Best Classic Southern Pecan Pie

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Whether you’re southern or not, this easy family favorite Pecan Pie must be included on your next Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, and or Christmas holiday dessert table; that is if you want your guests coming back next year! And if you really want to impress your guests try this decadent Chocolate Orange Pecan Pie!

This easy pecan pie recipe has been adapted from a well-loved Aunt. Aunt Margie is famous in our family and is considered one of the greatest cooks in East Texas. Let’s just forget the fact she named it “Pete’s Pecan Pie” after my brother and get right down to business.

EASY AND DELICIOUS SOUTHERN PIE INGREDIENTS

What you’ll need first is high quality ingredients:

• 4 large or 5 medium eggs
• sugar
• Karo Syrup…I know, I know it’s not all that great for you but it is the holidays!
• small amount of flour
• good quality butter
• vanilla extract…I use Madagascar
• roasted fresh pecans…I use my own pecans from our backyard garden (If it’s the 7th year pecan drought, I’ll buy local)
• pie crust

HOW TO MAKE AND BAKE

1. STEP 1 – Easiest way to start is with a unbaked pie shell or one in a box that you place in your own pie plate or a 10″ cast iron skillet.
2. STEP 2 –Beat your eggs first in a mixing bowl.
3. STEP 3 –Add sugar and flour gradually while your beating the eggs. Make sure big lumps from flour are gone.
4. STEP 4 –Add Karo Syrup (light or dark or a combo of both), melted butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix well.
5. STEP 5 –Place pecan pieces in an unbaked pie shell. Pour egg and sugar mixture over pecans.
6. STEP 6 –Design pecan halves on top of the filling mixture. Note: most pecan pie recipes I’ve seen skip this step…but this separates a good pecan pie from a great one!! Extra steps make a difference!
7. STEP 7 –Bake at 350 for 45 mins or until filling is set (no jiggle).
8. STEP 8 –Let it rest and cool before serving (a couple of hours) or cover and put in the refrigerator.

It’s not just for Christmas or Thanksgiving!

Southern pecan pie isn’t just for the winter holidays. Serve this at barbecues, church gatherings, birthday parties, etc.

You can also use this wonderful filling and make it into mini pies using a cupcake pan. Just cut the pie dough into smaller circles with a biscuit cutter, top or a drinking glass or a top of a mason jar…anything that is circular and is the basic diameter of a cupcake tin.

Is it Freezable?

Yes and no. I’ve only had one Pecan Pie that I know of that had been frozen a month before Thanksgiving, my Aunt Jill’s (again another famous cook). She brought it one year, still in all the freezer wrap but thawed out. It tasted good but the whole crust was stuck to the pan. It made a great ice cream topping!

TOPPINGS!

• Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is my first choice. Whole Foods own brand of 356 everyday is really good. They have a 2 hour delivery window…how sweet for the holidays!
• Real Whipped Cream…maybe with a little bourbon and powdered sugar whipped in.
• Real Dairy Whipped Cream in a can is always a hit with the kids and super fast and convenient. Again another Whole Food 365 item for the holidays!

PECAN PIE OPTIONS

Pictured below is the Chocolate-Orange Cointreau Pecan Pie I made for Thanksgiving this year. OMG was it amazing!

Chocolate Pecan Pie is very popular and easily adapted from my basic pecan pie. 1 cup of chocolate chips in the bottom with the pecan pieces and you’ve got a perfect Chocolate Pecan Pie!

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie is truly a special pie. I made one last year and it was a HIT and again easily adapted from my basic pecan pie. 1 cup of chocolate chips in the bottom with the pecan pieces and 1 jigger of your favorite Bourbon and you’ve got a perfect Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie!

EASY HOLIDAY MEAL IDEAS:  

FAVORITE HOLIDAY DESSERTS

No Bake Key Lime Cast Iron Pie! This pie is so pretty served in a cast iron skillet and sooooo good!

No Bake Orange Dream Cast Iron Pie! Beautiful pie and tastes so light and refreshing…perfect for an ending to a heavy holiday meal.

Chocolate Key Lime Cookies Wonderful everyday, every holiday treat!!

Easy No-Bake Banana Pudding. This Banana Pudding is a southern classic and cherished any time of the year!

Print Pin

Chocolate Orange Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie lover rejoice in this super scrumptious version of the classic southern pecan pie. Lots of native pecans in a wonderful chocolate orange buttery golden filling . It's delicious!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword easy, holidays, special occasion

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 397kcal

Author Elise

Cost 18

Ingredients

• 4 or 5 large or med eggs
• 1 cup Karo Syrup, dark or light
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp flour heaping
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur, Cointreau
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla or more to taste
• 1.5 cup pecans pieces roasted & chopped
• 1 cup chocolate chips milk chocolate or dark
• pecan halves roasted, top decoration

Instructions

• If your roasting your pecans then do this step first. Roasting is easy: place pecan halves on a cookie sheet sprayed with spray oil. Bake for about 10mins at 300°. Keep an eye on these they could burn depending on the moisture in the nuts.
• Beat eggs well. Add sugar and flour gradually to eggs while stirring.
• Add Karo syrup, melted butter (45sec in microwave, separate bowl), vanilla and orange liqueur. Mix well.
• Place 1.5 cups of roasted pecans pieces and chocolate chips on bottom of unbaked pie crust.
• Pour egg mixture over nuts and chips. Decorate top of pie with remaining pecan halves.
• Bake 45mins at 350° or until filling is set.
• Let it set for at least 2 hours before serving. ENJOY!

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