Sorry, Grandma – Joanna Gaines' Pecan Pie Recipe is the Only One I'm Using This Thanksgiving, and I Have No Regrets

Joanna Gaines' pecan pie recipe is simple, indulgent, and a total crowd-pleaser

designer Joanna gaines photographed sat on an entryway bench with green cabinetry either side, a bamboo window blind, and two cushions
(Image credit: Magnolia Network)

I'm hosting my first Thanksgiving this year, and while I'm making every effort to be the perfect host, I have a feeling I might ruffle a few feathers – because I'm officially replacing a trusted family recipe with Joanna Gaines' pecan pie.

Trust me: I don't mess around when it comes to pecan pie, and I've given this decision some serious thought. The fact of the matter is, I'm ready to add something new to my Thanksgiving menu – and just like my family's own formula, I know that Joanna's is a time-honored recipe (and I'd say it's even more delicious. Sorry, Grandma.) It's even better served up in this stunning scalloped baking dish from Magnolia.

As soon as the recipe was shared by Magnolia Table, I just knew I had to try it. I've spent plenty of time browsing the kitchenware in Joanna Gaines' new cooking show – and now, I can finally recreate one of her signature holiday dishes. It feels a little like getting an invite to the Gaines' Thanksgiving, and I'm not wasting that kind of opportunity.

So, while I'm busy working through my Thanksgiving checklist I'll be spending most of my time in the kitchen, making like Joanna Gaines and perfecting her pecan pie recipe, using her Magnolia laurel green mixing bowls and adding some ceremony by serving it up with her vintage-style pie server. Here's exactly how to make it – just in case you'd like to shake up a few family traditions, too.

White ceramic rolling pin with red floral design

Magnolia's Heirloom Garden Scarlett Rolling Pin is a pie-making essential

(Image credit: Magnolia)

Joanna Gaines' Pecan Pie Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, plus more for serving
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chile powder (you can pick this up at Walmart)
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
  • 1 unbaked deep-dish pie crust, or a 9-inch store-bought, deep-dish version
  • Homemade whipped cream, or good-quality store-bought whipped cream

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F and lay out your pie crust in your chosen pie dish.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup.
  • Whisk the eggs into this mixture, then whisk in the cinnamon and ancho chile powder.
  • Stir in the pecans, then pour the mixture into your pie crust.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, or until the filling puffs around the edges and is nearly set in the center. According to Joanna, a knife inserted around 2 inches from the center should come out clean.
  • Cool the pie on a wire rack, then serve (at room temperature or slightly chilled) with a dollop of whipped cream dusted with cinnamon. The covered pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Shop Joanna Gaines' Pecan Pie Essentials


I'm constantly inspired by Joanna Gaines, but she's perhaps my biggest source of wisdom when it comes to Thanksgiving this year: I'll definitely be investing in some of her favorite green and white vintage tableware, too.

Martha Davies
Content Editor

Martha is a Content Editor on the Living team at Homes & Gardens. Her love for lifestyle journalism began when she interned at Time Out Dubai when she was 15 years old; she went on to study English and German at Oxford, before covering property and interior design at Country & Town House magazine. To Martha, living beautifully is all about good food and lots of colorful home decor.

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