Best Pecan Pie Recipe with No Corn Syrup (10-Minute Prep!)
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My Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup recipe is the BEST you’ll ever taste. This delicious, homemade pecan pie comes out with a rich and gooey filling on top of a flaky pie crust with crunchy pecans woven throughout it. Made with all butter and no corn syrup, this pecan pie has a rich and indulgent taste that will soon become a staple on the table. To top it off, it’s just nine ingredients and 10 minutes of prep-time!

Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup
A family favorite dessert, this pecan pie without corn syrup is the perfect blend of gooey filling, flakey crust, and crunchy pecans.
Traditional pecan pie is a dessert-table staple, and this version that’s made without corn syrup will soon become your new favorite.
My family loves pie! Whether it’s pumpkin pie, gingerbread pie (yes, that’s a thing!), apple pecan pie, chocolate fudge pie or my no-bake pecan pie.
But my family’s all-time favorite is this homemade pecan pie recipe! I don’t just make it on holidays either.
Made with an all-butter base and baked into a flakey crust, this pecan pie recipe ends up with a cracked crust top layer that you’ll want to dive right into.
The crust layer is what led me to initially name it “ugly pecan pie” because it may not be the most dressed up. but it’s the best-tasting pecan pie you’ll taste!
Without corn syrup, the filling is a rich sugar and buttery blend that melts on your tongue.
Couple that with the fact that there are only 9 ingredients in the recipe and this pie comes with only 10 minutes of prep time. Trust me, once you taste this pecan pie, you’ll never go back to the corn syrup version.
Why You’ll Love This Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup Recipe
- Rich, gooey filling: With a base of butter to replace the corn syrup this pecan pie recipe ends up with a rich and ultra-indulgent, gooey ocean filling.
- Easy to make: The recipe uses a pre-made pie crust to save you time in the kitchen.
- Ten minute prep-time: It only takes 10 minutes of prep-work for the entire recipe.
- Classic recipe: Pecan pie is a classic dessert recipe that all Holiday tables should have. This is quite literally the best pecan pie recipe you’ll find, and soon enough you’ll have the whole family asking for it!
Ingredients for Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup Recipe
- Prepared Pie Crust: For a flaky crust, you can use a store-bought pie crust or make your own butter pie crust recipe. If you’re making your first pecan pie and want to save time, a store-bought crust works well.
- Eggs: Large eggs are essential for binding the pie filling. There’s no direct substitute for eggs in this recipe, as they are crucial for the texture.
- Melted Butter: Use unsalted butter for the best control over the pie’s saltiness. Melted butter gives the pie a rich flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness. You can substitute with light brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
- White Sugar: Regular granulated sugar helps to balance the sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Just a tablespoon of flour thickens the filling.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work, but whole milk gives the pie a richer flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract adds a warm, aromatic flavor. Avoid artificial vanilla if possible for the best taste.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans are mixed into the filling, and whole pecans can be arranged on top for a traditional look.
How to Make Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup
Prepare the Oven and Pie Dish: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (204°C). Take your prepared pie crust and carefully place it into a 9-inch pie dish. If you’re using a store-bought crust, make sure it’s thawed if it was frozen. For a homemade crust, ensure it’s been rolled out and is ready to use.
Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, start by beating the eggs until they’re frothy. This introduces air into the eggs, helping the pie filling to have a lighter texture. Next, stir in the melted butter. The butter should be cooled to room temperature to avoid cooking the eggs.
Add Sugars and Flour: Add both brown sugar and white sugar to the bowl, along with a tablespoon of flour. The flour helps to thicken the filling, ensuring it sets properly as it bakes.
Incorporate the Remaining Ingredients: Gently fold in the milk and vanilla extract into your mixture. These add moisture and flavor to your pie. Lastly, stir in the chopped pecans, distributing them evenly throughout the filling.
Fill the Pie Crust: Pour the pie filling into your prepared pie crust. Make sure to spread it out evenly, so the pecans are well distributed throughout the pie.
Bake the Pie: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. After the first 10 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) and continue baking for about 45 more minutes.
Protect the Crust: Around 20 minutes into the baking time, remove the pie from the oven briefly to cover the edges of the crust with a piece of aluminum foil or a pie crust shield. This prevents the edges from burning while the rest of the pie finishes cooking.
Cool the Pie: Once the pie has baked and the center is set, remove it from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool. This allows the pie to firm up and makes it easier to cut. The pie cools, the filling will settle, and the crust will become flaky.
Serving: After the pie has cooled completely, it’s ready to be served. You can enjoy it as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Variations
If you want to alter the recipe slightly, below are a few ideas on how to transform it:
- Mini pecan pies: instead of making a full pie, you could always make mini pecan pies without corn syrup for individual servings. For this, you’d need to either make your own crust or buy mini tart crusts.
- Chocolate pecan pie: add in a tablespoon of cacao to the pecan pie filling for a chocolate twist.
Tips For Success
To make this pecan pie without corn syrup delicious every time you make it, use the following tips.
- Toast Your Pecans: Before adding them to the filling, toast the pecans in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant. Toasted pecans will give your pie a deeper, nuttier flavor. Let them cool, then chop some for the filling and keep some whole for decorating the top.
- Blind Bake Your Crust: To prevent a soggy bottom, partially bake (blind bake) your pie crust before adding the filling. You can do this by lining the pie dough in the pie plate with a piece of aluminum foil and filling it with pie weights or dried beans. Bake at 375°F for about 10 minutes. Remove the weights and foil, then add your filling.
- Melt the butter – It seems like such a small step, but this is truly the secret ingredient to a pecan pie without corn syrup. Melt the butter before adding it into the filling mixture.
- Reduce the heat – Cooking the pecan pie on high initially and then reducing the heat to finish it results in that crispy crust on top that almost caramelizes the top of the pie.
- Cover while baking – Because you’re playing around with the heat, it’s a good idea to cover the pie crust edges after about 20 minutes with a pie shield. This will help prevent it from burning.
- Let it cool – Don’t try to serve the best pecan pie right out of the oven! It needs time to cool so that the filling has time to set.
- Serving the Pie – Pecan pie without corn syrup is delicious all on its own and I know you’ll go back for seconds. However, adding a dollop of whipped cream or salted caramel icing brings it to a whole new level of dessert.
Storage
To Store Pecan Pie: Make sure to let it cool completely (about two hours). Then, keep the pie in the pan and cover it with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge for up to four days.
Reheating the Pie: To enjoy it, reheat a slice (or the pie) on low in the oven until slightly warm. A microwave can also be used but reheating in the oven will produce the best results. You can even use an air fryer!
To Freeze Pecan Pie: Allow the pie to cool fully and then wrap it in aluminum foil in the pie pan. You can even wrap it multiple times as this will help the texture remain consistent. Freeze for up to 8 weeks.
To reheat it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before heating it in the oven.
Other Delicious Pecan Recipes
- Butter Pecan Fudge
- Pecan Pie Brownies
- Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Balls
- Crockpot Pecan Pie Cake
- Crockpot Candied Pecans
- Creamy Grape Salad with a Crunchy Pecan Topping
Frequently Asked Questions About Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup
Will my pecan pie be runny without corn syrup?
No! Between the egg, flour, and brown sugar the pecan pie filling should thicken up once it cools slightly. It will be a gooey indulgent texture but not runny.
What can I substitute for corn syrup in pecan pie?
This pecan pie without corn syrup uses brown sugar as a replacement. Because brown sugar has molasses in it, the filling will thicken up (in conjunction with eggs and flour). However, some people also use maple syrup in place of corn syrup to mimic the sweetness.
BEST EVER Pecan Pie (no corn syrup!)
Ingredients
- 1 prepared pie crust
- 2 eggs
- 1 stick melted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 white sugar
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pie Dish: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (204°C). Take your prepared pie crust and carefully place it into a 9-inch pie dish.
- Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, start by beating the eggs until they're frothy. This introduces air into the eggs, helping the pie filling to have a lighter texture. Next, stir in the melted butter. The butter should be cooled to room temperature to avoid cooking the eggs.
- Add Sugars and Flour: Add both brown sugar and white sugar to the bowl, along with a tablespoon of flour.
- Incorporate the Remaining Ingredients: Gently fold in the milk and vanilla extract into your mixture. Lastly, stir in the chopped pecans, distributing them evenly throughout the filling.
- Fill the Pie Crust: Pour the pie filling into your prepared pie crust. Make sure to spread it out evenly, so the pecans are well distributed throughout the pie.
- Bake the Pie: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. After the first 10 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) and continue baking for about 45 more minutes.
- Protect the Crust: Around 20 minutes into the baking time, remove the pie from the oven briefly to cover the edges of the crust with a piece of aluminum foil or a pie crust shield. This prevents the edges from burning while the rest of the pie finishes cooking.
- Cool the Pie: Once the pie has baked and the center is set, remove it from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool. This allows the pie to firm up and makes it easier to cut. The pie cools, the filling will settle, and the crust will become flaky.
- Serving: After the pie has cooled completely, it's ready to be served.










Why is it called ugly? It looks very yummy to me
Well, thank you Annie! When I first made it this way years ago (ran out of corn syrup & used butter instead), it didn’t look anything like the typical pecan pie, but tasted wonderful. I have just always referred to it as ‘Ugly Pecan Pie’.
There’s nothing ugly about this pie! I love pecan pie too, definitely one of my favourites! I’m so glad to see it’s so easy to make! 😀 Yay!! Tnx for sharing…i’m copying this recipe for sure – it looks mouthwatering! 🙂
I can just imagine how incredible that pie is. Butter makes everything better. Thanks for linking up!
This recipe looks amazing! I would love for you to link this or any of your recipes to my blog hop @ It’s a Keeper Thursdays. http://www.everydaytastes.com/
Thanks so much for sharing!
Is it a 1/4 CUP of white sugar? This looks wonderful and I can’t wait to try it.
i love pecan pie and this looks soooo good going to make it i think it will be wonderful
My sister and I were excited to try a recipe for a pecan pie with no corn syrup! It was so easy to make and a huge hit, absolutely delicious! I’m making two tonite for my office Xmas party tomorrow! Thanks Mrs.!
I am so glad that you and your sister liked it!!
I am going to have to try this. My husband is allergic to HFCS but loves pecan pie. SOunds like the perfect match.
I can’t wait to try it. P.S. I love your temp-tations dishes!!
Thank you!
Do you bake the crust first?
Nope, you sure don’t. Use an unbaked pie crust.
now I’m totally hungry!
corn syrup aggravates my fibromyalgia.
Making this for our Christmas day family meal.
squeal! 🙂
Yay! I’m so glad that you found this then!! 🙂 Enjoy!
I made this today it was very good and my husband said it was a keeper : )
I hope that the lack of corn syrup keeps the pie from all that cloying sweetness this traditional recipe has! THX if it does.
Has anyone used tart shells to make this dessert? We love pecan pie. Can’t wait to try this.
You can definitely use tart shells but I’m not sure how long you would need to bake it for.