Original and Vintage Pecan Pie Recipes

Pecan pie is a pie made primarily with corn syrup and pecan nuts. So the question now is...was there a Pecan Pie before corn syrup was invented?

There have been claims made of the traditionally Southern U.S. dessert existing in the early 1800s in Alabama, but such recipes have not been found. Attempts to trace the pies origin have not found any recipes dated earlier than 1886, and well known cookbooks did not include this dessert before 1940. Another claim is that the French invented pecan pie soon after settling in New Orleans, after being introduced to the pecan nut by Native Americans.

Because wild pecans were readily available, many Native American tribes in the U.S. and Mexico used the wild pecan as a major food source during autumn, but...
It wasn't until the early 1930's that a recipe for Karo Pecan pie was published by the wife of a Karo salesman. It called for Karo syrup, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and pecans in a pie shell, and since that time most recipes for Pecan Pie follow that formula.

Even before the ready availability of commercial corn syrup cooks in the south made pies with pecans. Many of the older recipes call for a darker commercial syrup, and some used molasses. A Northern U.S. variation used maple syrup. Never the less very few recipes showed up until Karo left the gate, and here it is now.

The Original Karo® Pecan Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 recipe pastry
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Cup Karo Syrup, Blue Label
*1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter, or margarine
1 cup Pecan Meats

Directions:
Roll pastry 1/8 inch thick. Line a 9 inch pan.
Mix remaining ingredients together, adding Pecans last.
Pour into pastry shell, Bake in hot oven (400 F.)
15 minutes; reduce heat to moderate (350 F.) and
bake 30 to 35 minutes longer or until a silver knife
inserted into center of filling comes out clean.
*If salted nuts are used, omit salt. The New Classic Karo® Pecan Pie

Ingredients:
1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked OR frozen** deep-dish pie crust

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.
To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet. I hope you have enjoyed this little trip back to the early days of Pecan Pie.

Lets not forget the Health benefits of Pecans! Pecan nuts are rich source of energy, carry 690 calories/100 g and contain health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for wellness. You can add a hand full of pecan nuts in your diet to keep your diet meter complete with sufficient levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein, and they taste great! No matter which Old Pecan Recipe you choose, I am sure that you will love it. The most important thing is to just try it. You may just amaze yourself, and your friends, and family as well. Getting started is always half the battle, and please let me know if you try out any of the recipes. Feel free to share this with your baking friends...maybe they will make you a fresh Pecan Pie!