I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (2024)

Updated: Feb. 08, 2024

With a hint of crunch on top of a gooey filling, this Pioneer Woman pecan pie is a total classic. And it only requires a few steps to make it at home!

While pumpkin pie is a classic for any Thanksgiving dinner menu, pecan pie is right up at the top of the list along with it. This Pioneer Woman pecan pie is a traditional recipe, made with sugar, corn syrup, butter and eggs. All it needs is a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Can’t get enough pecan desserts? Try these pecan sandies cookies, too.

How to Make Pioneer Woman Pecan Pie

I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (1)Molly Allen for Taste of Home, Getty Images

Ree Drummond’s pecan pie recipe couldn’t be any simpler. It requires just a few steps to put together and fill the pie. After that, you can let the oven do all the work!

Ingredients

  • 1 unbaked pie crust
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup salted butter, melted
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Editor’s Tip: Make toasted pecans to give the pie extra flavor.

Tools You’ll Need

Directions

Step 1: Prepare your pie crust

I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (5)Molly Allen for Taste of Home

Use your favorite homemade pie crust recipe or store-bought dough. Roll out the dough and place it in a pie plate. Once the dough has been placed in a pie plate, poke the bottom with a fork for venting.

Step 2: Mix the filling

I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (6)Molly Allen for Taste of Home

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a bowl, add the white sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, vanilla extract, melted butter and eggs. Whisk to combine until smooth.

Step 3: Fill the pie crust

I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (7)Molly Allen for Taste of Home

Spread the chopped pecans in the pie crust in an even layer. Pour the filling mixture over top. The pecans will rise to the top within a few seconds.

Step 4: Time to bake!

I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (8)Molly Allen for Taste of Home

Carefully place the pie in the oven. Bake for at least 50 minutes until set. Depending on your oven, you may need to cover the pie to avoid too much browning while baking. You may also need to bake your pie for additional time. The pie is ready when the filling just barely jiggles.

Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and allow it to fully cool for several hours before serving. Serve with homemade whipped cream if desired. Don’t forget to refrigerate your pecan pie!

Here’s What I Thought

I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (9)Molly Allen for Taste of Home

Digging your fork into a slice of this pecan pie is truly an experience. First thing’s first, the texture is second to none. Because the pecans rose to the top, a slight crunch formed. Breaking through that crunchy top layer brings you to the gooey filling, and then to the flaky crust serving as the perfect base. It’s a layered experience making this pie not just about flavor but all about mouthfeel as well.

The flavor is rich and sweet with plenty of caramel notes. To me, pecans bring plenty of flavor to the table on their own, and this recipe captures that. There’s no need to cover them in sugar and make it too sweet. The flavor of the pecans gets to stand on its own, with an appropriate amount of sugar to back it up.

When baking, be sure to vent your pie crust by poking a few holes to avoid any pitfalls. And certainly keep an eye on your bake time. If you have a thick-enough pie crust, you may not need to cover it to avoid too much browning. But it all depends on your oven. The pie may be done in 50 minutes, or it may require more time. Either way, be sure that when you remove it from the oven you allow it to cool. This gives time for the filling to fully congeal to offer that ooey-gooey texture in every bite that we all love.

Don’t forget to check out more of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes!

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I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (10)Taste of Home

Layered Turtle CheesecakeAfter receiving a request for a special turtle cheesecake and not finding a good recipe, I created my own. Everyone is thrilled with the results and this cheesecake remains a favorite at the coffee shop where I work. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, WisconsinShop NowLove turtles? Try these turtle-inspired recipes.

Caramel-Pecan Apple PieYou'll love the smell in your kitchen—and the smiles on everybody's faces—when you make this scrumptious caramel apple pie recipe. It takes me back home to Virginia, to my granny's table. —Jean Castro, Phoenix, Arizona

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Praline Ice CreamIf you're a caramel lover, you'll want to try this homemade praline ice cream topped with a rich caramel sauce. I've made this recipe for many ice cream socials at church. —Julia Register, Huntersville, North Carolina

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Homemade Turtle CandiesI am a self-taught candy maker through trial and error. This turtle candy recipe is a favorite of friends and family. —Carole Wiese, New Berlin, Wisconsin

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Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake PieIn fall or any time of year, this nutty, rich and delicious pecan pie recipe is one I am proud to serve. While it seems very special, this caramel pecan cheesecake is a snap to make. —Becky Ruff, Monona, Iowa

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Chocolate Caramel WafersTo keep my holiday cooking quick, I've come to rely on fast recipes like this one. The crunchy-chewy tidbits are our youngster's favorite.

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Chocolate Caramel Pecan CookiesThis is my favorite recipe for bake sales and bazaars. Each delightfully sweet chocolate cookie has a fun caramel surprise in the middle, thanks to Rolo candy. Dipped in pecans before baking, they look so nice that they sell in a hurry. —Melissa Vannoy, Childress, Texas

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Caramel-Pecan Apple SlicesHere's a warm, decadent side dish for fall or winter brunches. Ready to eat in only 15 minutes, the apples are also good alongside a pork entree or spooned over vanilla ice cream. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

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Heavenly Praline CakeA moist cake and generous frosting are filled with the fabulous flavor of caramel. The candied pecans are almost a dessert by themselves!—Jennifer Rodriguez, Midland, Texas

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Caramel Pecan Ice Cream DessertMy mother passed this old-time recipe on to me because she knew I'd want to make it. I love desserts—especially this one! —Mary Wright, Morriston, Ontario

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Caramel Apple CupcakesBring these extra special cupcakes to your next event and watch how quickly they disappear! With a caramel topping and spice cake base, they're the perfect mix of two fall-favorite treats. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

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Pecan Caramel CandiesSalty and sweet, these candies are the perfect little snack. Form a kitchen assembly line with your kids, and the making becomes just as fun as the eating. —Julie Wemhoff, Angola, Indiana

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Turtle CookiesOur special education class developed these fudgy turtle cookies. We have a cookie club teachers can pay to join, and members give this cookie two thumbs up. —Debbie Ethridge, Bentonville, Arkansas

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Turtle Tart with Caramel SauceBetween the creamy chocolate filling, crunchy nut crust and gooey caramel sauce, this tart has a whole lot to love. Plus, you can make it two to three days in advance. One of my daughters even asks for this instead of cake on her birthday. —Leah Davis, Morrow, Ohio

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Caramel Pecan PieThis is hands down the best pecan pie—it’s so good, it’s scary! I’m making it for Thanksgiving because there will be others around to share it with me. Here’s the trick: Toss the bag of caramels to your kid or spouse and promise they can eat whatever is left after they unwrap your 36 caramels. —Larry Crowder, Grand Blanc, Michigan

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I Made the Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie Recipe—and It's Heavenly Pecan Perfection In Every Bite (Bookmark This!) (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep the top of a pecan pie from getting hard? ›

A hard pecan pie means it was cooked too long. Again, bake the pie just until the filling is set and registers 200 degrees on an instant read thermometer. You can also try covering the top of the pie with a piece of aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes of the baking time and/or baking the pie on a lower rack.

Is pecan pie bad for you? ›

Studies have found that pecans can help reduce your bad (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol. Cons: Pecan pie is traditionally made with a good amount corn syrup and/or brown sugar, which only contributes sugar and calories. Once again, your crust can be a big source of fat, especially artery-clogging saturated fat.

How do you keep pecans from sinking in a pie? ›

To prevent the pecans from sinking into the filling for pecan pie, when you add them, do so gently. Some recipes call for adding some chopped nuts to the filling and reserving the remaining nuts to place on top. Other recipes only call for placing the nuts on top of the filling.

How do you keep pecan pie from getting soggy? ›

5 Ways to Prevent Soggy Pie Crust
  1. Blind Bake. The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. ...
  2. Brush With Egg. ...
  3. Brush With Chocolate. ...
  4. Bake on a Hot Baking Sheet. ...
  5. Keep Moisture Out.
May 1, 2019

How to prevent pecan pie from being runny? ›

To avoid this, always start your pecan pie at a high enough temperature, such as 425 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You can lower the temperature to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit after the first half-hour, or 30 minutes. It is done when you notice the pecan filling is bubbling and the pie is browned.

How to keep pecans from burning on pecan pie? ›

To prevent pie crust from burning apply a pie crust cover or loosely wrap crust in foil. Return pie to oven for an additional 20 minutes. To prevent pecans from burning place a square of foil with steam holes cut. Return pie to oven for an additional 15 minutes.

Can I eat 2 week old pecan pie? ›

Information. Homemade egg-rich pies such as pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue and custard must be kept refrigerated after cooking and cooling. Cream and chiffon pies must be stored in the refrigerator. These pies can be kept three to four days.

What is the unhealthiest pie? ›

Marie Callender's Chocolate Satin Pie

This pie is the winner for the highest calorie, sugar, and fat content of all the pies we reviewed. While we are sure it's delicious, we're not so sure it's good for your health.

Should pecan pie go in the refrigerator? ›

Yes. Because pecan pie is an "egg-rich" pie, the USDA recommends you store it in the fridge after it has cooled. Unless you plan on serving the pie within two hours of baking, it shouldn't stay out at room temperature.

Should you poke holes in pie crust for pecan pie? ›

And on that note…by pricking the crust all over with a fork, not only do you prevent it from puffing up into unsightly deformities, you also allow tiny holes for some of the filling to seep underneath which — hear me out! — transforms the crust into this buttery toffee-like deliciousness. Third, the toasted pecans.

What can go wrong with pecan pie? ›

Pecan pie has a somewhat similar set of issues—the filling can crack, the bottom can be under-baked, the filling can seep under the crust, and the nuts can be soggy. Like the pumpkin pie, the filling will crack if the pie is over-baked or cools too quickly.

Should I make the pecan pie the night before? ›

Another VERY important step: after baking, you must allow the pie to cool to room temperature. Although it can be served warm, pecan pie is best when it's completely set. Very often, I'll make my pecan pie the night before Thanksgiving; by the next day, it's perfect.

Why is my pecan pie still jiggly? ›

jiggle in the center when it's ready to take out of the. oven. If it's still liquid-like in the middle, it's too soon.

Why does pecan pie sink in the middle? ›

Overfilling the pie: If the pie is overfilled, the filling may not have enough room to expand and can cause the pie to sink. Not allowing the pie to cool completely: If the pie is sliced while it is still warm, the filling may not have set properly and can cause the pie to sink.

Do I need to cover pecan pie? ›

To store a freshly baked pecan pie, remove it from the oven and let it cool for up to two hours. Once it's cool, loosely wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil — don't wrap it too tightly or it can ruin the shape and texture of the pie. Store the wrapped pie in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Why did my pecan pie crack on top? ›

Like the pumpkin pie, the filling will crack if the pie is over-baked or cools too quickly. But unlike pumpkin pie which has pumpkin puree to give it structure, pecan pie filling is mostly just sugar, corn syrup and eggs, so the tendency to soufflé and fall is even greater.

How do you keep pie top from shrinking? ›

When blind baking, line the pastry with baking paper and fill to the brim with baking beans/uncooked rice, which will support the sides of the pastry and help prevent shrinkage. Start shortcrust off at 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5 to quickly set the pastry. If the oven temperature is too low, the pastry will shrink.

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