We’re simply nutty over today’s honoree, National Pecan Pie Day on July 12. It’s pretty easy to get behind a day dedicated to one of our favorite desserts. Indeed, 90% of Americans surveyed believe eating a slice of pie is one of life’s simple pleasures, indulging in 186 million commercially sold pies every year! People who prefer pecan pie over the many other types of pies describe themselves as thoughtful and analytical. We’re not sure if this still holds true for those who add ice cream or whipped cream but, nonetheless, it’s time to celebrate the delicious dessert today!
It is uncertain how National Pecan Pie Day started but we certainly feel indebted to an unknown person because we couldn’t agree more with the idea of celebrating such a beloved dessert.
Pecan pie has a long, Southern history whose origins are highly debatable. Some believe pecan pie started in New Orleans by French immigrants, turned Southern, in the 1700s after being introduced to the pecan by Native Americans. Others believe pecan pie got its start in Alabama but this claim is unsupported by written recipes or printed literature. Of course, it’s not hard to believe many Southerners would love to lay claim to being the inventor of pecan pie.
Following the Civil War, commercial developers brought in a few varieties of pecans to grow in Georgia, which is now the main commercial grower of pecans in the U.S. Grafted pecan trees also became prevalent in Louisiana in the mid- to late-1800s. The name of the nut itself is derived from the French word ‘pacane,’ which is taken from the Algonquian word for ‘nut.’
The first printed pecan pie recipe surfaced in an 1886 edition of “Harper’s Bazaar” magazine. Years later, various forms of the recipe were published in well-known cookbooks such as “Joy of Cooking.” Throughout the early 1900s, Karo corn syrup was invented and yet another claim to the discovery of pecan pie emerged. The wife of a company executive shared her recipe using Karo as the ingredient of choice instead of maple syrup, honey, or molasses. Whether her claim is true, Karo corn syrup helped raise the popularity of pecan pie when they published the recipe on the product can.
While most hold the perception that pecan pie remains a Southern dish, in reality, its popularity has swept across the U.S. with regions taking on their own ingredient preferences. Pecan pie holds a place in the Thanksgiving trinity of pies — pumpkin, pecan, and apple — most frequently enjoyed by families during this holiday. Due to this, many also consider pecan pie a dessert to savor during the fall- and winter months.
