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Home » Desserts » Homemade Bourbon Pecan Pie – Without Corn Syrup

Homemade Bourbon Pecan Pie – Without Corn Syrup

October 19, 2022 by Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life 1 Comment

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This bourbon pecan pie is the epitome of rich fall flavors without any of the artificial corn syrup after taste. Perfect for serving up at your Thanksgiving table or as the sweet finale to a slow fall weekend with the family.

slice of bourbon pecan pie with a scoop of ice cream on top; In the background are a bowl of pecans, a glass of milk, a plated slice and the sliced pie in a white pie dish.

Let me preface what I’m about to say with the fact that I’m not normally a fan of desserts with nuts. Nuts are really just roadblocks for the chocolate I know should be there in its place.

So when I say this bourbon pecan pie made me literally reconsider my entire stance on nut based desserts, it was no small feat.

And perhaps best of all, this flaky, caramel-y confection has all the rich flavor of your favorite pecan pie without that artificial corn syrup after taste.

Here’s how to make this pie

First, prepare the pie crust.

Personally, I like to make my own pie crust when I have the time (I use this pie dough recipe) but a sheet of store bought pie crust will also work just fine.

If you’re going the store bought route, I recommend Pillsbury as it seems less prone to stick to itself and tear when you’re trying to unroll it.

Press your pie crust into a 9″ pie pan, trimming away any excess dough that hangs over the edge.

pie crust in a pie pan next to bowls of agave nectar, halved pecans, brown sugar, bourbon, three eggs and a stick of butter.

Second, prepare your filling.

In a saucepan over low-medium heat, combine the brown sugar, agave nectar and butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves.

A note on corn syrup substitutions: I recipe tested this with multiple substitutions for the corn syrup and found that the agave nectar produced the pie with the closest flavor to the original (minus that corn syrup after taste). However, both my husband and I agreed that honey actually made our favorite variation with a flavor completely its own (slightly sweeter with a definitive honey after taste). If you’re looking for something new, we highly recommend swapping 3/4 cup honey for the agave.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bourbon, vanilla extract and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until lightly beaten (until the yolks and whites are just combined).

Whisking continuously, pour a little of the hot syrup mixture into the eggs. Slowly pour this mixture pack into the pan, whisking continuously to keep the eggs from cooking into chunky pieces.

If the eggs get cooked by the syrup: Should you develop little bits of cooked egg chunks in your syrup, you can strain them out using a small strainer or even a mesh tea infuser.

pie crust in a white pie pan filled with halved pecans.

Finally, assemble and bake the pie.

Pour the pecans into the prepared pie crust. I left mine halved, but you can also coarsely chop some or all if you want small pieces.

Cover the pecans with the syrup.

hot syrup mixture being poured from a small silver saucepan into a pie crust with pecans.

Bake at 350F for 45-55 minutes. If you want to keep the crust of your pie from browning too much, you can cover it with aluminum foil or a pie shield for the first 30-35 minutes of baking.

Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool. Place in the refrigerator and allow to set completely before serving.

baked bourbon pecan pie sliced with a scoop of praline ice cream on top and two plated slices around it.

Expert tips

  • Agave nectar substitutions: Don’t have agave nectar on hand or would prefer to use something else? Try substituting honey or maple syrup at a 1:1 ratio.
  • If the eggs get cooked by the syrup: Should you develop little bits of cooked egg chunks in your syrup, you can strain them out using a small strainer or even a mesh tea infuser.
  • Testing for doneness: Gently jiggle your pie. Pecan pies are done when the edges are set and the center has a Jell-O like wiggle (as opposed to horizontal sloshing or a wave).
  • Cutting perfect pieces: Because the filling is soft, I recommend cutting the pie straight out of the fridge (once it has completely set) using a sharp knife. You can also cut the pie frozen to ensure sharp edges.
  • Storage: Pecan pie can be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for four days.
  • Freezing: Pecan pies keep well in the freezer and can be stored for up to three months. Wrap your pie tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, to create an air tight cover. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator prior to serving.
slice of bourbon pecan pie on a plate, topped with a scoop of ice cream and with a piece on a fork; In the background there's the whole pie, a bowl of pecans, a glass of milk and another plated slice.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know when pecan pie is done?

Pecan pies can be tricky to test for doneness because they don’t completely set until they’re cool. To find out if your pie is done, gently jiggle it. If the center has a Jell-O like jiggle but the sides are set, the pie is done. Any sloshing or widespread filling movement is an indication that the pie needs to bake a little longer.

What can be substituted for bourbon in pecan pie?

Don’t have bourbon on hand or prefer to use something else? You can substitute a whiskey, rum, brandy or cognac at a 1:1 ratio for the bourbon. If you’d prefer a non-alcoholic option, substitute the bourbon for a tablespoon non-alcoholic vanilla extract.

Does pecan pie need to be refrigerated?

Yes – Because pecan pie contains quite a bit of egg, it should be refrigerated to prevent the growth of bacteria and other foodborne illness.

Print

Homemade Bourbon Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup

baked bourbon pecan pie sliced with a scoop of praline ice cream on top and two plated slices around it.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This bourbon pecan pie is the epitome of rich fall flavors without any of the artificial corn syrup after taste.

  • Author: Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 10 slices 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 sheet pie crust
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup agave nectar
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup pecans

Instructions

  1. Press pie crust into a 9″ pie pan. Trim away any excess dough from the edges.
  2. In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, agave and butter over low-medium heat.
  3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon, vanilla extract and salt.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until lightly beaten.
  6. Whisking continuously, pour a little of the hot mixture into the bowl with the eggs.
  7. Slowly pour the egg mixture back into the pot, whisk continuously to keep the egg from cooking.
  8. Pour the pecans into the prepared pie crust. Cover with the syrup mixture.
  9. Bake at 350F for 45-55 minutes.
  10. Allow to set completely before serving.

Notes

  • Agave nectar substitutions: Don’t have agave nectar on hand or would prefer to use something else? Try substituting honey or maple syrup at a 1:1 ratio.
  • If the eggs get cooked by the syrup: Should you develop little bits of cooked egg chunks in your syrup, you can strain them out using a small strainer or even a mesh tea infuser.
  • Testing for doneness: Gently jiggle your pie. Pecan pies are done when the edges are set and the center has a Jell-O like wiggle (as opposed to horizontal sloshing or a wave).
  • Cutting perfect pieces: Because the filling is soft, I recommend cutting the pie straight out of the fridge (once it has completely set) using a sharp knife. You can also cut the pie frozen to ensure sharp edges.
  • Storage: Pecan pie can be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for four days.
  • Freezing: Pecan pies keep well in the freezer and can be stored for up to three months. Wrap your pie tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, to create an air tight cover. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator prior to serving.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 471
  • Sugar: 49.9g
  • Sodium: 205mg
  • Fat: 24.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 6.2g
  • Carbohydrates: 60.2g
  • Fiber: 4.6g
  • Protein: 4.2g
  • Cholesterol: 65mg

Keywords: bourbon pecan pie, pecan pie recipe, pecan pie without corn syrup, homemade pecan pie

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If you liked this recipe, you might also like…

  • No bake pecan pie cheesecake bars
  • Cranberry orange pie
  • Sweet potato cake
  • Brown butter iced pumpkin oatmeal cookies

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Filed Under: By Holiday, Desserts, Thanksgiving

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Comments

  1. Sue says

    October 24, 2022 at 1:09 pm

    I’m not a huge fan of pecans, but I know someone who is. Need to try this out 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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I'm Claire, the baker, blogger, sprinkle enthusiast, and cookie painter behind The Simple, Sweet Life. Whether you like simple sweets, comfort (baked) foods, or works of sugar art, you're sure to find something here to sweeten your day! Get to know me better here!

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