Pecan Pie
Updated Sep 28, 2025
This pecan pie recipe is corn syrup free, using dates instead for natural sweetness. The pie filling is mixed in a blender until smooth.
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You’ll love my homemade pecan pie!
Pecan pie is one of those classic holiday desserts I look forward to every year, and this pecan pie recipe is a lighter take on the traditional version. Instead of corn syrup, I use dates to make the filling sweet and rich, and it still bakes up with that gooey texture everyone loves. It’s easy too just blend the filling, pour it over the pecans, and bake.
I’ll admit, I usually reach for pumpkin pie first, but this pecan pie recipe always makes me second-guess my choice. The dates add a natural sweetness that feels a little more wholesome. I don’t miss the corn syrup at all. It’s a festive dessert that’s perfect for the holidays, but also easy enough to make whenever the craving hits.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Pecan Pie Ingredients
- Pie crust: I like to make pie crust from scratch, but you can also use store-bought. Look for a package that has one (or two) traditional 7-oz, 9-inch pie crusts.
- Whole pecans: I toast the pecans before adding them to the pie crust. You can also use walnuts, as they have a similar texture and flavor profile to pecans.
- Dates: Make sure you remove the pits!
- Dry ingredients: Just salt.
- Wet ingredients: Unsalted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract.
“Absolutely loved this recipe! Pecan pie has always been one of my favorites but the amount of high fructose corn syrup required isn’t my favorite. So we loved that this recipe replaces some of that sugar with better sweetener alternatives! Will be making this one every year going forward.” – Jessica
How to Make Pecan Pie
“This pie is so delicious! Make it twice already!! During Thanksgiving, everyone loves it and says I’m such a good baker, lol!! I love that it’s healthier than the traditional pecan pie. It’s so easy to make without making a huge mess in the kitchen. It’s 10 out of 10” –Lizz
Pecan Pie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 7 ounce prepared pie crust , thawed according to package directions (tin pan)
- 3 cups whole pecans
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup pitted dates
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Place the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a high-speed blender, add the eggs, dates, maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Blend for 2–3 minutes, or until smooth.
- Add about 2 ½ cups of the toasted pecans to the prepared pie crust. Reserve the nicest-looking pecans for decorating. Pour the egg mixture over the pecans, then gently shake the crust to spread the filling into an even layer. Use the remaining pecans to decorate the top of the pie.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the center of the pie is set. Let cool for about 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Freshen up your dates. If your dates have been in the pantry for a while, soften them by letting them soak in warm water for about 10 minutes. Drain, then blend them into the pecan pie filling.
- Chop the pecans if you don’t like whole pieces. For more flavor in every bite, give them a rough chop before adding them to the pie crust.
- Storage: Cover the pie with plastic wrap or foil and store it in the fridge for 4–5 days. To reheat, remove it from the fridge and let it come to room temperature before putting it in a 350ºF oven for a few minutes until warmed through.
- Freezing: You can freeze the pie whole or in slices. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and then again in foil. It will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Tips
- Freshen up your dates. If your dates have been in the pantry for a while, soften them by letting them soak in warm water for about 10 minutes. Drain, then blend them into the pecan pie filling.
- Chop the pecans if you don’t like whole pieces. For more flavor in every bite, give them a rough chop before adding them to the pie crust.
- Let the pie cool completely before cutting. The pie will continue to set as it cools to achieve that gooey center. If you cut into it too soon, the filling will ooze, and you won’t have neat slices.
“5/5! I made this pie for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. The dates and maple syrup give it a rich and deep flavor without being too sweet and sugary. I love that you can throw most of the ingredients into the blender to whip up the filling very easily. I ended up cooking the pie a bit longer than directed, but like Yumna said bake until the middle of the pie is set. I’ll definitely be making this again!” – Hannah
Comments
I just made this pie, is it really 457 cal per slice?
Yes—it’s 457 calories per slice (8 slices per pie) but will vary slightly with the exact ingredients you use.
Haven’t tried it yet, but expecting to love it, I’d cut the dates in half before putting in blender.
Come back and let me know how you like it!! Great suggestion to cut the dates in half to make it easier on the blender.
I chopped my pecans and took the best recipe and made it even better. Thank you for making this our family’s fav…
So happy you love it! Thanks, Terri!!
I never really liked pecan pie or understood it. Usually too sweet and not appealing. This one IS THE BEST PIE ever. The dates with pecans is a winning combo, it’s not too sweet, texture is perfect. I love love it. My husband who’s always looking for less sweet desserts loved it so much too. Thank you!!
Aww, yay!! So happy you both loved it, thank you!!
Has anyone tried this with date syrup? This recipe looks amazing.
I haven’t but I would love to hear how it turns out if you end up trying it!
Can I make this vegan by substituting eggs for flax eggs?
Yes, absolutely! Here’s my flax egg recipe, if you’re interested: How to Make a Flax Egg
Let me know how it turns out!
I always know that if I want a more whole-foods version of a traditional recipe, I can turn to this blog. Thank you so much for this recipe. It is delicious, easy to make, and guilt-free!
Love your page! The pecan pie recipe was incredible
Thank you so much!
My husband said it. “So GOOD” no joke. My husband has a hard time eating pecan pie due to the sweetness and it irritates the roof of his mouth. It is his favorite pie. Thank you for making this alternative and sharing. I made it and he can eat an entire slice. He loves it and so do I!! Your mushroom risotto is next 🙂
Aww, LOL, that’s amazing! Glad you both enjoyed! Can’t wait to hear what you think about the risotto.
This pie is so delicious! Make it twice already!! During Thanksgiving, everyone loves it and says I’m such a good baker, lol!! I love that it’s healthier than the traditional pecan pie. It’s so easy to make without making a huge mess in the kitchen. It’s 10 out of 10
Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear that. That is such a compliment! Yay!
I made this pie for a family dinner and everyone loved it!
That’s amazing! I’m glad to hear it was a hit!
Absolutely loved this recipe! Pecan pie has always been one of my favorites but the amount of high fructose corn syrup required isn’t my favorite. So we loved that this recipe replaces some of that sugar with better sweetener alternatives! Will be making this one every year going forward. Thanks feelgoodfoodie!
Thank you so much! Hope you continue to enjoy!!
5/5! I made this pie for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. The dates and maple syrup give it a rich and deep flavor without being too sweet and sugary. I love that you can throw most of the ingredients into the blender to whip up the filling very easily. I ended up cooking the pie a bit longer than directed, but like Yumna said bake until the middle of the pie is set. I’ll definitely be making this again!
Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear that. Hope you continue to love it!
I switched out one of my traditional pumpkin pies that I usually make for my family for Thanksgiving dinner with this recipe and it was a big hit. The flavor was awesome, I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet and it looked great. So good!
I’m glad it was a hit! That’s perfect. Thank you so much!
My family loved this pie! The texture is a little bit different but in a good way. I’m definitely keeping this as my to-go Pecan Pie recipe and I will prepare more not just for Thanksgiving.
That is amazing! Yay!! Hope you continue to enjoy this pie recipe.
Hi! Do you recommend a specific type of date for this recipe? Like medjul?
That would work great!
This is the best pecan pie I have ever tasted! Made 2 pie with another recipe for thanksgiving and was not happy with them. ROund 2: Made this recipe with the addition of a little splash of bourbon. SOOOO good. Love this recipe. Will be my go to recipe for next year.
Wow, thank you so much! I love that! Hope you continue to enjoy!
This was a hit at Thanksgiving! The pie was super easy to make, I used my shake blender as per the directions and it made everything a synch. The texture was slightly more dense than a typical pecan pie (yum!) and it was not ultra sweet (which I prefer). I will definitely be making this again!
Yay! Happy Thanksgiving! That all sounds great.
I did your recipe for the pecan pie and it came out delicious it burned a little bit but still taste so good & even my husband that doesn’t like sweets to much enjoy It . I replace the brown sugar for coconut sugar and it was still very delicious .
I’m glad you still enjoyed the flavor! That’s perfect!
made this for this years thanksgiving spread and it was an absolute hit !! used agave instead of maple syrup because of maple allergies and it tasted divine and the texture was on point, nobody could believe it was dates instead of corn syrup,, such a genius idea and it works !
That is amazing! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love that!!
I tried last night and it’s so good! Brought it to work today and everyone loved it! The dates makes the whole difference
Yay! I’m so happy to hear it was a hit even with the dates.
Thank you for this amazing recipie! Came out delicious 😋
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed this Pecan Pie!
I tried this recipe and loved it! I’ll be making it for Thanksgiving.
Yay! Hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving!
Thank you for sharing a delicious and healthier recipe for a classic!
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you’re enjoying this pie recipe!
Made this recipe for my family it was a big hit ! Will be making the pie recipe for Thanksgiving . Wanted to thank you I’ve been following you for a while each recipe I make is better than the last thanks again for all your hard work my cookbook is filled with most of your recipes .
Blessings to you and your family , Brenda
I love that! Hope it continues to be a hit at the Thanksgiving celebration. Thank you for all of your support! I sincerely appreciate it!
This recipe is so easy and so good! If I can make it, anyone can! And the whole family from the 3 year old to the grandparents loved it snd asked for seconds! Thank you for making cooking and baking so easy for parents like me who have very little time to cook!
Thank you so much! Yes!! I’m so glad to hear everyone is enjoying it. You’re welcome!
The easiest pie recipe I’ve ever made! It turned out very tasty. I’ll definitely add this recipe of my favourites!
I’m glad you found this recipe easy to follow and make! Yay!!
Very delicious recipe! I made this for my husbands birthday the other day to try something new and we both enjoyed it! Great flavors for fall and very easy to assemble. Thank you!
I wanted something besides the traditional pecan pie this year, so this recipe intrigued me. My daughter and I thought it was delicious! My husband is a traditionalist and simply said, “that’s not pecan pie.” I had a little extra crust dough leftover, so I baked a hand pie with a spoonful of pecan filling inside. He said it was really good that way.
I had a hard time telling if the pie was done and ended up cooking it a few minutes longer than the recipe called for. Sometimes traditional pecan pies are too gooey, and I like a fully set filling.
I used a homemade sourdough crust, and that flavor paired really well with the sweet pecan filling.
I also used chopped pecans instead of whole pecans, just because I find it easier to slice and eat that way.
I am glad you decided to try something new and enjoyed! This recipe is pretty customizable, so I am glad you were able to cook it to your liking! Yay!!
This is so yummy and delious and was so easy to make. Highly recommend this as it is very yummy
Thank you so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying this pie recipe!
This pie was a LOT easier than I had thought! My wife was very happy with it and so am I. I really enjoyed the note of maple. Nice touch!
That’s perfect! I’m so glad you both enjoyed!!
Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Super easy and absolutely delicious! Will have to do it again since we didn’t have any leftovers 🙂
Thank you so much! I love that!!
I made this delicious pecan pie on a trail run before Thanksgiving. It was super easy and very delicious~ I omitted the brown sugar and it was still delicious! I will definitely make this for Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much! Can’t wait for you to enjoy it again!
Very easy and delicious version. Thanks for the inspiration. Made it and came out great.
Thank you so much! You’re so welcome!!
Wow! I really don’t like dates, the only times I’ve ever used them would be when I’m trying to be healthier. Course, pecan pie is an all time favorite in my book so I thought I’d give it a try. I have to say, I was really surprised it didn’t taste “healthy.” It had all the same cozy maple notes I love about this pie, without the guilt or worry of so much sugar. So good 😊
Yours,
Rosa
This was delicious and surprisingly easier than I thought it would be! Will be making gain for the holidays!
I’m glad you found this easy to make! Such a delicious holiday you’re in for!
I’m new to your account… so far I’ve been inspired to make a few of your dishes… now to try this healthy version of pecan pie… but of course I have to taste test once before serving for thanksgiving 😉😜
I’m so happy to hear you’re inspired! You won’t regret it!
Pecan pie is one of my FAVORITE pies for the thanksgiving season. Thanks to this recipe, I can feel like I’m making healthier choices and avoiding corn syrup. I’m the incorporation of dates is also so lovely! I will be using this recipe for years to come.
That makes me so happy to hear! I’m glad you enjoyed this version and will continue to do so.
I can’t resist a good pecan pie especially around this time of year! Pair it with a good cup of coffee and I’m over the moon.
I love that you incorporated dates into this recipe. They provide fiber and a natural sweetness without me having to feel guilty about eating multiple slices! The dates combined with the subtle sweetness of the toasty pecans makes this recipe my new favorite! I’ll be serving this for the upcoming holidays and occasional “just because” days. Thank you, Yumna.
Such a delicious pairing! Dates are seriously so underrated. I love that! Thank you so much!
So glad you came out with this recipe. I’ve been hesitant to serve pecan pie at the Thanksgiving table due to all the corn syrup recipes call for nowadays, but this made for a delicious swap. Decided to soak the dates first for a smooth and undetectable texture to see if the family noticed- which they did not to my delight! The best part was the caramel-like flavor that you get from the dates, it just enhances the pie. Looking forward to having it again for Thanksgiving.
Aww, I’m so happy to hear that! I’m glad you gave this a try and enjoyed. Hope everyone enjoys it at Thanksgiving!
Wow! I really don’t like dates, the only times I’ve ever used them would be when I’m trying to be healthier. Course, pecan pie is an all time favorite in my book so I thought I’d give it a try. I have to say, I was really surprised it didn’t taste “healthy.” It had all the same cozy maple notes I love about this pie, without the guilt or worry of so much sugar. So good 😊
Yours,
Rosa
I’m glad you gave this a try! That’s exactly what I was going for. Thank you so much!
It looks amazing , can’t wait to try it 😋
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to hear what you think!!
Hi! Hope you are doing well. I always watching your videos. Iam very inspired. You are very nice cheff. I like your recipes.
Thank you so much! Aww, I am so happy to hear that. Thank you for all of your support!
OMG! So delicious I will make it not only for thanksgiving but also for Christmas and New Years..
love the crunchy and the sweetness..
Thank you so much! I’m sure it’s going to be a hit for all three holidays!
This recipe is absolutely devine! Love that I can use my leftover dates from Ramadan for a yummy recipe.
Thank you! Yes, for sure!
Made it and came out delicious! Thank you!!
Yay!! You’re so welcome!
This pie looks divine looking forward to making this yay 😋
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to hear what you think!
So delicious & a healthier version!
Thank you so much!