Southern Brown Sugar Pie Recipe, Must Try Dessert (2024)

ByCourtney Whitmore

JUMP TO RECIPE

If you have never tried Southern Brown Sugar Pie, you are in for a treat! It’s an easy pie that’s full of rich, brown sugar flavor!

Southern Brown Sugar Pie Recipe, Must Try Dessert (1)

Southern Brown Sugar Pie

It recently came to my attention that brown sugar pie is not a commonly known dessert. “What?!”, I thought! The world doesn’t know about BROWN SUGAR PIE?! Well I intend to change that, one Pizzazzerie reader at at time. This pie is a family tradition that my mother made for every holiday, her parents made for every holiday, and generations back.

Southern brown sugar pie is very similar to chess pie but yet, so different. The rich brown sugar flavor and caramelizingon top is just.so.good. It’s hands down my favorite pie (even over my red velvet fudge pie, which is saying a lot).

Now I’m not saying it’s a gorgeous “look at me” pie. It’s simple-looking, plain jane, ho-hum. But watch out because there is a reason it’s the first dessert gone at holidays. The crispy caramelized crust on topis my favorite part. Then the ooey gooey brown sugar inside is so delicious.

Now you can give it a little extra pizzazz with some whipped cream or butter pecan ice cream but know that it doesn’tneed it as it’s stand-alone amazing. I also love that it only has a few ingredients (ingredients I often have on hand anyway) so it’s perfect for a last-minute dessert too! I might even make it into mini pies this year to give as gifts!

I’m so thankful for ALL of the readers that have shared their photos of the brown sugar pie, emailed to tell me how much their families love this pie, and those who have tagged me on social media to share pies.

It’s clearly a little hidden gem of a recipe that doesn’t necessarily look like it would be the “winning dessert” but in my family, it absolutely is!

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

“Thank you so much. The pie turned out just wonderful! This is hands down a new family favorite. My kiddos said it is better than birthday cake! (Which to them is better than anything else)” – Brittney

Southern Brown Sugar Pie Recipe, Must Try Dessert (3)

Your oven may take longer to cook, so just watch it. It will still “set up” once it cools but try to be sure your brown sugar pie is slightly firm before bringing out of the oven. I hope you’ll try it this year! It’s definitely a delicious southern tradition that would be a tragedy to never taste, especially if you have brown sugar.

My husband’s grandmother says it reminds her of a pecan pie (without pecans) so if you like pecan pie, you’ll definitely love this one too! And because it’s thin, you’re totally allowed to have two pieces. Enjoy!

Southern Brown Sugar Pie

While our original family recipe yields two pies, I have adjusted this recipe to one pie in my new book, The Southern Entertainer’s Cookbook. Follow the recipe for two pies below or if you only want one, I recommend following the adjusted recipe for 1 in my new book.

If you want to make your own homemade pie crust, I recommend THIS recipe!

More Desserts to Try

  • Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie
  • Chocolate Chess Pie
  • Homemade Brownies (from Scratch)

Southern Brown Sugar Pie Recipe, Must Try Dessert (4)

Southern Brown Sugar Pie

Author: Courtney Whitmore

A delicious southern favorite, this brown sugar pie is delicious!

SERVINGS 16 slices

Print Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 pound light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter - melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 pie crusts

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Prepare each pie pan with pie crust.

  • Lightly whisk together eggs and add in sugar, butter, and vanilla. You don't want to over-beat your pie filling.

  • Pour pie filling into each pie pan. Bake pies on middle rack of oven for 45-55+ minutes or until golden brown. Update: It might need longer based on oven temperatures. Check to see that pie is baked through (if you move it slightly, it shouldn't jiggle).

  • Note: You may need to loosely place aluminum foil around pie crust edges to prevent them from getting too brown. I often allow it to cool and then refrigerate it to set up further. Then I warm slightly before serving. Remember, this makes TWO pies.

Notes

You may need to cook your pie longer, but know that it will set up while cooling! This recipe yields TWO pies.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 107mgPotassium: 69mgSugar: 27gVitamin A: 220IUCalcium: 34mgIron: 0.9mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Southern Brown Sugar Pie Recipe, Must Try Dessert (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 2 most important thing when making pie crust? ›

#2—Add cold water

Add the ice water gradually to the dough, about one tablespoon or so at a time, and stop when the dough is just moist enough to hold together when a handful is squeezed.

What kind of molasses to make brown sugar? ›

Light or dark molasses work well for most baking projects, but seek out unsulphured molasses for the purest flavor. If you don't have molasses on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of pure maple syrup, agave nectar, date syrup, or a dark honey (like buckwheat) in the homemade brown sugar recipe above.

How long does homemade brown sugar last? ›

Storing. Air will dry out the brown sugar and make it hard, so for best results store in an airtight container. I like to store mine in a Ziploc bag and press out as much of the excess air as I possibly can. Brown sugar will keep for months, if not longer.

What country is sugar pie from? ›

Sugar pie is a dessert in northern French and Belgian cuisine, where it is called tarte au sucre. It is also popular in Canada. Various type of tarte au sucre are made.

Is pie crust better with butter or crisco? ›

My preferred fat for pie crusts will always be butter. To me, it is all about flavor, and no other fat gives flavor to a crust like butter does. Other fats, even though they have great pros, lack flavor,” De Sa Martins said. “The more flavorful the butter, the more flavor your pie crust will have,” Huntsberger added.

What is the secret to a great pie crust? ›

Start with chilled ingredients

Butter creates a sturdy, crisp pie crust. For this, it is important to keep all ingredients cold which will inhibit the development of gluten in the flour. Use butter right out of the refrigerator and add ice-cold water to make the dough.

Can you freeze brown sugar to make it last longer? ›

The quality of brown sugar is best when consumed within six months of purchase and opening. Don't store brown sugar in the refrigerator. However, if you are in a very dry area or are going to keep it for a long time, you may want to freeze it. Thaw frozen sugar and use a fork to separate clumps before using.

Does homemade brown sugar taste better than store-bought? ›

Avoid the hassle and make your own Brown Sugar instead! Plus, it tastes better than store-bought anyway. After making this Homemade Brown Sugar, you may stop buying it at the store. It is a pantry staple that adds a deep and bold caramel flavor to any recipe.

What is another name for sugar pie? ›

It's also known as finger pie (you can mix it with your fingers), transparent pie, Hoosier pie and desperation pie (when fruit wasn't available or money was tight and you really wanted a piece of pie).

Are pies a Southern thing? ›

Pie is a staple of Southern life, a comfort food eaten at a communal table with extended family and friends. It also helps define the region's cuisine.

Do you reheat sugar pie? ›

Reheating Fruit pies, sugar cream pies, and other favorite pies- Wrap entire pie in aluminum foil and bake at 325-350 degrees for 20 minutes-60 minutes or until filling in middle of pie is warmed and top crust or topping is crispy. If you would prefer microwaving, allow pie to thaw first.

What are the 2 characteristics of a good pie crust? ›

The perfect pie crust is both flaky and tender. It has light flaky layers. A tender and golden brown crust that has flavor good enough to eat on its own. The layers of dough are distinct and clearly seen.

What is the most important rule when making pie crust? ›

PIE DOUGH RULES

As important as not overmixing is staying chilled, literally!! That means keeping all elements cold— your counter, ingredients, hands, heart (just kidding!). No, but seriously, cut up your butter into little cubes and chill them before you incorporate them into the flour.

What are 2 pointers for successful rolling of pie dough? ›

Two key pointers to keep in mind when rolling dough: First, always work with well-chilled pastry; otherwise, the dough will stick to the counter and tear. Second, never roll out dough by rolling back and forth over the same section; each time you press on the same spot, more gluten develops that can toughen the dough.

What are the two main components of pie? ›

While both pie and tarts are (usually) desserts with two main components, a baked crust, and a filling, there are a few marked differences between the two and some careful things to consider when making either, like choosing ingredients and deciding when and where to serve them.

References

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