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

ByCourtney Whitmore

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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)

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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 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.

Do you put sugar on pie crust before or after baking? ›

Without the egg wash, the pie crust will brown but will look extremely dull. For a little sparkle, I always sprinkle pies with coarse sugar prior to baking. Gives the top a lovely sweet crunch and looks pretty, too.

Do you always pack brown sugar in a recipe? ›

Packing brown sugar is a crucial component in making a consistent baking measurement. Packing brown sugar presses out all of those small pockets of air that get trapped between the sticky sugar granules, and in-turn will ensure that your sweet treat comes out as just that—sweet!

What makes a dessert a pie? ›

Pie: an individually baked pastry, typically with a top and base of pastry dough that has been rolled flat and then shaped into a round or square shape. The filling covers the crust and can be sweet or savory.

What is the history of brown sugar pie? ›

The famous dessert reportedly originated in the 1850s in resourceful Amish communities in Indiana. According to What's Cooking America, the pie consisted of only four simple ingredients: brown sugar, flour, heavy cream, and an 8-inch pie crust at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

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).

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

Do you put holes in pie crust before baking? ›

To fully prebake the crust, prick the bottom all over with a fork to prevent bubbles.

Is butter or shortening better for pie crust? ›

Butter for flakiness and flavor, and shortening for its high melting point and ability to help the crust hold shape. You can use butter-flavor shortening if desired. If you want to skip the shortening, feel free to try this all-butter pie crust instead.

What happens if you don't pack brown sugar? ›

One cup of packe brown sugar weighed 7.80 ounces, versus 4.75 ounces if I spoon the brown sugar into the measuring cup and don't pack it. So not packing your brown sugar can result in a 30-40% reduction.

What if I don't have enough brown sugar for recipe? ›

Combining white sugar with molasses may be a better brown sugar substitute, but if you don't have molasses, other liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar will work as well. You should mix a tablespoon or two of the liquid sweetener into a scant 1 cup of white sugar to replace a cup of brown sugar.

Does a pie have to have a top? ›

Some eateries advertise pie, but it is a bowl of filling with just a lid. A Pie has pastry base, sides and most importantly - a lid. Without a lid it is a 'Flan' or a 'Tart' depending on the content being savoury or sweet.

What is a pie with no base called? ›

Pies that have a pastry lid - but not pastry sides and bottom - are known as 'pot pies' and many people believe they aren't actually real pies at all.

What makes a pie a pie and not a cake? ›

The main difference for a baker, is that pies are made with pastry and cakes are made with sponges. The techniques, ingredients and methods for making these are very different.

Who invented sugar pie? ›

Sugar Cream Pie or Sugar Pie – Believed to have originated from the Amish and Shaker communities.

Where did sweet pies originate? ›

Historians trace pie's initial origins to the Greeks, who are thought to be the originators of the pastry shell, which they made by combining water and flour. The wealthy Romans used many different kinds of meats, even mussels and other types of seafood, in their pies.

Which country invented pie? ›

Historians trace pie's initial origins to the Greeks, who are thought to be the originators of the pastry shell, which they made by combining water and flour. The wealthy Romans used many different kinds of meats — even mussels and other types of seafood — in their pies.

What country is pie made in? ›

The history of the pie has its roots in ancient Egypt and Greece. The ancient Greeks ate pie (artocreas), though it was of the savory type with meat in an open pastry shell. The Romans may have been the first to create a pie that included a top and bottom crust.

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