National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day
August 20, Wednesday
Origins and background
- Pecan pie rose to national prominence in the early 20th century and was widely popularized in the 1930s through corn-syrup promotional recipes.
- Chocolate pecan pie likely evolved as a Southern variation, combining two favorites.
- Note: Some people loosely call similar pies “Derby pie,” but Derby-Pie is a trademarked walnut-and-chocolate pie from Kern’s Kitchen in Kentucky; chocolate pecan pie uses pecans.
How people celebrate
- Bake a chocolate pecan pie at home and share it with friends or coworkers.
- Visit a local bakery or diner known for Southern desserts.
- Experiment with regional twists (Texas pecans, bourbon, or dark chocolate).
- Pair with vanilla ice cream, lightly sweetened whipped cream, coffee, or bourbon.
Tips and variations
- Add-ins: 1–2 tbsp bourbon, a pinch of espresso powder, or orange zest.
- Sweetness balance: use bittersweet chocolate if you prefer a less-sweet pie.
- No-corn-syrup option: sub golden syrup, maple syrup, or a mix with honey.
- Dietary notes: contains tree nuts, eggs, and dairy. For a dairy-light version, use oil instead of butter and dairy-free chocolate.
- Storage: room temp 1–2 days, refrigerated up to 4 days, or freeze up to 3 months (wrap well).
Fun pecan facts
- Pecans are native to North America; the U.S. (notably Georgia, New Mexico, and Texas) is a leading producer.
- The pecan is the state tree of Texas.
- “Pecan” derives from an Algonquian-language word often glossed as “a nut requiring a stone to crack.”