Why it works: Sugar and syrup match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 5,842 recipes. Both carry ethanol, which smells alcoholic, ethereal. The science ↓
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Beat eggs until yellow and creamy in a large bowl.
Whisk in half-and-half, brown sugar, and corn syrup until smooth.
Stir in bourbon, chocolate chips, and pecans.
Oil a springform pan lightly.
Assemble and bake
Roll out pastry dough and press it into the pan, pressing out any air bubbles.
Pour mixture into the oiled springform pan.
Place the pie on a baking sheet with a raised edge or border.
Bake until only the center is slightly jiggly, about 2 hours.
Do not unmold pie until it is absolutely cooled, at least an hour later.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 5 of 8 ingredients. The other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | 1 oz (28g) semisweet | 155 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Corn | 1/2 cup kernels (82g) | 77 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Pecan | 1 half (4g) | 20 |
| Syrup | not in our table | 0 |
| Pastry | not in our table | 0 |
| Pie | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Sugar + syruptop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,842 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Sugar + chocolatetop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together15,404 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Syrup + chocolatetop 15% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,239 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Corn + chocolatetop 17% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together987 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Corn + syruptop 17% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,678 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Eggs
- Set the filling into a sliceable custard as they cook.
- Brown sugar
- Adds sweetness and moisture, and deepens the caramel flavor.
- Dark corn syrup
- Adds sweetness and a smooth, sticky body to the filling.
- Bourbon
- Adds aroma and a distinctive boozy flavor to the filling.
- Chocolate chips
- Melt into the filling, adding richness and chocolate flavor.
- Pecan pieces
- Add crunchy texture and toasty, nutty flavor as they bake.
The step that matters
Bake until only the center is slightly jiggly. Eggs set as they heat, so overbaking makes the filling tough and dry. The center keeps setting as it cools, so a slight jiggle is the right stopping point.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
The free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.
Chocolate Cream171 recipes
Corn Cake90 recipes
Corn Starch Cake89 recipes
Chocolate Cookies76 recipes