How to Make An Old Fashioned Sorghum Pecan Pie

Long before pecan pie made with corn syrup became popular Southerners used sweet sorghum syrup to make their pies.

Sorghum syrup, often incorrectly called sorghum molasses, is made by cooking canes of sorghum. Sorghum, in case you never heard of it, is a grain closely related to corn and millet. Sweet sorghum has a complex, fruity flavor that is very different from corn syrup or molasses.

This is the authentic Southern Pecan Pie and once you've made it this way you'll never want to go back to making the corn syrup version.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/2 cup tightly packed dark brown sugar
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cup pure sorghum syrup
• 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped pecans
• 1 prepared 9 inch pie crust

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, beat the brown sugar with the eggs using a hand mixer or a whisk until they're just mixed, about 1 1/2 minutes.

3. Add the butter, the cornstarch, and the salt and mix until thoroughly combined, about 1 1/2 minutes.

4. Pour the sorghum and pecans into the bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. Make sure the pecans are coated thoroughly to keep them from burning.They will rise to the top of the mixture.

5. Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake on the center rack until the center of the pie has risen and is jiggly, like gelatin, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 1 hour.

6. Serve warm, topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can refrigerate the pie after letting it cool for about 30 minutes if you want to eat it later. Just reheat it when you're ready to eat.Your Sorghum Pecan Pie will keep in the fridge for about a week.

Tips & Warnings

• Sorghum syrup is sometimes labeled sorghum molasses.
• If you can't find sorghum in your local grocery store you can substitute molasses or pure cane syrup. Either will also make a tasty pie.
• Pecan Pie is the traditional dessert eaten by Southerners to bring good luck on New Year's Day.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 1/22/2009 This is my husband's favorite kind of pie. I've never made peacan pie with sorghum syrup before. Thanks for the new recipe. 5* RRC

[LonnaLight]

on 1/14/2009 I love sorghum molasses! Have to try this..looks and sounds so yummy, I have to give it 5 stars!

[ScarlettOHairy]

on 1/13/2009 This sounds delicious! I love pecan pie and this would be extra special!

[freeser67]

on 1/3/2009 This sounds amazing! I've never cooked with sorghum syrup before. Hopefully, I can find some at my local supermarket. Otherwise, I'll order a jar from Amazon.com.

[rorsich]

on 1/1/2009 Hmm.. Might try this out. I have a TON of pecans outside my house..

5*****s :)