Kentucky’s foodie credentials were never in doubt — the Bluegrass State is well known for its delicious culinary traditions, like mint juleps and astounding piles of brisket at the Kentucky Derby, to say nothing of being the place where most bourbon originates. A lesser-known Kentucky export is sawdust pie, a confection with an unfortunate name that, if you can get past it, packs big taste. Sawdust pie isn’t especially well-known outside the South, but it deserves far greater recognition as a worthy contender on your holiday dessert table or simply for everyday treats. And no, there are no actual byproducts of woodworking to be found inside it!
Sawdust pie was the brainchild of Patti Tullar, cofounder of Patti’s 1880 Settlement complex in Kentucky. Tullar served the pie at one of the restaurants there, and it got its name from the fact that her children said that the surface of the pie resembled baked sawdust. It’s said to be a glorious mashup of more familiar treats like coconut pie, German chocolate cake, and pecan pie, thanks to its simple (but effective!) list of ingredients. This includes flaked coconut, chopped nuts, and graham cracker crumbs, which are held together by several egg whites and cooked in a previously blind-baked pie crust. After cooling, the pie is traditionally garnished with banana slices and a tower of thick, homemade whipped cream. The result is surprisingly cakey, moist, and dense and is all but guaranteed to become your new obsession.
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Variations on sawdust pie are plentiful and delicious
close-up of sawdust pie with coconut and nuts – The Cuisine Mile/Facebook
One of the most attractive qualities of sawdust pie, other than its innate deliciousness, is how versatile it is. For one thing, Southern cooks will quibble over the nuts you should put in the pie; some say it ought to be walnuts, which add a distinct, bitter savor, while others swear that pecans are the right move. There’s no wrong answer, so opt for whatever floats your boat. We’ve seen some bakers dress up their sawdust pie with the addition of vanilla extract, melted butter, dulce de leche, and chocolate chips, but none of these are strictly necessary. Adding salt or sugar to taste is also your prerogative. For the topping, social media users have tried dried pineapple, dates, or even apples to sub for the bananas, so consider those if the original fruit isn’t your thing. What you are looking for is texture and sweetness that complement the flavors in the pie.
We would go so far as to say that sawdust pie would be a hit with your other traditional Thanksgiving or holiday faves like pumpkin and pecan pies. It’s a hearty, filling dessert that’s a textural delight and is guaranteed to be like nothing else your family and loved ones have experienced. For our money, sawdust pie deserves a first-class ticket out of Kentucky obscurity and straight into your rotation of sweet recipes.
Read the original article on Foodie.
