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My Mom’s Classic Pecan Pie Recipe is one of our favorite traditional pies. I think whoever coined the phrase “easy as pie” was talking about THIS Pie: just a few simple ingredients and about 10 minutes prep time. It’s one of my favorite pie recipes ever!
Why this is the BEST Pecan Pie Recipe
This recipe is my mom’s famous recipe. My mom is pretty famous on this blog, don’t you know? She’s the one who introduced me to the best banana bread in the world, russian teacakes and she makes a mean pumpkin pie.
Traditional pecan pie is such a classic recipe. I don’t know about you, but it’s never Thanksgiving without this pie! This easy pecan pie recipe is decadent with a sweet filling and it will be the best pecan pie recipe you ever make!
Ingredients
- Melted Butter: I use unsalted butter – omit the salt if you’re using salted butter.
- Dark or light corn syrup: I consider this an old fashioned pecan pie because it’s made with Karo. If you don’t like using corn syrup, try my other favorite pecan pie: Elmer’s Brown Sugar Pecan Pie. That one is to die for also!
- Eggs: The eggs help set the pie filling. There is no substitution for the eggs.
- Pecans: I always use pecan halves but you can also use chopped pecans.
- Cornstarch: My secret ingredient for a creamy pecan pie filling that’s not like gelatin.
- My mom’s recipe doesn’t add vanilla, but you could add a teaspoon vanilla extract as well.
How to make Pecan Pie
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl.
- Whisk all ingredients until smooth and combined.
- Prepare your pie crust according to package or recipe directions and place in a 9-inch pie pan. Place pecans in the bottom of the unbaked pie shell.
- Pour mixture over pecans – they’ll float to the top. You want to be sure they’re in a single layer and coated with the filling so the nuts don’t burn during baking.
Expert Tips
- It’s important to put the pecans in the bottom of the pie before filling so they don’t burn. They’ll float to the top and be coated in the gooey mixture, which will help them not burn.
- I always bake my pies on a rimmed baking sheet in case they spill over.
- If you notice the pie browning too much on the top, tent it with foil. I like to use a pie crust shield or strips of foil around the edges too so it doesn’t brown too much.
- You know pecan pie is done baking when it jiggles only slightly when tapped. The center will be a bit puffed and slightly cracked around the edges.
- This works without the cornstarch too, if you don’t want to add it.
Storing & Make Ahead
- How to store: Store leftover pie in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (covered tightly with plastic wrap).
- How to freeze pie: Wrap the full pie tightly with plastic, or place slices in sandwich bags. Freeze for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Why does pecan pie need corn syrup?
The corn syrup, working with the eggs, holds the pie together. Think of it as one of the building blocks of the custard-like filling.
Can pecan pie be made the day before?
Yes – just store it covered in the refrigerator once it cools to room temperature.
Pecan Pie Recipe
This Classic Pecan Pie is as easy as they come. A handful of ingredients makes the perfect pie!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 all butter pie crust homemade or from a pack of two
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (237ml) dark corn syrup (light may be substituted)
- ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 cups (120g) pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line your pie plate with your pie crust, crimp edges as desired, and chill until ready to fill. Note: make sure to use a 8-9” pie plate for this pie; using anything bigger than 9” will result in a not full pie!
- Whisk eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, salt, and cornstarch in a large bowl.
- Place the pecans in a single layer in the bottom of your pie crust. Pour the filling over the top. The pecans will rise to the top of the pie.
- Place the pie on a cookie sheet. Tear off 4” long strips of aluminum foil (about 1 1/2” wide) and wrap the edges of the pie crust so it doesn’t brown too quickly. (Or you can use a pie crust shield.)
- Bake for 10 minutes at 425°F. Then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for 20 minutes. At that time, carefully remove the foil strips or pie crust shield, then bake for another 12-16 minutes until the pie is puffed and browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before serving. (I chill mine overnight and then bring it to room temperature before serving.) Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze (whole or slices) for up to one month.
Recipe Video
Recipe Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Other Thanksgiving Favorites
- Apple Pecan Pie is another of our favorite pie recipes!
- Fudge combines fudge and pecan pie flavor!
- Chocolate Pecan Pie is pecan pie made even better.
- My mom’s Thanksgiving turkey in a bag is also one of our go-to recipes.
- My Buttermilk Pie Recipe is another classic favorite.
Oh my lanta! I love the taste and everything about pecan pie except from the texture as well! It was just to jelly-like. Amazing tip about the cornflour, I am sooo definitely going to try it! Thank you! Pinned because, well, it’s pie! 😀 x
Thanks for the pin Eve!
I must say that this one does look quite easy compared to other pies. I would love to make a pecan pie once, but I am the only pecan pie fan in the family and making a whole pie for myself might be a bit too much.
Never! 🙂 You can totally freeze slices too!
Cornstarch works wonders in pies! I always put it in my fruit pies to keep them from being runny. But this is a perfect idea for Pecan Pie, I was always turned off by it until recently as well!
Thanks Julia!
Ooh this looks so good Dorothy! I know exactly what you mean about the jelly like filling – blurgh!
Thanks Kerry!
I add cornstarch to mine as well and it is such a game changer! Pecan pie just screams holiday season and I can hardly wait to have some!
Thanks Christina!
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