The Ultimate Gooey Southern Pecan Pie with a Buttery Flaky Crust
Make the best homemade pecan pie you have ever tasted. This classic Southern dessert features a rich, gooey caramel filling loaded with toasted pecans, all nestled in a perfectly buttery, flaky pie crust. It is the ideal centerpiece for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
- 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 buttery flaky pie crust recipe)
- 1 1/2 cups pecan halves, plus extra for topping
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place your unbaked pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate.
- Arrange the 1 1/2 cups of pecan halves evenly over the bottom of the pie crust.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This creates the rich, gooey pecan pie filling.
- Carefully pour the filling mixture over the pecans in the pie shell.
- Arrange the extra pecan halves decoratively on top of the filling, if desired.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. The edges of the filling should look set, and the center should still have a slight jiggle when gently shaken. If the crust edges start to brown too quickly, cover them loosely with aluminum foil.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack for at least 3 hours before slicing. Cooling allows the gooey filling to set properly.
- Serve your classic Southern dessert with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- For an extra decadent flavor, substitute 1 tablespoon of the corn syrup with bourbon to make a bourbon pecan pie.
- If you prefer a quicker dessert, try making pecan pie bars instead of a full pie.
- Toasting the pecans lightly before adding them to the crust deepens their flavor.
- This recipe delivers that perfect, rich, buttery flavor that defines real Southern baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 55
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 75