Today I’m sharing my friend Sunny Busby’s prize-worthy Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan Pie, her version of “Toll House” Pie, which she first shared for my Home for the Holidays: Gluten-Free Style event. Admittedly, that was quite some time ago. As more sites tend to disappear over the years as individuals move on to other life goals, I’ve been slowly sharing the recipes here on gfe so they won’t be lost to you all. (Sunny still hosts her recipe site, And Love It, Too!, and also has a newer site, Busby Holistic., which will one day also feature all her recipes.)
Today being the day of the annual running of the Kentucky Derby and with “accepted” and varying recipes for the beloved Derby Pie being very close to Sunny’s own much-loved pie, I thought it was time to re-share her recipe. I hope you will agree!
Sunny wisely makes two of these amazing pies at a time!
Incidentally, there was a time that the original recipe appeared on the back of the bag of Toll House chocolate chips. It does not appear there any longer but you can still find the original recipe on Nestle’s website.
I had reached out earlier to ask Sunny if she had anything she wanted to add to her original post and she said: “I guess the most pertinent thing would be to mention that as a Clinical Nutritionist, when it comes to celebrations, holidays, etc., so long as you’re not allergic to anything in the dessert, my recommendation is to, “Eat the pie!”
I love that advice and could not agree more! I hope you will as well.
Here’s Sunny’s story from when she first shared this recipe.
How Today’s Version of Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan Pie, “Toll House” Pie, Was Created
“The year that I celebrated my first gluten-free holiday was an interesting one. Still very early in my gluten-free learning curve, the thought of creating or re-creating dishes that would keep my family from feeling deprived was simply overwhelming.
By this time, I had celebrated many holidays away from my family…away from the traditional dishes my mother would always make, away from the traditions of yesteryear and on to traditions of my own.
Because of my daughter’s milk allergy, I had long perfected a dairy-free pecan pie (a Southern staple) and was pleased to find that a gluten-free version was just as easy to make. As it is with many pie recipes, creating a gluten-free version simply meant changing the crust. From there, it was smooth sailing.
Looking back on this first gluten-free holiday of mine, there was one recipe that kept weighing on me.
My mother used to make this amazing chocolate-pecan pie she always called “Toll House Pie.” For whatever reason, it was not until my first year as a gluten-free person that I even slowed to ask her for the recipe.
Oddly enough, it was the idea that I would never be able to have this pie again that drove me to seek for more.
It took time, but by working closely with my mother, I was able to find the right ‘tweaks’ and create a pie that is identical to the one I remember from my youth.
Always the first of any pie to disappear from the family buffet, this pie pleases even the most gluten-loving individual.
Without further ado, I am pleased to introduce my gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free Toll House Pie.
May your home be filled with love and laughter all season long.
Happy Holidays! xoxo”
More Gluten-Free Holiday-Worthy and Celebration-Worthy Dessert Recipes
~ 30 Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies You’ll Want To Make Right Now (Part 1 of 3)
~ 30 Gluten-Free Recipes To Enjoy on Christmas Morning (or on Almost Any Special Day)
~ 30 More Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies You’ll Want To Make Right Now (Part 2 of 3)
~ 150 Totally Mom-Worthy Gluten-Free Brunch Recipes for Mother’s Day
~ The Best Gluten-Free Kentucky Derby Worthy Pies Plus, Bonus Cupcakes
~ The Best Gluten-Free King Cakes for Mardi Gras and Morev
~ Gluten-Free Cinco de Mayo Desserts (Even Last-Minute Options)
~ Yes, 30 More Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies You’ll Want To Make Right Now (Part 3 of 3)
Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan “Toll House” Pie Recipe (Also Grain Free and Dairy Free As Written)
Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan Pie, Toll House Pie (Grain Free and Dairy Free)
This gluten-free Chocolate Pecan Pie is Sunny's version of her mother's amazing Toll House Pie! It's not only gluten free but also grain free and dairy free as written.
Ingredients
- Easy-As-Pie Crust v2 (or your favorite gluten-free pie crust)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup coconut palm sugar (Shirley here: I’ve subbed in light brown sugar)
- ¾ cup organic, soy-free butter flavor palm shortening (Shirley here: I’ve subbed in butter or soy-free Earth Balance)
- ½ cup almond flour (Shirley here: I use finely ground blanched almond flour)
- 1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life chocolate chips) (Shirley here: I’ve subbed in other chocolate chips)
- 1 cup pecans (whole or chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In large mixing bowl, beat eggs.
- Cream in coconut palm sugar and shortening.
- Add almond flour and stir until smooth.
- Fold in chocolate chips and pecans.
- Pour into prepared crust and bake for 45-50 minutes.
Notes
Shirley here: For a non-grain-free version, you could also use my Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust, either the original version or the updated one.
Originally published May 2, 2026.
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