Classic Southern Pecan Pie Recipe (2024)

Published: Aug 17, 2022 · Modified: Sep 18, 2023 by Ashley Boyd · This post may contain affiliate links

A classic Southern Pecan Pie recipe with a rich, decadent filling and lots of sweet, buttery pecans. Made with dark Karo syrup, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla, this pie has a robust flavor with an irresistible gooey texture!

I was born and raised in Mississippi and can confidently tell you that no Thanksgiving is complete, especially in Black families, without at least one pecan pie on the dining table.

This pecan pie is a traditional southern recipe that I have eaten all my life down in Mississippi. This pie is sweet, sticky, and rich and is a must-have at Thanksgiving dinner and Sunday dinner!

For more incredibly delicious Thanksgiving recipes, check out our Southern Candied Yams, Southern Cornbread Dressing, and Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipes next!

Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe

• Pie crust. You can use a homemade, refrigerated, or frozen 9-inch pie crust for this pecan pie. I used The Cozy Plum's All-Butter Pie Crust recipe and it was perfect! If you are using frozen, be sure to use a deep dish pie crust.
• Granulated sugar. To sweeten the pie.
• Dark brown sugar. Combined with granulated sugar for a caramel-like sweetness.
• Corn syrup. This is what gives classic southern pecan pie it's signature gooey filling. This recipe calls for dark corn syrup but you can also use light. Karo Syrup is the most popular brand of corn syrup for pecan pie.
• Unsalted butter. Melted butter is mixed into the filling for flavor and richness.
• Eggs. To bind the pie filling ingredients together.
• Vanilla extract. For added flavor and depth. Use good-quality vanilla extract and not vanilla flavoring!
• Ground cinnamon. For a hint of spicy, woody flavor.
• Salt. For balance and to highlight the flavors of the other ingredients.
• Pecans. It's a pecan pie so we need plenty of pecans! I recommend roughly chopped pecans for the filling and some halves to decorate the top.

How To Make This Recipe

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. If using frozen pie crust, set it on the counter or prepare your homemade or refrigerated pie crust by placing it in your pie dish and finishing the edges however you like. Set the crust aside while you prepare the filling.
3. Whisk together the brown sugar and granulated sugar in a medium mixing bowl until combined. Add the corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt to the bowl and whisk the ingredients together until well combined.
4. Pour the chopped pecans into the bowl with the filling and use a silicone spatula to mix the pecans into the filling until completely combined. Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust.
5. Line the outer edge of the pie with pecans halves for a decorative touch or leave the pie as is. Bake the pecan pie in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the center is slightly puffed and jiggles slightly when rocked back and forth and the edges are set.
6. Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy pecan pie chilled or at room temperature.

Variations and Substitutions

Pecan pie can be made with light corn syrup instead of dark for a lighter, more vanilla-like flavor.

You can also use all granulated sugar instead of a combination of dark and granulated sugar for an even lighter filling.

Some pecan pie recipes call for a little bit of flour or cornstarch to be added to the filling for more structure. However, if you bake the pie properly you should not have to worry about runny filling.

Is Light or Dark Corn Syrup Better for Pecan Pie?

This is totally up to you and the flavor you prefer in pecan pie. Dark corn syrup gives you a more robust, caramel-like sweetness from the molasses, while light corn syrup gives you a lighter, vanilla-like sweetness.

I usually prefer to use dark corn syrup because I love the caramel notes it adds, but I also love using light corn syrup for pecan pie. Try both and see which one you prefer!

What Crust Is Best for Pecan Pie?

A traditional all-butter or shortening pie crust works best for pecan pie and stands up to the liquidy filling well. There is no need to par-bake your pie crust for pecan pie because it fully bakes with the pie.

Some recipes also add finely chopped pecans to the crust which is something I would like to try soon. I do not recommend graham cracker or any type of cookie crust. They are too crumbly and would not stand up to the filling of pecan pie.

Are Chopped Pecans or Pecan Halves Better?

I recommend chopped pecans for pecan pie filling because they make slicing the pie much easier and the slices turn out cleaner. You can use pecan halves but the filling may get squished when slicing into the pecan halves.

PRO TIP: Use chopped pecans in your pecan pie filling for clean, even slicing, but decorate the top with pecan halves for presentation!

What To Serve With Pecan Pie

If you want a true southern-style Thanksgiving spread, serve southern pecan pie with some of the following:

• Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
• Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Sweet and Spicy Turnip Greens
• Southern Collard Greens
• Spiced Apple Crumb Cake
• Authentic Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
• Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

FAQs and Tips

Make Ahead and Storing Instructions

Southern pecan pie is the perfect make-ahead dessert for Thanksgiving. You can prepare this pie up to two days in advance and store it wrapped tightly in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Serve pecan pie chilled or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Leftover pecan pie can be wrapped tightly or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

9-inch pie dish

Mixing bowls

Silicone whisk

Silicone spatula

Pie server

More Southern Recipes You Will Love!

• Cajun Crawfish Etouffee
• Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
• Southern Buttermilk Cornbread
• Southern Cheese Grits
• Maple Barbecue Chicken Wings

📖 Recipe