Robyn Stone
Pecan Pie Recipe – Pecan Pie is a classic southern pie! This pie recipe is a family heirloom dessert and the perfect pie to serve for holidays and special gatherings!
Pecan Pie is a holiday tradition in my husband’s family. For every family gathering, you better believe there will be pecan pie sitting front and center on the dessert table!
For years, I always assumed this pecan pie recipe was one of his mother’s amazing recipes. So you can imagine how taken aback I was when she shared the recipe with me and it was titled, “Mimi’s Pecan Pie Recipe.”
A Little About Mimi
Mimi, as she was affectionally called, has been gone for many years now. A few years ago when she would have celebrated her 100th birthday, my sister-in-law started an email for everyone to share their favorite Mimi story to help celebrate the day. Even though her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were literally all over the world on her birthday, everyone shared some of the best stories with each other to remember her.
The emails all included a little bit of something funny, like my memory of driving to Florida with my husband and both his grandparents when we were newly married. My husband drove, Mimi sat in the front seat beside him and his grandfather and I sat in the backseat for the nine hour trip that took 14 hours. She chatted along throughout the trip about various topics, but for the entire 14 hours, her purse was stationed in her lap and a Delta travel bag sat at her feet. We joke now that the older I get, the more I act like her on that trip – holding my purse in my lap and my small camera bag at my feet.
Another great memory is of stringing popcorn for the Christmas tree each year. Mimi was always in charge of having strands ready for the tree and the girls would help her finish them on the evening we’d all gather at my in-laws to decorate the tree. She would supervise to make sure we didn’t cheat with loose strands when we turned ours in or that we hadn’t shortened the lengths we made. She ran a tight popcorn ship! Each year as I sit for hours stringing popcorn for our Christmas tree, I can’t help but think of her. She was one of my favorite people in the world and I miss her so.
We carry on so many of her traditions. I can not imagine no freshly strung popcorn on my Christmas tree, just like I can’t imagine a family gathering without these pecan pies.
Now let me tell you about this amazing pecan pie.
How to Make the Best Pecan Pie
Mimi’s pecan pie is very simple to make with just a few key steps.
Preheat. First preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Mix. Add sugar and eggs to a large bowl and whisk together until well-combined. Add in corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir in pecan halves and pour into unbaked pie crust.
Bake. Place in oven and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your oven.
How to Tell if Pecan Pie is Done
To test if the pie is done, you’ll want to make sure that the center of the pie does not jiggle a great deal when you move the pie pan slightly. If it does, leave it in the oven for about 5 more minutes and test again, repeating every 5 minutes or so until it just barely has any movement in the middle.
It will continue to firm up once removed from the oven and cools.
Also, if you touch the center of the pie, it should slightly spring back to the touch. The more you make it, the more you’ll have an eye for when it is just right to remove from the oven and not overbaked or underbaked.
How to Prevent Pie Crust Edges from Over Browning
You may place a piece of foil over the top for the last few minutes of baking to prevent the edges of the crust from becoming too brown.
How Long Will Pecan Pie Keep?
You cake easily make your pecan pie ahead of time. Allow it to cool completely and then store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can You Freeze Pecan Pie?
Cool. Allow the pecan pie to cool completely.
Wrap. Wrap the pecan pie plate entirely in foil and then place into a freezer-safe zip top bag.
Freeze. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then slice and serve as normal.
Here’s Mimi’s Pecan Pie Recipe. I sure hope you love it as much as we do!
Pecan Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup light corn syrup or maple syrup
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 1 cup pecan halves or pieces
- 1 unbaked pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Add granulated sugar and eggs to a large bowl. Whisk together until well-combined. Add in corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir in pecan halves and pour into unbaked pie crust.
- Place in oven and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your oven. A piece of foil may be placed over the top for the last few minutes of baking to prevent the edges of the crust from becoming over brown.
- You’ll want to make sure that the center of the pie does not jiggle a great deal when you move the pie pan slightly. If it does, leave it in the oven for about 5 more minutes and test again, repeating every 5 minutes or so until it just barely has any movement in the middle. It will continue to firm up once removed from the oven and cools. Also, if you touch the center of the pie, it should slightly spring back to the touch. The more you make it, the more you’ll have an eye for when it is just right to remove from the oven and not overbaked or underbaked.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Sweet memories! I wish you had shared a photo of her too! Btw…my mama would be 100 this year and oh how I miss her!!!
Definitely a favorite pie of mine. Yum!
Love the stories about your family….this one is a classic! So is the pie, beautiful. Thanks for sharing your life and recipes!
Robyn,
Aren’t family recipes the best?! I love them and the stories that go with them. Pinned.
Annamaria
What an incredible way to keep the memories alive! Love this pie and your story even more!
want!! Looks amazing!
Is there anything I can replace the corn syrup with such as light molasses? My entire family (as well as dozens of other people I know) get the most awful allergies to it. And for myself I’d like something a little less processed as well.
Hey 1cup sugar dissolved in 1/4cup hot water is one subtitute for light corn syrup hope that helps
Date syrup! Use one or one and a half cups of date syrup. Soak dates in some water several hours. When softened pour dates and water in processor and process or in blender.
H E L P! I need to know how to tell when the pie is done, there is a lot of time between 45 min and an hour. I’m getting ready to make this pie right now but I’m a but nervous, I’ve never made one before and I’m not sure if I’m going to know when it’s done.
Hi Lizz,
You’ll want to make sure that the center of the pie does not jiggle a great deal when you move the pie pan slightly. If it does, leave it in the oven for about 5 more minutes and test again, repeating every 5 minutes or so until it just barely has any movement in the middle. It will continue to firm up once removed from the oven and cools. Also, if you touch the center of the pie, it should slightly spring back to the touch. The more you make it, the more you’ll have an eye for when it is just right to remove from the oven and not overbaked or underbaked.
Pinned it! Thank you!
What size pie shell are you using, 8 inch, 9 inch?
I’d be so game to have this pie for breakfast this morning!!
Sorry, but I can’t find the recipe for the crust.
Hi Helen,
I’ve included the pie crust recipe link here: https://addapinch.com/cooking/pie-crust-recipe/
What size pie pan are you using? 8? 9? 9.5? 10?
What do you recommend baking temp and time for high attitude, like living in CO
I love pecan pie. Recipe looks so good and saw the replacement for Corn Syrup, from a comment. That was very handy too. Will make this this week.. Thank you
This is so good and quick to make. Right after the pie came out of the oven I sprinkled chocolate chips on top which melted to add more calories!
Sounds delicious Kay! xo
I’ve always loved pecan pie! This one is so delicious and so perfect with the homemade pie crust!
Sweet story about the heritage of this special pie in your husband’s family!
Thanks for sharing!
This most definitely is the best pecan pie I’ve ever made (and I’ve made quite a few over the years). It is buttery and nutty and perfectly sweet. It’s my favorite Thanksgiving desert and is requested by my sister-in-law who is from the south. I’ve made this recipe in the middle of July too because it’s so darn good!! Thank you, Robyn. I love all your recipes.
So happy to hear that you enjoy this too, Terry Ray! Thanks!
This pecan pie recipe looks wonderful. I’ve got a vegan guest for Thanksgiving and am wondering if you or one of your fans have made this with vegan butter substitute. Thank you Robyn for sharing your recipes!
This is a lovely pie! Easy to make and delicious. I made a few adjustments…I doubled the pecans, 25 minutes of covered crust and next time I will use less sugar. I recommend this recipe with love!
Thanks Debra! xo
The replacement of maple syrup instead of corn syrup , is that “real” maple syrup or the fake stuff we all grew up on?
Real maple syrup if you use that. Hope you enjoy it, Melissa. Thanks!
How much granulated sugar? It is not showing up in the recipe for me. Thanks! I had a Mimi that was a wonderful baker, so it was this recipe for me…
Hi Mandi,
It’s 1/2 cup. I hope you enjoy it! Mimi’s are very special, aren’t they? Thanks! xo
What size pie plate did you use? Thanks for your help.
It’s a 9 inch pie plate. Enjoy it, Robin!
This recipe called for WAY too much butter. Came out watery and did not solidify.
Hi Jessica,
My husband’s grandmother’s recipe does use more butter than a few other pecan pie recipes that I’ve tasted, but it definitely lends to the amazing flavor of the pie. If your pie was watery and did not solidify, it sounds like it needed to bake longer. To test if the pie is done, when you open the oven and touch the pie plate, if the center of the pie has movement, you’ll want to continue baking in 5 minute intervals until the pie has baked in the center.
I baked 45 minutes and it still looked very runny I did follow all directions so now thanksgiving is here and I’m worried I will have to bake again any suggestions?? Also could it be all the butter?
This is the first time ever I made pecan pie… never thought pecan pie could be good… how wrong… this was a killer recipe… so moist, so good and so easy!!! Thank you for an incredible recipe.. definitely a keeper and a new family heirloom!!!
I am thrilled to hear that your family enjoyed it too, Agnes – and that it will be a part of your family traditions too! Thank you so much! xo
My first pecan pie. Turned out great. I used 3/4 corn syrup, and 1/4 real maple., and a few more pecans than listed. I usually don’t like pecan pies because they are too sweet (to me), but this one was just right. I forgot to set a timer, so I just used the “jiggle” test suggested, and it worked. I suggest that you put it in the fridge and not sample it until the next day because it will firm up. Thanks for the recipe!
How wonderful to hear this, Paul! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks!
I made this recipe for a holiday party at work. I was super simple to put together…but think I cooked it a little too long because the crust got a little stuck to the bottom of my pie plate, but everyone raved over it and that is saying a LOT. Hands down the best pecan pie ever…but next time I have to figure out the whole crust thing!
So happy that everyone enjoyed it, Maggie! It’s one of our family favorites. I’m not sure why the crust stuck and you may have done this, but just make certain to prepare the pie plate by buttering it ahead. Thanks so much! xo
I love this pie. It truly was the best pecan pie I’ve made (I’m from South Carolina and know something about pecan pie).Thank you for the recipe.
Thanks so much Rebecca! xo
Love this recipe… Made it today for my girlfriend’s grand daughter. I tried a piece absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing your grand mother’s recipe
Thanks so much Dennis! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is the third time I am making it. Yummy. I just added some rum.
Thanks, Sherry,
So glad you like it!