Pecan Pie (2024)

Not only is this Pecan Pierecipe one of the easiest pies to make, it’s absolutely fantastic with its rich caramel pecan filling paired with a flakey, buttery crust. It’s one of our family’s all-time favorites!

My grandmother was an excellent pie maker and pecan pie will always remind me of her. Don’t miss my other traditional pie recipes including Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, and Lemon meringue pie.

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I was tasked to make Pecan Pie each year for Thanksgiving from a very young age, because it was so easy to make that my mom could trust I wouldn’t mess it up! I never truly appreciated its magic until I was an adult, and my “taste buds matured”, as my mom would say! I’m telling you, this pecan pie recipe is the absolute BEST!

Pecan pie is an old-fashioned pie made with pecans folded into a batter made of butter, sugar and eggs, that bakes into a delicious caramel, nutty pie filling. Be sure to check out my Pecan Pie Bars recipe too!

What we LOVE about this Pecan Pie Recipe:

  • EASY: Of all my pie recipes , this one is the fastest, easiest, and most basic recipe there is.
  • Unbaked Pie Crust: Pecan pie is made with an unbaked pie crust, which is is just another reason it’s so easy to make. Please do yourself a favor and pair it with my easy homemade pie crust, that tastes SO much better than store-bought!
  • Basic Ingredients: You only need a few simple pantry ingredients: sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, vanilla, butter, eggs, pecans.

How to Make Pecan Pie:

Creamsugars, salt, corn syrup, and butter. Add eggs and beat well, then stir in the vanilla.

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Add Pecans: Stir in the pecans (leave out a small handful to place on top later) until incorporated.

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Pour the mixture into an unbaked 9 inch pie shell. Add a few of the reserved pecans on top of the pie in any empty spots, to make it look pretty. Use a small spoon to cover them with batter.

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Bake the pie at 425 for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to cook for 40 minutes. Check on it half way through cooking and tent a piece of aluminum foil over the crust if it’s getting too browned–I spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray and try and tent it so it doesn’t touch the pie filling, so that the filling doesn’t stick to the foil.

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How do I know when it’s finished baking?

You will know your pecan pie is done cooking when you can gently shake the pie dish and see that the center of the pie is not overly jiggly and the outer edges are set. If the pie jiggles a lot when you gently shake the pan, continue cooking it until the center is a little more set. The cook time will vary and may take a bit longer than 60 minutes.

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Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Homemade Pecan Pie can be made 1-3 days in advance. Bake the pie, allow it to completely cool, then cover and store it in the refrigerator. I like to remove it from the fridge one hour before serving. You can also make the pecan pie filling (don’t add the nuts to the batter) and pie crust ahead of time and store them separately, then assemble the pie and bake on the day you want to serve it.

To Freeze: Allow baked Pecan Pie to cool completely, then cover it with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.Freeze for up to 3 months.Thaw completely in the fridge before serving.

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Recipe

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4.99 from 4370 votes

Pecan Pie

Not only is this Pecan Pierecipe one of the easiest pies to make, it's absolutely fantastic with its rich caramel pecan filling paired with a flakey, buttery crust.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 368

Cost 6

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 50 minutes mins

Total 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prepare my perfect pie crust recipe and place pie dough in an 9 inch pie dish. Refrigerate while you prepare the pecan pie filling.

  • In a large bowl mix together sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, and softened (or melted) butter. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.

  • Reserve a few pecans and stir the rest into the batter. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Add a few of the reserved pecans on top of the pie in any empty spots, to make it look pretty. Use a small spoon to cover them with batter.

  • Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower the oven temp to 350 degrees F and continue baking for about 40 minutes.Check the pie half way through cooking and tent a large piece of greased aluminum foil over the top of the pie. (I tent it high so it doesn't touch the pie filling).

  • You will know your pecan pie is done when you can shake it gently and it is not overly jiggly. If it jiggles a lot when shaking, continue cooking until the center is more set, 5-10 more minutes.

  • Allow pie to cool completely for several hours before cutting and serving. Or refrigerate for 1-3 days, until ready to serve.

Notes

*This recipe is for a standard 9” pie dish. If you have a larger pie dish then I would suggest 1 ½ the recipe!

Make Ahead Instructions: Homemade Pecan Pie can be made 1-3 days in advance. Bake the pie, allow it to completely cool, then cover and store it in the refrigerator. I like to remove it from the fridge one hour before serving. You can also make the pecan pie filling (don’t add the nuts to the batter) and pie crust ahead of time and store them separately, then assemble the pie and bake on the day you want to serve it.

Freezing Instructions: Allow baked Pecan Pie to cool completely, then cover it with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.Freeze for up to 3 months.Thaw completely in the fridge before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 230mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 224IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

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I originally shared this recipe November 2018. Updated November 2022.

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About The Author

Pecan Pie (12)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Pecan Pie (2024)

FAQs

What causes a pecan pie not to set up? ›

A pecan pie is essentially a custard pie, and a liquid center is almost always the result of underbaking. The Karo Classic Pecan Pie recipe calls for baking the pie for 60 to 70 minutes at 350 degrees.

How do you make store bought pecan pie better? ›

How to Make Store-Bought Pies Better
  1. Maple Whipped Cream. This topping is perfect for pumpkin pies and apple pies, but also works with any kind of spiced dessert.
  2. Cinnamon Spice Whipped Cream. ...
  3. Chocolate Sauce. ...
  4. Candied Pecans. ...
  5. Toasted Caramel Walnuts. ...
  6. Coconut-Pecan Topping. ...
  7. Sour Cream Topping. ...
  8. Chocolate Cookie Topping.
Jan 10, 2020

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

5 Ways to Prevent Soggy Pie Crust
  1. Blind Bake. The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. ...
  2. Brush With Egg. ...
  3. Brush With Chocolate. ...
  4. Bake on a Hot Baking Sheet. ...
  5. Keep Moisture Out.
May 1, 2019

How do you fix a pecan pie that didn't set? ›

A soupy pecan pie filling can be fixed by covering the crust in foil and popping it back into the oven at around 325 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Do not wait too long after you notice the filling isn't set. If you do, the bottom of the crust could begin to get soggy.

Does pecan pie harden as it cools? ›

Once you hit the sweet spot where it looks done, take your slightly jiggly pecan pie out of the oven and place it on a wire cooling rack. The filling continues to cook and will fully set as the pie cools, so giving a pie plenty of time at room temperature before serving is important.

Can you overcook a pecan pie? ›

Pecan pie has a somewhat similar set of issues—the filling can crack, the bottom can be under-baked, the filling can seep under the crust, and the nuts can be soggy. Like the pumpkin pie, the filling will crack if the pie is over-baked or cools too quickly.

How long should a pecan pie sit before eating? ›

Can pecan pie sit out overnight? Nope! It has eggs which means pecan pie needs to be refrigerated. It can sit out for about two hours though, so if you like it at room temperature, pull it out of the fridge half an hour or so before you serve it.

Will pecan pie still be jiggly after baking? ›

You will know your pecan pie is done cooking when you can gently shake the pie dish and see that the center of the pie is not overly jiggly and the outer edges are set. If the pie jiggles a lot when you gently shake the pan, continue cooking it until the center is a little more set.

How do you jazz up store-bought pecan pie? ›

Take a tasty Compliments Pecan Pie to a whole new dimension by topping with a thin, smooth layer of homemade dark chocolate ganache. We up the ante by garnishing with mini pretzels, toasted pecans, and sea salt for a savoury textural crunch to offset the sweet filling.

Why is store-bought pecan pie not refrigerated? ›

According to the USDA, any pie that is egg-rich (such as pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue, and any custard pie) must be kept in the fridge after baking and cooling. The exception here is some store-bought pies, which may contain preservatives that will allow the pies to be left unrefrigerated.

Is pecan pie better at room temperature or cold? ›

The USDA recommends all pies rich in eggs and custard to be refrigerated after they've cooled. This includes pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, banana cream pie, and, yes, pecan pie.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie.

Is pecan pie better the next day? ›

It's swoon worthy with its layers of silky, caramel-like custard base topped with rich, nutty pecans all cocooned in a buttery, flaky crust. This pecan pie recipe is ideal for Thanksgiving and Christmas because it's make ahead (tastes better the next day) and crazy easy made in ONE BOWL.

How do you get a crispy crust on the bottom of a pie? ›

After adding the dough to the pie plate, he sprinkles another heaping teaspoon of crumbs on top of the dough before adding the filling. These crumbs act as a second moisture, absorbing every last bit of moisture from the crust. Say it with us: crisp, golden and perfectly flaky crust.

What do you do if your pie doesn't set? ›

But if you bake your pie and it's STILL runny try letting it cool down (if you haven't yet) and it will likely thicken as it cools, put it back in the oven again to activate the thickener or drain off some of the liquid off and then put it back in the oven.

Why did my pecan pie collapse? ›

Pecan pie is notorious for being difficult to bake. 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.

Why does my pecan pie stick to the pan after? ›

It may be the type of pie you are baking. If you pre-bake the pie crust, poke holes in it, bake, then add the filling. However, if you are baking a pie with filling (pecan, pumpkin or blue- or blackberry), do not poke the shell with a fork. Doing so will let sticky liquid seep through and will cause the crust to stick.

What causes pecans to not fill out? ›

The most common problem encountered in locally grown pecans is small, shriveled nuts that fail to fully fill out. This can be caused by poor growing conditions, low nutrients or insect and disease problems. Producing a crop of high quality nuts takes a lot of energy.

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