A Slice of Southern Charm: The Ultimate Pecan Pie Recipe
Nothing beats a slice of homemade pecan pie for adding a touch of Southern charm to your table. This classic dessert combines a rich, buttery filling with a crunchy pecan topping, making it a favorite at holiday gatherings and special occasions.
Whether you’re an experienced baker or trying pie-making for the first time, our step-by-step recipe will help you easily create a show-stopping dessert. Simple ingredients like pecans, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla combine to make a pie that’s both delicious and visually stunning.
This recipe will become a beloved kitchen tradition. It is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or whenever you crave something sweet. Impress your family and friends with this irresistible, timeless dessert!
History
The rich history intertwines with the culinary traditions of the American South. Indigenous people incorporated the pecan, a nut native to North America, into their diets for centuries. However, the pecan pie we know today began to emerge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Cooks started publishing recipes in the late 1800s, with one of the first printed versions appearing in an 1898 issue of The Ladies’ Home Journal. In the 1920s, Karo, a corn syrup company, significantly popularized the dessert. Karo made corn syrup a key ingredient by including recipes in its promotional materials, giving the pie its signature gooey sweetness and texture.
Many credit Louisiana as the birthplace of pecan pie, thanks to its plentiful trees and French culinary influences. Over the years, this dessert has become a Southern staple, particularly during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Despite its relatively modern origins, it has become a beloved classic. Its rich, nutty flavor and sweet, custard-like filling continue to delight, with countless recipe variations adding personal twists to the traditional favorite.
Pecan Pie Day
July 12th marks National Pecan Pie Day in the United States, a celebration of this beloved dessert. While the exact origins of the observance remain unclear, it likely stems from the enduring popularity of pecan pie in American cuisine, especially in the South, where pecans thrive.
This special day invites people to enjoy it during the summer when fresh fruits and homemade baked goods take center stage. It provides an opportunity to honor the pie’s rich history, savor its delicious flavor, and experiment with new or perfect classic recipes. By dedicating a day to pecan pie, the celebration inspires bakers and dessert enthusiasts to unite in their love for this iconic treat.
5 Fun Facts
- Native Nut: Pecans are the only major tree nut native to North America, making pecan pie a truly American dessert. Native Americans cultivated and used pecans long before European settlers arrived.
- Karo Syrup Boost: Pecan pie’s popularity soared in the 1920s when Karo syrup promoted its product as the perfect ingredient for the pie’s signature sweet, gooey filling.
- State Dessert: Texas declared pecan pie its official state dessert in 2013. Texas also recognizes pecans as its official state nut.
- Holiday Favorite: Although enjoyed year-round, pecan pie shines during the holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, where it shares the table with pumpkin and apple pies.
- Recipe Variety: Creative twists on pecan pie include chocolate pecan pie, bourbon pecan pie, and pecan pie bars, offering endless ways to cater to different tastes and preferences.
Simple Pecan Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ pound butter 1 stick
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup corn syrup
- ¼ tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 eggs
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 9 inch pie shell uncooked
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. At the same time, you put these ingredients together.
- Finely chop the orange zest and chop the pecans.
- Brown the butter. Here's how. Using a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and cook until the edges turn brown. Be very careful not to burn the butter. The goal is to brown the edges of the butter to give it a nutty flavor. Remove the pan from the stovetop and let it cool a little.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients except for the pie shell & pecans in a large mixing bowl using a whisk to blend all the ingredients.
- Add the butter & pecans, being sure to mix well but don't overwork it.
- Pour this combined mixture into the pie shell and bake for 10 minutes on the center rack. Reduce the heat to 375° F and bake for an additional 35 minutes.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool before slicing it.
