Pecan Pie without Corn Syrup

Posted Oct 25, 2026

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This is the best pecan pie recipe without corn syrup! Made with a moist, honey-sweetened, nutty filling and a buttery homemade crust, it’s an easy pecan pie recipe that’s perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving or any special occasion.

a slice of pecan pie on a white plate with a dollop of whipped cream on top, there is a bite taken out of the pie so the gooey, moist pecan pie filling is visible. There's a fork on the plate, the rest of the pecan pie and a bowl of pecans in the background.

If you love pecan pie but don’t love baking with corn syrup, then you need to make this pecan pie recipe without corn syrup!

I’ll admit, I never really wanted to make pecan pie because of the ingredient list, but my husband loves all desserts with pecans – butter pecan ice cream, candied pecans, etc., so I decided to make this recipe for pecan pie without corn syrup, and I’m so glad I did because it’s so delicious.

The filling is rich, perfectly sweetened with honey, has a delicious caramel flavor, and is loaded with toasted pecans. It’s baked into a flaky, buttery homemade crust that is absolutely irresistible!

It’s surprisingly easy to make the best pecan pie recipe ever – with simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can enjoy a bakery-quality pie at home! Whether you’re baking for Thanksgiving, the holidays, or for the pecan-lover in your life, this pecan pie is guaranteed to impress and will become a family favorite!

Why You’ll Love This Pecan Pie Recipe

Made from scratch (even the crust).
No corn syrup!
Sweetened with honey & brown sugar
Best made a day ahead for easy holiday prep

pecan pie in a white ceramic pie dish with a fluted edge crust with two triangular slices cut out of it, there's a light orange waffle towel in the bottom left corner and pecans in the top right corner.

Pecan Pie: Ingredients & Substitutions

Light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar works well and imparts a richer molasses taste.
Honey. Corn syrup does work in place of honey if you prefer. Maple syrup is also a good substitute and imparts a delicious maple flavor.
Flour. Use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
Raw pecans. Toasted and unsalted pecans also work well in this recipe.
Bourbon. Use if you’d like, or omit! Tastes great either way.

a slice of pecan pie topped with whipped cream on a white plate with a fork so they moist pecan pie filling is visible. The rest of the pecan pie is in a white ceramic pie dish in the background along with a bowl of pecans and a light orange waffle towel.

How to Make Pecan Pie without Corn Syrup

Let’s walk through how to make a pecan pie with no corn syrup together step-by-step, and watch the video for additional guidance.

Make the Pecan Pie Crust

Place all the pie crust ingredients in the order listed into a food processor fitted with an “S” blade and process for 15-40 seconds, or until the mixture resembles a coarse meal and holds together when pinched.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pie crust ingredients like butter, flour a nd water in a food processor fitted with the "S" blade before processing

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pie crust mixture after being processed in a food processor fitted with the "S" blade.

Then, transfer the dough from the food processor (it will be crumbly) to a large bowl or flat surface, and form into a round disc.

Once you have a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - a hand holding a pinched together piece of pie crust dough over the rest of the dough in a food processor fitted with the "S" blade.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie crust formed into a round disc wrapped in plastic wrap on a marble surface

Par-Bake the Pecan Pie Crust

After the dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).

Then, roll it into a 10” circle and place it in the bottom of a 9” pie dish. I like to use my pie dish to measure the dough after I roll it out to ensure it will fit in the pie dish with enough hanging over to be pinched into a pretty edge.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie crust rolled into a circle on a marble surface

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie crust in the bottom of a pie dish

Next, pinch the edge to make a fluted edge. Loosely cover the formed pie crust with foil or parchment paper, fill with pie weights, and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie crust in the bottom of a white ceramic pie dish with a fluted edge

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie crust in the bottom of a white ceramic pie dish with a fluted edge lined with parchment paper and filled with white ceramic pie weights

Then, remove the pie from the oven and take out the pie weights and parchment paper.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie crust in the bottom of a white ceramic pie dish with a fluted edge after being partially baked

Make the Pecan Pie Filling

While the pie crust is baking, make the filling. Begin by chopping 1 ½ cups of the pecans. Leave ½ cup whole to decorate the top.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - chopped pecans on a cutting board with a knife, and a white bowl of pecan halves above it.

Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes in the oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius), stirring once halfway through. Let them cool slightly before adding to the pie.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - chopped pecans and pecan halves on a large silver baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - chopped pecans and pecan halves on a large silver baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat after being toasted in the oven, a hand holding a metal spatula is removing some pecan halves from the plate.

While the pecans are toasting, beat the eggs in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer for 2 minutes. They will become thick, pale, and fluffy.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - 3 eggs in a glass mixing bowl before beating

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - eggs after being beaten in a glass mixing bowl

Then beat in the melted butter, brown sugar, honey, salt, flour, cornstarch, vanilla, and bourbon on medium speed until just incorporated.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - brown sugar, honey, melted butter, flour and cornstarch added to the beaten egg mixture in a glass mixing bowl before being mixed together

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pecan pie filling wet ingredients in a glass mixing bowl after being mixed together

Evenly spread the chopped pecans in the bottom of the partially baked pie crust. Then, pour the egg mixture over the pecans into the pie dish.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - chopped pecans in the bottom of the partially baked pie crust in a white ceramic baking dish

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - pie filling being poured over the chopped pecans in the bottom of the partially baked pie crust in a white ceramic baking dish

Carefully place the whole pecans on top in concentric circles, starting with the outside and working your way to the middle- this will give you a pretty pecan design on the top layer of the pecan pie.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - filling settled in a white ceramic baking dish

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - a hand arranging whole pecans on top of the filling in concentric circles

Then, I highly recommend covering the outer crust with a pie crust shield or aluminum foil cut to fit the outer edge so the crust doesn’t get too brown.

Pie getting too brown?

If the pie is browning too much before the filling is fully baked, tent the entire whole pie with foil and continue baking.

how to make pecan pie without corn syrup - final pecan pie before baking in a white ceramic pie dish

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius), until the outer edge is set (firm and puffed) and the middle is still only barely jiggly. You can also measure the temperature of the center of the pie; it should be between 200 and 205°F (93–96°C) to be perfectly baked.

Remove the pecan pie from the oven and remove any foil or shields covering the crust/pie. Let the pie cool completely before cutting and serving – this takes 6 hours and is preferably done overnight.

pecan pie in a white ceramic pie dish with a fluted edge crust with two triangular slices cut out of it, there's a light orange waffle towel under the dish

How to Serve Pecan Pie

Serve the pecan pie without corn syrup, slightly warm (this would mean reheating it slightly after it has cooled completely) or room temperature. We like to serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of homemade whipped cream, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

More Delicious Pie Recipes

If you love this pecan pie, you need to try some of my other pie recipes:

Chocolate peanut butter pie (one of my faves)
The very best pumpkin pie from scratch (no condensed milk)
Apple Crumb Pie (or classic apple pie or Dutch apple pie)
Pear Pie that’s perfect for fall
Oreo pie better than Baker’s Square or Village Baker

How to Store or Freeze Pecan Pie

Store leftover honey pecan pie in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

a slice of pecan pie on a white plate with a fork so they moist pecan pie filling is visible. The rest of the pecan pie is in a white ceramic pie dish in the background along with a bowl of whipped cream.

Best Pecan Pie Recipe FAQS

How do I know when pecan pie is done baking?

The edges and top should look mostly set but still have a very slight jiggle in the middle. The filling should be puffed slightly, look glossy but not wet, and the edges should be set.
You can also measure the internal temperature and make sure it’s between 200 and 205°F (93–96°C).

Can I make pecan pie without corn syrup?

Yes! This recipe uses honey instead of corn syrup, which gives the pie a delicious flavor and gooey texture without corn syrup.

Does honey change the flavor of pecan pie?

Yes, it very slightly changes the flavor of this pie but in the very best way.

How do I keep pecan pie from being runny?

Make sure to bake it long enough and let it cool completely before slicing—this allows the filling to set properly.

Can I use store-bought pie crust?

Yes, using a store-bought pie crust saves time and still tastes great.

Will pecan pie without corn syrup still set properly?

Yes, the flour and cornstarch help thicken the pie so it sets up beautifully, as long as it’s fully baked.

Can I make pecan pie ahead of time?

Yes, this pecan pie is best when made a day in advance so it has plenty of time to cool.

Why is my pecan pie runny?

Pecan pie usually is runny because it’s underbaked. It will also be runny if it’s sliced before it has cooled completely. Be sure to bake it fully and let it cool completely.

a slice of pecan pie with whipped cream on top on a white plate with a fork, there's a bite taken out of it so they moist pecan pie filling is visible. The rest of the pecan pie is in a white ceramic pie dish in the background along with a bowl of pecans and a bowl of whipped cream.

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