Sunday Supper: Southern Pecan Pie

Say it out loud: pecan pie. How did you pronounce “pecan”? Did you say Pee-kan? Puh-kahn? We admit this one’s a tough nut to crack. (Pardon the pun!) However, a recent study showed that there is no single way to pronounce pecan, rather it depends on where you live. Check out the map from the study and make sure to take our survey below!

The history behind pecan pie is a bit vague, but some believe we owe credit to French settlers in New Orleans, who discovered the pecan nut from Native Americans. However, the corn syrup company Karo claims that a corporate salesman’s wife baked the first pecan pie in the 1930s. Her filling of Karo corn syrup, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and pecans helped make the pie popular today.

So whether you’re a pee-kan or puh-kahn pie fan, this classic dessert makes us proud to be Southern. For this week’s Sunday (after) supper, treat your family to one of our best pecan pie recipes—there’s a traditional one as well as a caramel- and chocolate-filled variation. Rest assured, our Southern Living Test Kitchen professionals know how to bake a prize-winning pecan pie.

Take our survey:

Watch this video: 3 Ways to Shape a Pie Crust

Now make some pie!

Mom’s Pecan Pie

Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie

Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie

For more recipes, check out 15 Ways with Pecan Pie.