There are some people who seem to leave a little more sweetness wherever they go. Dolly Parton was one of them.

This month, as we celebrate Dolly’s extraordinary life and legacy, it feels only fitting to gather around something warm, comforting and generously topped with chocolate. After all, Dolly gave us far more than unforgettable songs. She gave us laughter, wisdom, kindness and a beautiful reminder that we never have to make ourselves smaller to make others comfortable.

Our recipe comes from Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals—A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food, the cookbook Dolly created with her sister Rachel Parton George. Filled with treasured recipes, family stories and plenty of sisterly warmth, the book feels less like a formal collection of dishes and more like an invitation to pull up a chair at the Parton family table.

And what better way to accept that invitation than with chocolate cobbler?

Warm from the oven, this old-fashioned Southern dessert creates its own rich chocolate sauce beneath a tender, cake-like topping. We added walnuts for a little crunch and finished it with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. As the ice cream begins to melt into the warm chocolate, every spoonful becomes wonderfully gooey, creamy and comforting.

I had hoped to shape the ice cream into one of Dolly’s beloved butterflies. It did not happen (for obvious reasons) —but believe me, I wanted it to! Perhaps that is fitting, too. Dolly always understood that life did not have to look perfect to be meaningful, memorable or filled with joy.

So, turn on your favorite Dolly song, bring out the good spoons and serve this cobbler while it is still warm. Share it with someone you love, tell a favorite story and raise a sweet little toast to a woman whose light, humor and generous spirit touched generations.

Because when we remember Dolly Parton, there should always be music in the room, kindness at the table—and something chocolate for dessert.

Dolly Parton’s Chocolate Cobbler

Recipe from Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals—A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Place the butter in an 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish. Put the dish in the oven as it preheats, allowing the butter to melt. Watch it carefully so it does not brown.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together ¾ cup of granulated sugar and ¼ cup of cocoa powder. Set the topping mixture aside.
  4. In a larger bowl, combine the self-rising flour, remaining 1 cup of granulated sugar and remaining 1½ tablespoons of cocoa powder. Add the milk and vanilla, then stir until the batter is smooth.
  5. Carefully remove the hot baking dish from the oven. Spoon the batter evenly over the melted butter. Do not stir.
  6. Sprinkle the reserved sugar-and-cocoa mixture evenly over the batter.
  7. Slowly pour the boiling water over the entire dish. Do not stir.
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is set and the edges are bubbling with rich chocolate sauce underneath.
  9. Allow the cobbler to rest for approximately five minutes. Spoon it into bowls while still warm and top with vanilla ice cream. Finish with chopped walnuts or pecans, if desired.

Serving Suggestion

Serve the cobbler HOT and right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts.

Want to bring more of Dolly and Rachel’s favorite dishes to your own table? Pick up a copy of Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals—A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food, filled with treasured recipes, family stories and plenty of Parton warmth.

Penguin Random House — official publisher page

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