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 ↓
Pecan Pie
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the filling
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Beat eggs, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until smooth.
Blend in corn syrup, vanilla, and butter until uniform.
Stir in pecan halves.
Bake and serve
Pour the filling into the pie shell immediately after adding the pecans. If using a commercial pie crust, fill the shell up to the edge.
Put the pie in the oven and reduce the heat to 350 degrees.
Bake for 40–50 minutes, until a knife inserted halfway between the center and the edge comes out clean.
Let the pie cool before serving.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 7 of 9 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| 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 |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp extract (4ml) | 12 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Syrup | not in our table | 0 |
| Pie Crust | 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 + vanillatop 8% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together35,032 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Corn + vanillatop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,943 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Syrup + vanillatop 12% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,855 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Corn + buttertop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together7,345 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,3-pentanedione (butter, sweet).
Sugar and vanilla barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 35,032 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
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 firm, sliceable custard as they bake.
- Brown sugar
- Adds sweetness and caramel flavor and helps keep the filling moist.
- Light corn syrup
- Gives the filling a smooth, glossy texture and keeps it from crystallizing.
- Melted butter
- Adds fat for richness and a smooth, tender texture.
- Pecan halves
- Provide crunch and a toasty, nutty flavor throughout the filling.
The step that matters
Bake until the knife comes out clean. Eggs set as they heat, so underbaking leaves a runny center while overbaking can make the filling tough and cracked. Test a point halfway between center and edge for doneness.
“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.
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