Grandma’s Pecan Pie Recipe has a gooey, buttery center with a flaky crust and golden pecans mixed throughout. This tried-and-true classic dessert has been handed down for generations in my family and is easy to make using basic ingredients.

Slice of pecan pie on a clear plate with a fork.

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Pecan pie is an iconic dessert that has become a holiday tradition when celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, many people enjoy this great recipe all year round.

Where did the pecan pie recipe originate?

There are various accounts across the Internet as to when and where the pecan pie originated. According to River Street Sweets, a candy store in Georgia that dates back to the early 1970s, “Legend has it that the French people who settled in New Orleans made the first pecan pie after eating pecans given to them by Native American tribes.”

There are also claims that the pecan pie dates back to the 1800s and originated in Alabama. Some believe it was brought to North America from Europe, but pecans are native to North America, so the latter suggestion seems less likely.

Slice of pecan pie on a clear plate with a fork and another piece of pie behind the featured piece. The whole pie is in the background.

According to a family-owned pecan company called Natchitoches Pecans, “Early pecan recipes first appeared in Texas cookbooks in the 1870s and 1880s. The first recipe that resembled a pecan pie was published in St. Louis in 1898.”

Regardless of when and where the pecan pie recipe originated, my Grandma’s Pecan Pie Recipe is my favorite version. She was born in 1916 and married my grandpa in 1933. I know this recipe is one she made every year during the holidays from early in her marriage. That makes her recipe almost 100 years old! Our family has enjoyed this pie at our Thanksgiving Dinner for many years, and it has become a family tradition every holiday season.

Why You Will Love This Classic Pecan Pie Recipe

You will love this homemade pecan pie recipe because it’s easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and turns out perfect every time. It can be made last-minute and is great to serve at any celebration or get-together.

The ingredients for the pie sitting on the counter.

The Ingredients Used in My Grandma’s Pecan Pie Recipe

Although there are recipe variations for pecan pie posted across the Internet, most use basic ingredients. This delicious old fashioned pecan pie is not only simple to make, but it uses ingredients you might already have on hand.

Sugar
Whole Eggs
Pecan halves
Light corn syrup
Melted butter, slightly cooled
Unbaked pie shell

Hint: A shortcut is to use a refrigerated store-bought pie crust or frozen pie shell for the pie dough.

Equipment

How to Make Pecan Pie

Honestly, my grandma’s recipe is very easy to make. Just like with my Grandma’s Chess Pie Recipe, all you do is mix the ingredients together and pour the pecan filling into an unbaked pie shell. You can be fancy and save one cup pecans to strategically place them on top.

Mixing the eggs and butter with a whisk in a clear bowl.

Pouring the pecans into the egg and butter mixture.

Uncooked pecan mixture in an uncooked pie shell sitting on the counter.

Whole cooked pecan pie sitting on the counter.

After you pour the filling into the prepared crust, bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. The total time to create this delicious pie is less than one hour.

Hint: If your pie crust starts to become too brown, place a pie shield around the edge of the pie.

Serve the pie at room temperature. For a more decadent treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. Cover the pie with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store it on the counter for up to one week.

Substituting or Modifying the Ingredients

There are not many substitution options for pecan pie because the buttery, gooey filling is one of the staples of this dessert.

Swap the white corn syrup for dark corn syrup or maple syrup.
Substitute dark brown sugar for the syrup, but melt on low heat with the butter. Cool before adding the eggs and pecans.
Swap the butter for healthy fats such as plant-based butter or coconut oil.
Add half a cup of chocolate chips when adding the pecans for depth of flavor.

My Grandma’s Recipes

Grandma’s Pecan Pie Recipe is the best pecan pie and will melt in your mouth.

I love having this space on the Internet to document some of my grandma’s recipes. Many of her recipes are simple since money was often tight, and she only had a few ingredients. For more of my grandma’s old-fashioned recipes, check them out at Grandma’s Recipes.

xoxo,
Molly