Dolly Parton’s Walnut Pie Keeps Holiday Baking Simple and Sweet

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There’s nobody better at throwing an old-fashioned country Christmas than Dolly Parton. And her Christmases always include a walnut pie.

Dolly loves to share memories of celebrating the season with her eleven brothers and sisters at their home in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Their traditions included popcorn strings on the Christmas tree, lots of singing and her mother’s delectable holiday dishes. She continues making special moments at Christmastime for her family with her own traditions, like a decorated tree in every room and donning her collection of ugly Christmas sweaters (just like our ugly sweater cookies!). One Christmas tradition that hasn’t changed is baking up plenty of holiday treats.

The Dolly Parton walnut pie is a tender pie crust with a rich, sticky filling that’s similar to pecan pie. It’s topped with a layer of walnuts that become brown and crunchy once baked. This pie is a quick one to assemble and can even be baked a day or two ahead of time.

Dolly Parton Walnut Pie Recipe

Dolly shared her walnut pie recipe on her Facebook page. The 9-inch pie serves six to eight people.

Ingredients

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• 1 single-crust pie dough
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1-1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts
• Whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the pie crust

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Have a 9-inch pie plate ready (we love these gorgeous pie dishes). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. Move it to the pie dish and press the dough into place across the bottom and up the sides. Roll the edge of the dough under all around and crimp it. Hold the crust in the fridge while you make the filling.

Step 2: Blend the filling ingredients

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Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat the eggs well. Pour in the granulated sugar and blend it into the eggs. Next, pour in the corn syrup and beat the mixture again. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt. Finally, pour in the melted butter; beat the mixture until all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.

Step 3: Fill the pie

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Pour the egg and sugar mixture into the prepared pie crust. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the top to make an even layer that covers the filling.

Step 4: Bake

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Place the pie in the hot oven. Bake it for 10 minutes and then reduce the heat to 300°. Bake the pie for 45 minutes longer. Check the pie crust edge after 30 minutes: if it’s getting too brown, cover the crust edge with strips of foil. When the pie is finished, the nuts will be deeply browned and the filling will feel set to the touch. Move the pie to a cooling rack and let it cool completely.

Step 5: Serve!

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Serve slices of walnut pie at room temperature or cold. And don’t forget the finishing touch: Dolly says to serve slices with a generous “Dolly-up” of whipped cream. Here’s our recipe for homemade whipped cream.

Tips for Dolly’s Walnut Pie

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What can I use if I don’t have corn syrup?

Maple syrup can be used in place of corn syrup in this pie; best of all the flavor of maple pairs really beautifully with walnuts. Honey is another good substitute to use, and will also give the pie a unique flavor twist. If you happen to have the British favorite golden syrup in your pantry (made from sugar instead of corn) it can also be used in this pie.

Does it matter if I use store-bought or homemade pie crust?

Nope! Store-bought crusts are undeniably convenient, easy to handle and bake up reliably every time. (Our Test Kitchen pros tested several brands and here are their top pie crust picks.) However, if you love to make your own pie dough at home (like our butter pie crust) do use it here. The fresh, homemade flavor will shine with this sweet pie filling.

Can I bake this pie in a cast-iron skillet?

Yes! Cast-iron skillets are excellent at conducting heat, which helps pie crust brown evenly across the bottom. Use a 9-inch cast iron skillet for this pie. Because it’s a little deeper than a pie dish, use a slightly larger portion of pie dough so that there’s enough to cover the sides. Place the pan near the bottom of your oven to help the metal heat up quickly.