebake your crust for 8 to 10 minutes, but this is totally optional. Combine the corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Once the mixture is smooth, add in the pecans.

Transfer the pecan mixture to a pie crust and bake the pie for 60 to 70 minutes, or until the center is set and the crust is golden brown. Take the pecan pie out of the oven and let it cool for a minimum of 2 hours before serving. Pecan pie is best with a scoop of ice cream or some homemade whipped cream, but tastes great on its own as well!

How to Tell if Your Pecan Pie is Done 

Depending on your oven, it should take about 60 to 70 minutes for your pecan pie to finish cooking. The best way to tell if your pecan pie is done is to give it a slight jiggle. The center should be set and the pie crust golden brown.

Can You Make Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup?

Most classic pecan pie recipes are made with corn syrup, however, if you don't have corn syrup or prefer not to use it, you can make a pecan pie without corn syrup. You can use maple syrup or extra sugar as a substitute.

Tips for Making Easy Homemade Pecan Pie

Worried about a soggy pie crust? Blind bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes or dust the bottom of the pie with about 1 teaspoon of flour.

To avoid having a runny pecan pie, let your pie bake a few minutes longer in the oven.

If you want to take your pecan pie to the next level, add chocolate to it. Use high-quality semi-sweet chocolate for a delicious chocolate pecan pie.

Another fantastic pecan pie addition is bourbon or rum. Add a splash to the filling mixture to give your pie more flavor. Don't worry – the alcohol will burn off in the oven.

How to Serve Pecan Pie

Serve your homemade pecan pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. In the South, it's often served with hard sauce, a buttery, creamy sauce that's made with bourbon, rum, or other types of alcohol. Pecan pie is best enjoyed at room temperature or even slightly chilled.

How to Store Old-fashioned Pecan Pie

Cover the pie in foil or cling film and place it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can You Freeze Pecan Pie?

Absolutely! Pecan pie freezes very well. Once the pie has cooled down, wrap it well in cling film, put it in a freezer-safe bag, then pop it in the freezer. It'll keep for up to 2 months. Thaw your pecan pie in the fridge overnight when you're ready to enjoy it.

More Recipes You'll Like

Sugar-coated pecans

Butter pecan cookies

Pecan pie bars

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F.

Use a store-bought pie crust or make it your own by combining flour, butter, apple cider vinegar, sugar and salt.

Form a ball, wrap it in a sheet of cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

In a large bowl, add the corn syrup.

Combine the eggs, sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl.

Add in the pecans.

Mix well.

Roll out the pie crust and transfer it to a deep-dish pie crust. Prick the bottom with the tine of a fork and cut the excess dough with a knife.

To avoid a soggy crust, prebake it for about 10 minutes.

Transfer the pecan mixture to a pie crust.

Spread it evenly.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool for a minimum of 2 hours before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use room-temperature ingredients to make your pecan pie. The ingredients will mix more evenly.