Greek Walnut Pie

NcMysteryShopper's Note:

A honey-lemon syrup is poured over this nutty pie after baking, creating a new twist on baklava. Recipe created by Maria E. Irvine a Pillsbury Bake-Off 41 Contestant.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

Pie

• 1 (15 ounce) box pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts , softened as directed on box
• 2 ½ cups finely chopped walnuts
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup butter or ¾ cup margarine , melted, cooled
• ¾ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Topping

• ½ pint heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 325°F Spray 9-inch glass pie pan with cooking spray. Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie using sprayed pie pan.
2. In medium bowl, mix walnuts, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and the cinnamon. Pour and evenly spread 1/4 cup of the cooled melted butter over bottom of pie crust. Spread walnut mixture evenly over butter. Drizzle another 1/4 cup butter over nut mixture.
3. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut large slits in several places in top crust for steam to escape. Drizzle remaining 1/4 cup butter evenly over top crust.
4. Bake at 45 to 55 minutes or until golden brown. About 5 minutes before removing pie from oven, in 1-quart saucepan, cook honey and lemon juice over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture has a watery consistency.
5. Remove pie from oven; place on wire rack. Slowly pour hot honey mixture evenly over top of hot pie, making sure it seeps into slits in top crust. Cool at least 3 hours before serving.
6. Just before serving, in small bowl with electric mixer, beat topping ingredients on high speed about 2 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Spoon topping onto individual servings of pie.

Reviews

[BtNugget]

Great pie recipe. Very rich and I even left off the topping!! I added 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/8 tsp ground cloves for a more traditional baklava flavor, but this recipe is wonderful as written. You will be amazed at how much it tastes like baklava---but so much easier.

[FoodieFanatic]

This was the happy ending to my Greek themed dinner!!! We all loved it! This is the ultimate in a dessert as far as I am concerned. You had me sold on the first bite! I served with a scoop or two of French Vanilla ice cream and it was divine! I can't wait to share this with family and friends.

[Daniel'sWife]

I've made this twice now. It is delicious, and easy! I doubled the recipe, using four pie crusts, and prepared it in a casserole dish to serve as dessert bars for a larger group. Turned out great - a crowd pleaser.