National Pecan Pie Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Pecans

We’re nuts about today’s honoree, July 12, which is National Pecan Pie Day. It is not difficult to support a day dedicated to one of our favourite delicacies. In fact, 90% of surveyed Americans believe that eating a slice of pie is one of life’s basic pleasures, consuming 186 million commercially sold pies annually! People who favour pecan pie over other types of pies typically describe themselves as thoughtful and analytical. We’re unsure if this still applies to those who add ice cream or whipped cream, but regardless, it’s time to celebrate the delectable dessert today!

The background of National Pecan Pie Day

National Pecan Pie Day’s origins are unknown, but we feel indebted to an unknown individual because we couldn’t agree more with the concept of honouring such a beloved dessert.

The origins of pecan pie’s lengthy, Southern history are highly debatable. Some believe that pecan pie was invented in New Orleans in the 1700s by French immigrants who settled in the South after Native Americans introduced them to pecans. Others assert that pecan pie originated in Alabama, but this assertion is not substantiated by written recipes or printed materials. It is not difficult to believe that many Southerners would like to stake claim to the invention of pecan pie.

After the Civil War, commercial developers introduced a few cultivars of pecans to Georgia, which is now the leading commercial pecan grower in the United States. During the mid- to late-1800s, grafted pecan trees also proliferated in Louisiana. The kernel’s name derives from the French word ‘pacane,’ which is derived from the Algonquian word for ‘nut.’

The first published pecan pie recipe appeared in the 1886 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. Variations of the recipe were subsequently published in renowned cookbooks such as “Joy of Cooking.” In the early 1900s, Karo maize syrup was created, and a new claim to the invention of pecan pie emerged. The wife of a company executive shared a recipe in which she substituted Karo for maple syrup, honey, or molasses. Whether or not her claim is accurate, Karo corn syrup contributed to the rise in popularity of pecan pie by including a recipe on the product can.

In spite of the widespread perception that pecan pie is still a Southern speciality, its popularity has spread throughout the United States, with regional variations in ingredient preferences. Pecan pie is one of the three pies — pumpkin, pecan, and apple — most commonly relished by families on Thanksgiving. Due to this, many also consider pecan pie an autumn- and winter-appropriate delicacy.

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5 FUN FACTS ABOUT PECANS

Pecan plants require twelve years to mature.

In optimal climate conditions, pecan trees can produce for hundreds of years after reaching maturity.

Native to North and Central America, the United States generates 80 percent of the world’s pecans.

Texas designated the pecan tree as its official state tree in 1919 and the pecan pie as its official state dessert in 2013.

There are over 1,000 pecan varieties.

NATIONAL PECAN PIE DAY DATES