Kentucky Chocolate Walnut Pie

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Vanilla: Extract Medium

A gooey, brownie-like filling of chocolate and toasted walnuts baked in a flaky crust. This is our own take on the classic Kentucky chocolate nut pie. Makes 8 slices in about 4 hr 15 min.

Prep 35 min

Cook 40 min

Cooling 3 hr

Total 4 hr 15 min

Yield 8 slices

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

Crust

1 ¼ cups (150 g)all-purpose flour
½ cup (100 g)cold unsalted butter, cubed
2 ½ tsp (10 g)granulated sugar
1 pinchsalt
3 tbsp (45 ml)ice water

Filling

½ cup (115 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
½ cup (60 g)all-purpose flour
2 (100 g)eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup (170 g)semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup (115 g)chopped walnuts, toasted
1 tsp (5 ml)vanilla extract
1 tbsp (15 ml)bourbon, optional

Fresh ingredient guides

WalnutsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 219 kcal per 30 g

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Instructions

Cut the butter into the flour, sugar and salt until pea-sized. Add the ice water a tablespoon at a time until the dough holds. Chill 1 hour.
Roll to a 12-inch (30 cm) circle, fit into a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate and crimp the edge. Freeze 15 minutes.
Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C).
Whisk the sugar and flour together, then the cooled butter, eggs, vanilla and bourbon until smooth.
Scatter the chocolate chips and walnuts in the shell and pour the filling over them.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is puffed and crackled and the center is just set. Cover the edge with foil if it darkens early.
Cool at least 1 hour before slicing; serve warm or at room temperature.

Tips

Toast the walnuts 8 minutes at 350 F for deeper flavor.
Cool the butter so the chips do not melt away.
A scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream goes well alongside.
Bake until the filling is set and reaches 160 F (71 C) in the center.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make kentucky chocolate walnut pie?

Plan on 35 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to chill. The recipe makes 8 slices.

How should I store kentucky chocolate walnut pie?

Cover and keep at room temperature 1 day, then refrigerate up to 4 days.

Can I make kentucky chocolate walnut pie ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Serve it with coffee.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

516 Calories / serving

32.6g Fat

50.6g Carbs

6.6g Protein

29.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~4128 cal · 261g fat · 405g carbs · 53g protein · 233g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.