Pecan pie may be the quintessential American dessert. After all, the pecan nut is native to North America, where it’s beloved for its versatility. It can be eaten raw, roasted, salted or sweetened. The earliest pecan pie can be traced all the way back to the late 1800s, but it really peaked in the early 20th century when Karo syrup printed a pecan pie recipe on its bottles. Officially dubbed “sugar pie,” most pecan pie recipes now call for some sort of corn syrup or molasses, in addition to sugar.