Recipe: Chef Tonya Mays’ chocolate chip pecan pie

There’s no better way to kick off the holiday season than with Chef Tonya Mays’ dish. Happy cooking.

A closeup photo of a pecan pie

We’re always grateful for good desserts. | Photo provided by @_tonyamays

Table of Contents

Tis the season for steaming hot bowls of soup, warm gingerbread cookies, spiked eggnog, and time in the kitchen spent making memories that will last a lifetime. Enter: Chef Tonya Mays, the creative force behind Kismet in the Distillery District, with her mouthwatering recipe for Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie.

The dish emphasizes sweet flavors of the season like vanilla, chocolate, and nuts. Here’s everything you need to get started.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie
Makes one whole delicious pie.

Ingredients

For the filling

  • 1/2 c butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 c. Granulated sugar
  • 1/2 c All purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 c chocolate chips
  • 1 c chopped pecans

For the pie dough

  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick or 4 oz butter, cold and small chunks
  • 3 tablespoons water

Directions

For the pie dough

  • Mix together flour salt and sugar.
  • Work in butter until no more butter pieces are whole and it starts to look coarse.
  • Add water and form into a dough. Do not over mix.
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready for use.

For the filling

  • Whisk butter, sugar, flour, and eggs til smooth.
  • Add in vanilla, chocolate, and pecans.
  • Pour into unbaked pie shell
  • Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until set.

Still want Chef Tonya Mays to cook for you? Visit her at Kismet, located at The Burl Arcade, or give her a follow on Instagram to see what events and bake sales she has next.

More from LEXtoday
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Check out the co-working community that Lexington writers and New York Times bestsellers call home.
A guide to skating, skiing, and snow-filled fun close to home.
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts more than one million people nationwide to help record the bird population.
We’re just a bunch of weirdoughs diving head first into LEX’s must-try pizza shops including Goodfellas, Pearl’s Pizza Pie, and Rolling Oven.
Discover local homes that showcase the latest design and lifestyle trends for 2026. From colorful finishes to energy-smart features, these properties have it all.
Elevated Southern breakfast and lunch hits downtown Versailles. Chef Olivia Jackson leads the kitchen under award-winning Cole Arimes.
Sponsored
The Lexington Herald-Leader released its annual roundup of UK’s top earners and employee salary database. We’re breaking down the key takeaways from one of Lexington’s largest employers.
Sponsored