Taste of the Sweet Life with this Unique Chocolate Chip Pie Recipe

I am a recovering perfectionist. When I met my husband, Rick, I would make my kitchen spotless every day. Everything had to be in its perfect place. I’m sure he began questioning what he had gotten himself into. After 18 years of marriage, having boys, and building an emPIEr together, I don’t have time for perfection. I’ve had to learn to rise above it, because the Lord has something better for me. Of course, I struggle still, but I see that seeking constant perfection keeps me in a loop of failure. The Lord doesn’t want me to strive for perfection; He wants me to thrive in relationships with Him and others.

What does this have to do with pie? I didn’t go to college or culinary school; I learned everything about business and baking through trial and error, which was a path I didn’t pick. But God. I was struggling one day with where the Lord had me after He had just released Rick and me from the café. I believed I had nothing to offer the world. A friend reminded me to take what I had learned—skills, talent, and experiences—and put my creative spin on it. I remembered the recipes, events, and signature pies that I had been a part of, and while they weren’t perfect, they were just right. They had carried me to right here, exactly where the Lord wanted me. When we surrender all our control, fears, and perfection to Him and walk in our calling, He will bring the people to cheer us on and buy the pie. Even if it’s not perfect in my eyes, it’s perfect in His.

Tara’s Chocolate Chip Pie

Bud’s Chocolate Chip Pie was the first pie my dad made on his own and put on the menu at the café all those years ago. It was a favorite with fans for years. When God released me from my duty at the café, I believed I had nothing to offer the world and wondered, “Who the heck would hire me?” I was sharing with a friend, and she told me, “Take what you have learned, walk in your giftings, and put your own creative spin on it!” That’s what I did when creating Tara’s Chocolate Chip Pie.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie

Bake Time: 35 to 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 (1 lb.) Royers dough ball or 9-inch unbaked pie shell

1⁄3 cup butter, melted

1⁄3 cup shortening

2⁄3 cup brown sugar

2⁄3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vinegar

⅛ tsp. almond extract

1½ tsp. vanilla

1⁄3 tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking soda

11⁄3 cup flour

1 cup chocolate chips

2⁄3 cup pecan pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Roll out the dough ball until it is ¼ inch thick and lay it in a 9-inch pie pan. Press the pie dough into the base of the pie pan and crimp the edges with your two forefingers. In a stand mixer, cream butter, shortening, brown sugar, and sugar. Add the egg, vinegar, almond extract, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the salt, baking soda, and flour. Scoop the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until blended. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Pour ingredients into pie crust and press into pie shell. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.

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Photo by Tara Royer Steele.