Chocolate Pecan Pie

Celebrate Chocolate Pecan Pie Day with a Slice of Sweet History

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Some desserts are so timeless, so comforting, that they deserve their own holiday—and lucky for us, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day is one of them. Celebrated every year on August 20th, it’s a day to honor one of the most decadent spins on a Southern classic.

A Little History of Pecan Pie

The pecan tree is native to North America, and Indigenous peoples were enjoying its buttery nuts long before Europeans arrived. The word pecan actually comes from the Algonquin language, meaning “a nut that requires a stone to crack.”

Fast forward to the late 1800s, and pecan pie began appearing in cookbooks. Some food historians trace the earliest recipes to Texas, where pecans grow abundantly. By the 1930s, pecan pie was a Southern holiday staple—thanks in part to corn syrup companies popularizing recipes on their labels.

Chocolate, however, wasn’t introduced to the pie until much later. It’s believed that inventive bakers in the mid-20th century decided to enrich the already sweet, gooey filling with melted chocolate. And really—who could blame them?

Today, chocolate pecan pie is a beloved variation that combines the caramel-like filling of the original with the richness of cocoa, creating a dessert that’s both comforting and indulgent.

Why Chocolate Pecan Pie is So Special

Classic pecan pie is sweet and nutty, but chocolate adds an extra layer of flavor that makes it taste like a cross between candy and pie. Like a giant pecan snickers bar… Mmmmm. The chocolate balances the sugary filling, creating a deeper, almost brownie-like richness under the crunch of toasted pecans.

It’s the kind of dessert that feels right at home at both casual potlucks and elegant dinner tables. And best of all? It’s simple enough for beginners but decadent enough to impress.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Classic pecan pie is sweet and nutty, but chocolate adds an extra layer of flavor that makes it taste like a cross between candy and pie. Like a giant pecan snickers bar… Mmmmm.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Slices

Calories 501 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 TBSP Butter
• 3 oz Chopped Semi-Sweet or Milk Chocolate
• 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1 TBSP Unsweetend Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt (OR Kosher Salt)
• 2/3 Cup Light Corn Syrup
• 3 Eggs (lightly whisked)
• 1 TBSP Pure Vanilla Extract
• 2 Cups Coarsely Chopped Pecans
• 1 9-inch Unbaked (OR Frozen Deep-Dish Pie Crust)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350º
• In a small saucepan, melt the Butter (4 TBSP) and the chopped chocolate (3oz) over low heat until thoroughly melted. Stir constantly to prevent burning. Once melted, remove from heat.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients:

  Light brown sugar (1/2 Cup)

  Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (1 TBSP)

  Sea Salt (1/2 tsp)
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients:

  3 eggs (lightly whisked)

  Light corn syrup (2/3 Cup)

  Pure Vanilla Extract (1 TBSP)
• Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and whisk together.
• Stir in the melted chocolate and pecans until combined.
• Pour mixture into pie crust and tap pie pan gently on counter to pop air bubbles
• Bake on center rack of oven for 60-70 min. (If your oven runs hot, check after 50 minutes.)
• Cool on wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving. The pie is done when center reaches 200°F.

Notes

If you are using a prepared frozen pie crust, place JUST the cookie sheet in the oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and place on preheated cookie sheet to bake. Tap center surface of pie lightly – it should spring back when done. If pie crust is over-browning, cover edges with foil.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 501kcalCarbohydrates: 56.7gProtein: 6gFat: 30.6gCholesterol: 86.6mgSugar: 41.7g

Keyword chocolate chips, pie, summer, vanilla