Old-Fashioned Southern Pecan Pie

By Trace Barnett

There are few things more classically Southern than a pecan pie—whether you say PEE-can or puh-KAHN, we’ll still hand you a warm slice and insist you take another for the road. This is that simple, dependable holiday pie that tastes like it came straight from your grandmother’s handwritten recipe box.

If you want to make this pie truly shine, try it with our homemade pie crust recipe. A good pecan pie deserves a proper Southern foundation.

Recipe

Classic Pecan Pie

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 70 minutes
Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS

3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup golden syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1/4 teaspoon allspice and/or cinnamon
1 deep-dish, 9-inch unbaked pie crust

➡ Get the Recipe

Classic Homemade Crust

This is the crust many grandmothers swore by—a dependable, forgiving dough that bakes up golden, tender, and perfectly flaky. Using shortening gives you a bit more flexibility when rolling and creates a crust that stays crisp and beautiful, even under juicy fruit fillings.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Stir in the sugar, golden syrup, salt, vanilla, melted butter, and allspice/cinnamon. Mix until smooth.
Scatter the chopped pecans in the bottom of the unbaked pie shell, then pour the filling right over the top.
Bake for about 60 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is a deep, caramel-brown.
Let the pie cool completely—it thickens as it cools, and patience here is the secret to a clean slice.

🥧 Garden Party Notes & Variations:

Pecan pie is a canvas for all sorts of little upgrades if you’re feeling festive.

🍫 Chocolate Pecan Pie: Sprinkle 1/2 to 3/4 cup chocolate chips over the pecans before pouring in the filling. They melt into little pockets of fudge that make the pie taste downright decadent.

🥃 Bourbon Twist: Add 1 tablespoon bourbon to the filling for a grown-up warmth that pairs perfectly with the pecans.

🍊 Orange-Kissed Pecan Pie: A bit unexpected but delicious—add 1 teaspoon orange zest for a bright citrus note.

🥥 Toasted Coconut: Stir 1/4 cup toasted shredded coconut into the filling for a Southern coastal nod.

Whatever direction you take it, the backbone of this pie stays true to tradition—and that’s what makes it a Garden Party favorite.