Name: Molasses Pecan Pie
Ingredients: 4 eggs beaten; ¾ cup brown sugar; ½ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup light corn syrup; ¾ cup molasses; 1 tablespoon butter, melted; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1½ cups pecan halves; 2 unbaked pie crusts

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 ↓

Molasses Pecan Pie

Oven400°F, then 350°F

Time45 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

Prepare

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Make the filling

Mix eggs, sugar, salt, corn syrup, molasses, butter and vanilla.
Add pecans and pour into prepared pie shells.

Bake and serve

Place in oven and immediately reduce heat to 350°F.
Bake for 45 minutes then cool before serving.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

396Calories

10 gProtein

20 gFat

46 gCarbs

Counts 8 of 10 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 8 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Butter	1 tbsp (14g)	102
Egg	1 large egg (50g)	78
Corn	1/2 cup kernels (82g)	77
Molasses	1 tbsp (20g)	58
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.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

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 pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together5,842 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Syrup + molassestop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together272 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Sugar + vanillatop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikelow

Cooked together35,032 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Corn + vanillatop 9% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together1,943 recipes

Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
Sugar + molassestop 11% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together9,225 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

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: Bind the filling and help it set into a firm custard as it bakes.
Light corn syrup: Adds sweetness and a smooth, syrupy body that keeps the filling moist.
Molasses: Adds deep flavor and dark color, and contributes to the filling's sweetness.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moisture, and helps the filling brown as it bakes.
Pecan halves: Add crunchy texture and nutty flavor as they toast in the filling.

The step that matters

Place in oven and immediately reduce heat to 350°F.. Starting hot and then lowering the temperature helps the crust begin to set while the sugary, egg-rich filling cooks gently. Staying at a high heat would risk over-browning the top and curdling the eggs before the center sets.

“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.