The Unexpected Ingredient That Will Elevate Your Pecan Pie

Pecan pie isn't a pie that requires extreme precision. Unlike fruit pies, you don't have to worry about the filling being watery or the crust being soggy, and it's not technically challenging like a meringue pie either, where there's always that risk of the top deflating. With a pecan pie, you can easily play around with the flavors, whether it be mixing in chocolate and coffee or, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, adding ancho chili powder like Joanna Gaines does.

It's also full of ingredients that can be substituted. Even the pecans themselves can be swapped out for walnuts, Happy Muncher says, and the same applies to the other main ingredient, corn syrup. According to Millican Pecan, maple syrup, cane syrup, honey, brown rice syrup, and agave nectar all work in place of corn syrup. As the outlet shares, each of these alternatives will give your pecan pie the sweetness it needs. If you're wanting to actually elevate the flavor too, there's another corn syrup alternative you should consider instead.

Baking soda is probably the only type of soda that comes to mind when you're making any sort of baked good, but Southern Kitchen reveals Coca-Cola is just as important — at least when you're making pecan pie. Coca-Cola can be cooked down and reduced to a tasty syrup, and therefore can be used in place of corn syrup in a pecan pie recipe.

To make Coca-Cola syrup, per Flair Project's instructions, you'll need four liters of Coke (this recipe calls for Mexican Coke) and ¼ cup of white sugar. You can leave out the sugar if you want something more mild and less sweet, but adding the sugar will help the soda retain its beloved flavor. Heat the Coke and sugar on high, and once it begins to boil, lower to medium. After simmering for 20 to 25 minutes, the Coke should be reduced to a syrup. Once that syrup has cooled, you can go ahead and add it into your pecan pie as you would corn syrup.