Classic Texas Pecan Pie is buttery and rich

My dad has been known to steal an entire pecan pie while it is cooling and hide it in his nightstand. However, when required, the family joins forces to sleuth out the location of any and all missing pecan pies, and ceremoniously return them to the family table where they belong. Since we only make this dessert in November and December, we take our annual pecan pie feast seriously.

A Texas Favorite

Purchase store bought pecan pies so we have more on the table? Pshaw. We only eat homemade pecan pies in my family. My grandmother learned how to make pecan pies from her mother, and my mother still makes it using the same recipe. Even though there are new-fangled, modern recipes with chocolate bottom crusts, whiskey maple flavor or coconut sprinkles, at the ranch we only make the same classic recipe every year. Perfection just can’t be improved.

The Secret Ingredient

The recipe that we traditionally use is based on an old Karo Syrup recipe that requires heating dark corn syrup, sugar and tempering the eggs before adding the filling to the crust. Most pecan pie recipes today are simpler and don’t require a candy thermometer. But the deeply caramelized filling and buttery vanilla scent sets this recipe for old-fashioned pie apart from the rest. The delectable aroma enveloping the kitchen is what the family will remember forever. A store-bought pie just can’t do that.

Look for large, luxurious Texas pecan halves at your local farmer’s market. The bigger, the better.  Buy an extra bag and keep them in the freezer for your next gathering that requires a pecan pie. It’s always good to have all the ingredients on hand for making a pecan pie, especially in the event that your freshly made pecan pie goes missing from the family table.

Serves 8