Simple and Easy Classic Pecan Pie Recipe - Adventures of Mel (2024)

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by Mel Lockcuff

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How to make the best classic pecan pie recipe. Easy, old-fashioned, southern dessert with a gooey filling and homemade crust. Perfect for Thanksgiving!

Southern pecan pie has become one of my favorite desserts this time of year. Like our favorite apple crumb pie, it's always on the dessert table at Thanksgiving; and it's usually a safe bet that my mom will have one sitting on her kitchen counter at different times throughout the year.

this recipe

It's funny, 'cause when I was younger, I didn't like your typical, classic pecan pie at all (or maybe I just thought I didn't). But I've really grown to love it over the last few years.

I don't know which is my favorite, the crunchy pecans that float to the top or the delicious sweet, somewhat salty pie filling that gives pecan pie its unique flavor. Mmmm, it's just so good!

Also, pecan pie is so easy to make; it's not one bit complicated. Make a crust, mix up the filling, pour it into the crust, and presto… It's ready to bake.

If you’re looking for more holiday recipes, you’ll find a whole slew of them on my lists ofThanksgiving RecipesandChristmas Recipes.

Simple and Easy Classic Pecan Pie Recipe - Adventures of Mel (2)

WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

If you’d rather skip all of my baking tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to therecipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:

Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in theprintable recipe card below.

Stand MixerorHand Mixerwith Mixing Bowl

Glass Measuring Cup– for measuring out liquids.

Pie Plate

Pie ShieldorAluminum Foil– to keep the edges of your crust from burning.

Baking Tester– Check whether your pie (or cake) is done.

Wire Rack– for cooling the pie.

Pie Server

Coffee MakerwithCoffee– Some of my favorite memories are dessert with my grandmother. She always loved a hot cup of coffee with her pie.

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HOW TO MAKE PECAN PIE

First things first, mix up a pie crust…

MAKING THE PIE CRUST:

You can make a more traditional roll-out pie crust or an easier shortcut no-roll pie crust. Chill the pie crust 'til you're ready to pour in the filling.

MAKING PECAN PIE FILLING:

  1. Using a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. And by cream, I mean mix together really well until it becomes a creamy mixture.
  2. Lightly beat the eggs together. Then mix them into the butter/sugar mixture.
  3. Add dark corn syrup and vanilla to the mixture, mixing well.
  4. Then stir in the pecans by hand.

Then just pour the pie filling into your unbaked pie crust. Bake the pie according to the instructions in the recipe card below. Learn how to prevent pie crust from burning.

Serve with a creamy delicious dollop of whipped cream!

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BAKING TIPS FOR SOUTHERN PECAN PIE

  • You may want to use a pie shield or a strip of aluminum foil to keep the edges of your pie crust from getting too dark or burning.
  • When your pie is fully cooked through, remove it from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

HOW TO TELL WHEN PECAN PIE IS DONE

You can use atoothpick, table knife, orcake testerto see if your pie is done, but being that this is more of a custard pie, you may still see a slight bit of residue on your tester.

You can also check the internal temperature with a cooking thermometer. It should be at least 200° F.

When you go to take it out of the oven, your pie should be fairly firm. If it's more than slightly jiggly, it needs more time in the oven.

It’s a delicate balance between under-baking and over-baking when it comes to pecan pie. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be uncooked in the middle; on the other hand, you don’t want it to crack and be too dry.

MORE PIE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

  • Pumpkin Pie from Scratch
  • Caramel Custard Pie
  • Chocolate Meringue Pie
  • Sweet Potato Pie
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GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

If you love thisrecipeas much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Classic Pecan Pie

How to make the best classic pecan pie recipe. Easy, old-fashioned, southern dessert with a gooey filling and homemade crust. Perfect for Thanksgiving!

3.91 from 31 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Desserts, Pies & Pastries

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 454kcal

Author: Mel Lockcuff

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Chill the pie crust, rolled out and prepared in a 9-inch pie plate, 'til you're ready to add the filling.

  • Pre-heat the oven to 450° F.

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream (or mix) together the butter and sugar.

  • In a separate smaller bowl, lightly beat the eggs together.

  • Then mix the eggs into the butter/sugar mixture.

  • Add the dark corn syrup and vanilla to the mixture, mixing well.

  • Stir in the pecans by hand.

  • Pour the pie filling into the unbaked pie crust.

  • Bake the pie at 450° F for about 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 350° F, and bake an additional 30 minutes.

  • When the pie is fully cooked through, remove it from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

  • Serve each slice with a creamy delicious dollop of whipped cream.

Notes

*You can make a more traditional roll-out pie crust (link in the ingredients above) or an easier shortcut no-roll pie crust.

9. You may want to use a pie shield or a strip of aluminum foil to keep the edges of your pie crust from getting too dark or burning.

10. You can use atoothpick, table knife, orcake testerto see if your pie is done, but being that this is more of a custard pie, you may still see a slight bit of residue on your tester. You can also check the internal temperature with acooking thermometer. It should be at least 200° F. When you go to take it out of the oven, your pie should be fairly firm. If it’s more than slightly jiggly, it needs more time in the oven. It’s a delicate balance between under-baking and over-baking when it comes to pecan pie. On one hand, you don’t want it to be uncooked in the middle; on the other hand, you don’t want it to crack and be too dry.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 183mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 43g

Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @mellockcuff or tag #aomrecipes!

Simple and Easy Classic Pecan Pie Recipe - Adventures of Mel (2024)

FAQs

Is light or dark Karo syrup better for pecan pie? ›

Light and dark corn syrup can be used interchangeably in almost every instance, with slight flavor variances. In a pecan pie, for example, light corn syrup will contribute sweetness and a hint of vanilla, but that's about it. Dark corn syrup, in addition to sweetness, will add color and a more robust, toasty flavor.

Does Joanna Gaines have a pecan pie recipe? ›

Not only is it chock-full of approachable, family-friendly recipes, the book is also packed with priceless nuggets of kitchen wisdom from Queen Gaines herself. One such gem is her surprising twist on classic pecan pie. The recipe itself is pretty basic, spare one unexpected ingredient: ancho chile powder.

Why does my pecan pie fall apart? ›

Bake the pie too long and the filling will become rock hard after cooling. Don't bake the pie long enough and the filling will ooze all over the place and the pie will fall apart. There are three okay ways to kind-of tell when your pecan pie is done but only ONE foolproof way to tell when your pecan pie is done.

What is the primary thickening agent in pecan pie? ›

Butter: Butter gives this pie richness and a delicious depth of flavor. Cornstarch and water: Two teaspoons of cornstarch and a tablespoon of cold water work together to help thicken the filling. Eggs: Whole eggs help bind the filling together and add welcome moisture.

How do you keep pecan pie crust from getting soggy? ›

One way to prevent a soggy crust is to essentially seal the surface, creating a barrier between the crust and the filling. Brush the surface of the unbaked crust with a beaten egg or egg white mixed with water before adding the filling.

What is a Ned Kelly pie? ›

Original award winning Classic Beef filling mixed with delicious bacon and a whole egg cracked on top. Finished with tasty grated cheese. The only product on the commercial pie marked with a whole cracked egg and the original Breakfast Pie offer.

What are the ingredients in Little Debbie pecan pie? ›

Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Sugar, Corn Syrup, Water, Palm Oil, Pecans, Eggs, Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Margarine [Palm Oil, Water, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Annatto, Calcium ...

Does Marie Callender make pecan pie? ›

Southern Pecan Pie 4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value. Read 782 Reviews. Same page link. Indulge in a true Southern classic, brimming with a sweet and luscious filling topped with plenty of crisp pecan halves and pieces in our signature extra-flaky, made-from-scratch pastry crust.

What is a non alcoholic substitute for bourbon in pecan pie? ›

Vanilla extract and apple cider vinegar have often been used to mimic the taste of bourbon in recipes, but you can clearly tell when they are used as substitutes.

What is pecan pie filling made of? ›

Pecan pie is a delightful concoction of pecan nuts mixed with a rich, caramelly filling made from eggs, butter, corn syrup, and sugar. The earliest pecan pie can be traced all the way back to the late 1800s, but it really peaked in the early 20th century when Karo™ syrup printed a pecan pie recipe on its bottles.

What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

Mistake to Avoid No.

Adding more flour is always an option, but add too much flour and your dough will end up like a cracker—not a pie crust. Remember: The more you mix your pie dough, the tougher it becomes. To keep the mixing to a minimum, try rolling out your dough between two pieces of parchment paper.

Should you refrigerate pecan pie after cutting? ›

Information. Homemade egg-rich pies such as pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue and custard must be kept refrigerated after cooking and cooling. Cream and chiffon pies must be stored in the refrigerator. These pies can be kept three to four days.

Can I leave my pecan pie out overnight? ›

You can only keep it at room temperature for two hours. Since pecan pies contain eggs, they have more chances to get bad and make you sick. So, if you have kept your pies in the fridge, put them back within two hours. On the other hand, store-bought pies contain preservatives that keep them from spoiling.

Which is better light or dark Karo syrup? ›

Typically, light corn syrup is used when a delicately sweet flavor is desired, such as in fruit sauces and jams. Karo light corn syrup is made with real vanilla. Dark corn syrup is made with refiners' syrup, a type of molasses. With its more robust flavor and color, it is ideal for many baked goods.

Which Karo syrup is sweeter? ›

Dark corn syrup is made by combining corn syrup with molasses and caramel colouring and is sweeter than light corn syrup.

Is dark or light Karo syrup better for constipation? ›

In many cases, today's dark corn syrup has a different chemical structure. The current chemical structure doesn't draw fluids into the intestine to soften stool. Because of this, dark corn syrup may not be effective in relieving constipation. It isn't known whether light corn syrup may be helpful.

References

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