Your grandmother’s house in mid-fall. The air outside is crisp, even though the sun is shining. Leaves swirl all around you in streaks of yellow, red, and brown. And then a delightfully sweet, buttery scent reaches your nostrils and you hear your grandmother’s voice, “Pie’s ready! Come and get it!”

Aaah, pecan pie. A favorite not only in the United States but the world over, pecan pie is considered a staple of traditional Southern U.S. cuisine. So why not celebrate this delicious dessert on its very own day by making a pecan pie of your own? You’ve got to admit that sounds pretty delicious.

History of Pecan Pie Day

There are various ideas about the origins of the pecan pie. There are those who state that the French first made it soon after settling in New Orleans in the 1700s and being introduced to the pecan by the Native Americans of the area. Other claim pecan pie was first made in the early 1800s in Alabama; however, no recipes or other culinary literature has been found that would support either of those claims.

The first actual pecan pie recipe was written in 1886. Originally, pecans were mixed with custard, boiled, and then poured into a crust and baked. The makers of Karo syrup also contributed significantly to the popularization of pecan pie, as their product was often used instead of the more expensive honey or maple syrup. Pecan pie has been mentioned numerous times in American literature and television and has even become a literary symbol of the Southern States, as can be observed in the Zac Brown Band’s lyric:

Beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that’s home you know
Sweet tea, pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow.

Today, pecan pie is most often eaten on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT PECANS

1. Taking their sweet time

   ​Pecan trees take 12 years to mature.

2. Through the years

   Once mature, in the best climate conditions, pecan trees can produce for hundreds of years.

3. American-made

   Pecans are native to North- and Central America and the U.S. produces 80% of the world’s pecans.

4. Big in Texas

   Texas chose the pecan tree as its state tree in 1919 and the pecan pie as its state pie in 2013.

5. A mix of nuts

   ​There are over 1,000 varieties of pecans.

NATIONAL PECAN PIE DAY DATES