Want to take your holiday festivities to the next level? Just add Dolly Parton’s famous recipes to your culinary lineup and watch your guests go from smiles to pure elation. The Queen of Country isn’t just known for her iconic voice, vibrant personality, and giving heart. She’s also a whiz in the kitchen. Here are four Dolly recipes that will make your holiday season simply unforgettable.
Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
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Pimento Cheese Sandwiches are a delightful bite that’s both savory and creamy. These sandwiches pay homage to Dolly’s southern roots with their perfect blend of cheese, pimentos, and spices. Serve them as appetizers or enjoy them as a light lunch, and they will undoubtedly be a big hit.
To make these sandwiches, mix two cups of shredded cheddar cheese, eight ounces of cream cheese, and two heaping tablespoons of mayonnaise. Combine all those ingredients in a bowl, then add three tablespoons of diced dill pickles and two tablespoons of pimentos.
Grate a hardboiled egg into the bowl as well and give it all a good mix. Salt and pepper to taste before putting a massive dollop between two slices of quality white bread. Whether you leave the crusts on or off is your choice, but Dolly cuts them off.
Five-Layer Casserole
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If you’d like to enjoy your company to the fullest without spending all day in the kitchen, the Five-Layer Casserole is the way to go. Each layer is filled with bright, bold flavors that meld together to create a symphony of deliciousness. It’s the kind of dish that warms the soul while filling the belly, making it perfect for chilly holiday evenings.
To create this casserole, brown one pound of lean ground beef. Also, peel three large russet potatoes and cut them into thin slices. After that, dice two large onions and one to two green bell peppers. You’ll also need a 15-ounce can of chopped tomatoes, or you can dice two fresh tomatoes instead.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, grease your 9 by 13-inch baking dish with butter. Build your casserole by putting an even layer of sliced potatoes on the bottom of your baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle on the salt and pepper.
On top of that, add a layer of beef, followed by onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Salt and pepper between each layer. Repeat until you’re out of ingredients
Once that’s assembled, cover the pan in foil and then bake for two hours. Let the casserole sit for at least 10 minutes after coming out of the oven to set up for easy slicing.
Biscuits
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If you’d like to pair your casserole with a delightful side, whip up a batch of Dolly’s fluffy buttermilk biscuits. They’re golden on the outside and soft on the inside, making them a must-have for any holiday meal. You can also use them for biscuits and gravy breakfast or top them with butter and jam for dessert.
You’ll make this biscuit recipe by mixing all-purpose flour, one tablespoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, and one teaspoon of salt. Then, cut five tablespoons of lard into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add one cup of buttermilk to the bowl and gently fold the mixture until combined. You’ll likely need to use your hands to combine the ingredients. Add a little extra flour if the dough feels too sticky.
Once you have a soft dough, knead it for two minutes using a floured surface. Put the dough in plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, then roll your dough to 1/2-inch thick.
Use a two-inch biscuit cutter or a glass to cut the dough into rounds. Put the rounds on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes or until they’re puffed up and browned.
25-Pound Apple Pie
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The 25-pound Apple Pie is a showstopper, for sure. This sweet treat never fails to end the meal on a high note. It’s overflowing with spiced apples, elevating the flaky, golden crust to great heights. And it’s big enough to serve all of your family, friends, and even the neighbors, too.
If you want to buy it premade, it’s available for $225 from Spotlight Bakery in Dollywood. It even comes with a cast iron skillet, giving you a keepsake unlike any other.
Prefer to bake it yourself? You’ll need the biggest cast iron skillet on the market and 50 apples to start. You may also need to play around with the recipe a bit because the team at Dollywood keeps all the exact measurements a secret.
Kick off the creation process by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Then, peel, core, and slice all your apples. Toss them in a mixture of brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and flour until fully coated. Pour in a stick or more of melted butter and toss again. Place the apples to the side and whip up your favorite pie dough.
Line the bottom of the cast iron skillet with the dough and pour your apple filling inside. Press the apples down firmly to create a well-formed filling that keeps its shape when cut through. Use the rest of your pie dough to make a lattice over the top of the apple filling.
Roll in the edges to seal up the pie, then bake in the oven for three hours. You’ll know it’s done when the crust is golden brown and the filling bubbles through the lattice. Let it rest for a few hours before serving to ensure the filling sets upright.
With just these four recipes, you can easily feed a crowd lunch and dinner without breaking a sweat. But for even more decadence, ask your guests to bring their own favorite dishes as well. This will round out the holiday spread and create a memorable feast with leftovers for everyone.
