Classic Gooey Southern Pecan Pie with Flaky Crust
I am so glad you are here to make this classic Southern pecan pie. This recipe delivers a rich, gooey caramel filling loaded with pecans inside a buttery, flaky crust. It is a simple, crowd-pleasing holiday dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 60 min
- Total Time: 75 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust (use your favorite flaky crust recipe or store-bought)
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups pecan halves (plus extra for topping if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place your unbaked pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until they are fully combined. This creates your gooey filling base.
- Gently stir in the 1 1/2 cups of pecan halves into the filling mixture.
- Pour the entire pecan filling mixture evenly into the unbaked pie crust. Arrange any extra pecan halves decoratively on top if you want a beautiful presentation.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. The center should be mostly set but still have a slight jiggle when gently nudged. If the crust edges start to brown too quickly, cover them loosely with aluminum foil halfway through baking.
- Remove the pie from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. The center will continue to set as it cools. This cooling time is important for a clean slice.
- Serve your homemade pecan pie at room temperature or slightly chilled, perhaps with a dollop of whipped cream.
Notes
- For the best flaky crust, keep your dough ingredients very cold before you start rolling it out.
- If you want a bourbon pecan pie twist, substitute 2 tablespoons of the corn syrup with 2 tablespoons of quality bourbon.
- To test for doneness, insert a thin knife near the edge of the center; it should come out clean, but the very center can remain slightly soft.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 55
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 17
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 50