Pecan Pie

Published November 17, 2016. Updated November 17, 2018

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The purely irresistible, rich and decadent Pecan Pie! It starts with a delicious flaky crust and is filled with the most irresistible pecan filling. A classic pie recipe that always deserves a spot on the Thanksgiving menu!

Slice of pecan pie on a white dessert plate. Pie is topped with whipped cream.

The Perfect Pecan Pie Recipe!

From what historians have found apparently the pie goes way back to 1800’s with the earliest dated recipe showing 1886 (but some would say earlier than that). So this humble pie has some history and it’s here to stay.

And for good reason! This pie is brimming with nutty flavor, it’s deliciously buttery and this sweet creamy filling just makes your tastebuds sing!

After just one bite you’ll agree, it’s a pie that should be on the Thanksgiving menu every year!

Overhead image of whole pecan pie in pie dish and a slice to one side. Pie is resting on a blue surface.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe

  • All-purpose flour
  • Sugar
  • Sea salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Pecans
  • Brown sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Light corn syrup
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract

Pecan Pie | Cooking Classy

How to Make Pecan Pie

  • Prepare pie crust then blind bake it (so it’s not soggy after adding wet filling).
  • For the filling: sprinkle 1 cup chopped pecans into pie crust, then sprinkle in 1 cup whole pecans.
  • In a mixing bowl whisk together brown sugar, salt and cinnamon.
  • Mix in butter, corn syrup, eggs and vanilla extract (there should be no streaks of egg).
  • Pour mixture evenly over pecan layer in crust.
  • Transfer pie to a baking sheet. Bake in lower portion of the oven on baking sheet until set.

Pecan Pie | Cooking Classy

I hope you do get a chance to try this pie this season, this is my idea of the best pecan pie!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Let the countdown begin, I can’t wait for all the goodness to come!

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5 from 1 vote

Pecan Pie

The perfect pecan pie recipe! It starts with a buttery, flaky blind baked crust and it's filled with the most irresistible, rich pecan filling. A classic Thanksgiving pie people will love! 
Servings: 8
Prep40 minutes
Cook1 hour 20 minutes
Cool2 hours 15 minutes
Ready in: 4 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Crust

Filling

Instructions

  • For the crust: In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and cut into flour using a pastry cutter or a long pronged for until mixture resembles coarse meal with small visible chunks of butter. 
  • Add 1 Tbsp of water at a time and fold with a rubber spatula, while adding just enough water until mixture has almost fully come together and is in moist clumps. 
  • Gently press dough together and shape into a 6-inch round disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 45 - 60 minutes until nearly firm.
  • Dust a clean work surface with flour and roll crust out into a 12-inch round. Fold dough in half then fold in half once more, transfer to a 9-inch pie dish with the folded corner of the dough in the center of the pie pan. 
  • Carefully unfold dough and fit into dish. Trim excess crust coming within about 3/4-inch of the pie dish. Tuck that excess under crust and flute or decorate as desired. 
  • Pierce bottom and sides of the crust all over with a fork. Transfer to freezer and chill 15 - 20 minutes until firm*. Meanwhile preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Place pie on a baking sheet. Fit two layered sheet of foil snugly against the pie crust (but being careful not to smash decorative edge but still covering loosely), fill with 2 lbs of dry beans**. 
  • Bake crust on baking sheet in center of oven 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Lift out beans using foil. Return to oven and to bake 10 minutes longer. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
  • For the filling: Chop 1 cup of the pecans then sprinkle evenly into pie crust. Sprinkle 1 cup whole pecans over chopped layer. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl whisk together brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Mix in butter, corn syrup, eggs and vanilla extract (there should be no streaks of egg). 
  • Pour mixture evenly over pecan layer in crust. Transfer pie to a baking sheet. Bake in lower portion of the oven, covering edges or tenting entire top of pie with foil as needed***. 
  • Bake until pie is set, about 45 - 55 minutes (it should appear set when you nudge the baking sheet, a very light giggle is fine). 
  • Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

  • *I recommend using the homemade crust recipe list but I'm guessing some of you may prefer to just use a store-bought crust. If so doing then par-baking the crust wouldn't be necessary, just fill then bake as directed once filled.
  • **Pie weights or even granulated sugar can be used here as well.
  •  ***I covered the edges of my pie shortly after putting it in so they didn't brown too much, then I had to tent the entire pie to prevent the top from over-browning at about 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Pecan Pie
Amount Per Serving
Calories 657 Calories from Fat 351
% Daily Value*
Fat 39g60%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 111mg37%
Sodium 344mg15%
Potassium 192mg5%
Carbohydrates 73g24%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 53g59%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 685IU14%
Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
Calcium 64mg6%
Iron 2.2mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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27 Comments

  • Shelly Mathes

    Thank you for this recipe, I am making it on turkey day, cannot wait. I will alter it though by toasting my pecans, it really brings out the flavor. Happy Thanksgiving.

  • Grace

    This looks amazing! Any suggestions for turning it into a chocolate pecan pie? That’s what I’ve promised to make for thanksgiving, but this looks so good I might go back on that!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’d just cut the pecans back to 1 1/2 cups then add 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Hope you love it!

  • Jenn

    I want to try this for my family but need a heart healthy version for a family member with heart concerns. How do you think this would be with egg whites instead of whole eggs? How many egg whites do you think I should use? Also, what do you think I could use instead of corn syrup? Thanks for any help!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I wish I could tell you for sure but it would take a bit of testing to figure it out since I haven’t tried. I would probably add in the same amount of egg white (so it doesn’t start to taste eggy) but then also another thickener like cornstarch or flour or something.

  • Sara @ Last Night’s Feast

    The thing I miss the most about going to my Nanny’s for Thanksgiving is her pecan pie. I can’t wait to try this recipe!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I think walnuts would be good but something like almonds aren’t quite as tender. Personally I love love the pecan flavor so that’s what I always go with.

  • Linda P.

    Corn syrup is NOT healthy! I have a recipe using ORGANIC Brown Rice Syrup Instead. It was absolutely awesome.

  • Tori//Gringalicious.com

    This is hands down one of the most gorgeous pecan pies I’ve ever seen! Yay, I love all the pies this time of year and this one sounds so great!