2 hours 15 minutes

Homemade Pecan Pie Recipe

Pecan Pie is so simple to make and a delicious holiday pie the whole family will love! The sugar filling is loaded with pecans and nestled in a flaky crust, and you can easily make it a day or two ahead of time!

Serve it at a BBQ in the summer or during the holidays after a big turkey dinner! Don’t forget to top it with whipped cream or ice cream!



 

Grammie’s Southern Pecan Pie Recipe

About a year ago, my mother passed along some of my Grammie’s old recipe cards. Among them was her recipe for a Kentucky Pecan Pie, something she had made every year at Thanksgiving and something I had never tried.

I prepared the pecan pie filling as if it were just an everyday recipe. I poured it into the crust and then popped it in the oven.

It was just another recipe. Or at least it was until I opened the oven about halfway through, and the amazing aroma racked me with grief.

I stood in my kitchen silently sobbing and fought every urge not to just sit down on the floor and let it all out.

In fact, I’m having a hard time writing this now, days later, through tear-soaked eyes.

I wasn’t crying because the pecan pie had failed; I was crying because it was just like hers. It was hers, and she was not here to enjoy it with me.

Every Recipe Has The Potential To Hold Memories

The fragrance of the rich brown sugar, warm pecans, and flaky crust sent me instantly back to my childhood. To Thanksgiving with my crazy-big family and a table lined with more pies than anyone could ever eat.

And always baked to perfection!

I could see myself walking around the corner into the kitchen to sneak pieces of extra pie crust my grandmother had baked up with cinnamon and sugar.

I’m pretty sure she always knew what I was doing while she was back to mashing the potatoes.

But not once at Thanksgiving did I try her pecan pie. And now, what I wouldn’t give to have not been so picky and to have shared a piece with her.

And as I stood there, I came to realize that somehow, all these years later, she was actually sharing a piece of herself with me. It was then that my grief transformed into thankfulness.

I’m so thankful that some of her recipes had ended up in my hands almost seven years after she had passed and that even though I hadn’t gotten to share a piece of this pie with her, we must have split a million loaves of her banana bread when I was little.

And most importantly, I know my passion for baking was born in her kitchen, and it’s something that will always connect us.

A freshly baked Southern Pecan Pie was meant to be shared!

So once the pie was done, I did what anyone would do, and I drove to my Nana’s to share a piece with her. Then I took half the pie to my mom’s, so she might feel that connection once again as well.

I feel like this recipe found me at the right time; I don’t want any more missed moments. I want to be present in my family so that years from now, I can smile back on a shared plate of pecan pie.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the things that don’t matter, so I encourage you to slow down and take in the things that do.

I hope you all find some time this holiday season to bake together, play together, and eat together. Just BE together; I promise you’ll be so glad you did.

Brown Sugar Pecan Pie ingredients

  • pie shell
  • light corn syrup
  • light brown sugar
  • unsalted butter
  • cold water
  • corn starch
  • salt
  • vanilla extract
  • large eggs
  • pecans
  • pecan pieces

Using All Brown Sugar Makes This Pecan Pie Amazing!

My Grammie’s Pecan Pie is different because it uses all brown sugar, which really lets the pecan flavor shine.

She also always cooked part of the filling on the stovetop before combining everything and adding it to the pie crust.

Most pecan pies don’t use this method, and I’m honestly not sure why she did it, but I do know that you don’t mess with perfection.

Update: A reader actually shared why in the comments: The reason for the cooking before baking is to thicken the filling and heat it up so that it bakes evenly without raw spots. Other pecan pie recipes rely on the thickness of corn syrup, and you’re basically making your own “syrup” this way.

My Grammie always made her pie crust from scratch. However, it’s something I have never been good at, and it’s one of her recipes I still haven’t been able to find.

So feel free to use your go-to pie crust, be it homemade, refrigerated, or frozen!

How to make Southern Pecan Pie

I always thought pecan pie was hard to make, but it’s actually really simple; follow the steps below for a perfect pie!

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare your crust in a 9-inch pie dish and set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine syrup, sugar, and butter and cook over medium heat until the butter has melted, stirring frequently.
  3. In a small prep bowl, stir together the water and cornstarch. Add it to the butter mixture along with the vanilla and salt. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and remove from heat.
  4. Add the eggs to a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat just until frothy, about 1 minute.
  5. Slowly add in the butter mixture while beating on medium speed to incorporate the two together and prevent the eggs from cooking.
  6. Add in the pecans and mix to combine, and pour into the prepared pie shell.
  7. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Check halfway through, and if the crust is starting to brown, loosely cover it with aluminum foil or a crust guard.
  8. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

How to know when pecan pie is done

You’ll know the pie is done with a gently shake results in a slightly jiggly center. That’s when you pull it out of the oven because the center will continue to firm up as the pie cools.

How to serve Pecan Pie

Serve this pie at room temperature or warmed up with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

How to store Kentucky Pecan Pie

Once cooled, loosely wrap with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Does pecan pie need to be refrigerated?

Yes, it should be refrigerated since it’s an egg-based pie.

Can you freeze pecan pie?

Absolutely! Let the pie cool to room temperature after baking and then wrap in plastic wrap and then a double layer of aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. I would recommend using a disposable pie tin if freeze though.

Southern Pecan Pie FAQs

What is the filling in pecan pie?

Pecan Pie filling is a mixture of pecans, eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, cornstarch, butter, vanilla, and salt.

Why is my pecan pie runny?

You forgot to precook it or didn’t let it bake long enough.

Can you make pecan pie ahead of time?

Absolutely, just store it in the refrigerator and enjoy within three days!

How do you keep pecan pie crust from getting soggy?

Precooking the filling on the stovetop helps. By adding a hot filling to the top of the crust, it begins the cooking process on both sides of the crust.

How do you keep the top of a pecan pie from getting hard?

Pecan pies are generally crunchy on top, but be sure not to overbake or it can become really hard.

More Delicious Pie Recipes:

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!

This post was originally published in November 2015 and was updated in October 2018 with new photos and a slight recipe adaptation.

4.97 from 26 votes

Kentucky Pecan Pie


Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 people
Pecan Pie is so simple to make and a delicious holiday pie the whole family will love! The sugar filling is loaded with pecans and nestled in a flaky crust and you can easily make it a day or two ahead of time!

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare your crust in a 9-inch pie dish and set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine syrup, sugar, butter and cook over medium heat until the butter has melted, stirring frequently. 
  • In a small prep bowl, stir together the water and cornstarch. Add it to the butter mixture along with the vanilla and salt. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and remove from heat.
  • Add the eggs to a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat just until frothy, about 1 minute. 
  • Slowly add the butter mixture while beating the egg mixture on medium speed to incorporate the two together and temper the eggs.
  • Add in the pecans and mix to combine, and pour into the prepared pie shell.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Check halfway through, and if the crust is starting to brown, loosely cover it with aluminum foil or a crust guard. The center of the pie should jiggly just a little bit when done.
  • Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Video

Notes

  • The reason for the cooking before baking is to thicken the filling and heat it up so that it bakes evenly without raw spots. Other pecan pie recipes rely on the thickness of corn syrup, you’re basically making your own “syrup” this way.
  • You could use ALL chopped pecans or ALL pecan halves, if desired, but I think it’s best with a blend of the two.

Nutrition

Calories: 559kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1.9mg

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4.97 from 26 votes (18 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




16 Comments

  1. Very yummy recipe, fast and easy to make.

  2. 5 stars
    This was definitely the best pecan pie I’ve ever made. Came out with the pecans on top of a luscious caramel layer, just the way I wanted it, and was very delicious without being sickeningly sweet. I’ll make this again! Thanks gor this recipe.

  3. 5 stars
    My pie turned out picture perfect and canโ€™t wait to share it at a friendโ€™s Labour Day BBQ tomorrow. By the way Iโ€™m a doting Gramma and appreciate hearing all the lovely sentiments youโ€™re receiving!

  4. 5 stars
    Very easy, straightforward recipe. Iโ€™ve been using your recipe for a year now and I love the simplicity and taste of it. It always turns out.

  5. Erica Brown says:

    My condolence to u thank u for sharing this wonderful recipe with us. My son passed away and I have days when things remind me of him and I break down. Itโ€™s normal they say. Well I will think of your gramma when Iโ€™m making her pie. God Bless๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ

  6. Scott VESTAL says:

    You just helped me realize why my pecan pie did not thicken up. The entitentimeni was making it I wondered why they did not use anything to thicken the filling in the recipe I used. But it was my first attempt at pecan pie and I assumed the eggs would help to thicken the karo…..not. I will be using your recipe the next time,?which btw…is exactly the same except for the corn starch and the heating of the filling before baking. my pie tastes excellemt… the filling was a bit runny tho. Thank you…and I am truly sorry for your loss. Grandmas are Gods Angel’s on earth
    Blessings

  7. 5 stars
    I have made this recipe twice now and it is absolutely the BEST pecan pie I have ever made. This is coming from someone who was formerly unenthusiastic about pecan pie. Thank you for sharing the recipe and your story.

  8. Brittany Stoney says:

    How many days ahead do you think you could make this recipe? Sounds delicious.

  9. Nita Summerlin says:

    5 stars
    I have tried pecan pie recipes for years. They have never turned out right for me. I read the story and decided to try just once more. I have never been so pleased! It is the best pecan pie I have ever tasted and has a perfect consistency. I prepared it exactly as the recipe is written and it delivered an amazing result. Thanks for a recipe that is absolutely correct! I look forward to happy faces and a recipe to hand down to future generations!

    1. Hi Nita, thank you for your sweet comment, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and I hope your family continues to love it for many years to come! Happy Thanksgiving!

  10. Jan Clark says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing, I’m glad I read the story before printing the recipe. Now our hearts are ALL connected. The reason for the cooking before baking is to thicken the filling and heat it up so that it bakes evenly without raw spots. Other pecan pie recipes rely on the thickness of corn syrup, you’re basically making your own “syrup” this way. I can’t wait to give this a try this week!!

    1. Thank you, Jan! I appreciate you explaining that and it makes perfect sense! I hope you enjoy this pie as much as I do!

  11. 5 stars
    Hugs to you, Rebecca! I love having my grandma’s recipes, too. Both my grandma’s are still with me, but they don’t bake anymore at all. Passing on their classic recipes to my kids is priceless! This pie is gorgeous. And those little maple leaves on that crust…perfect!!

    1. Thanks so much, Julie. It really is wonderful how so many memories and love can be passed down on these little index cards!

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