You can’t say you’ve been to the Kentucky Derby without trying the popular Kentucky Derby Pie. And if you don’t plan on going to the derby, don’t worry, you can always bring this flavor to your home.
When we talk about the Kentucky Derby, most people think of luxury, premium ingredients and Michelin-starred dishes. Yes, the event may be prestigious, but the same cannot be said for the food.
The food at the Kentucky Derby captures the essence of Southern hospitality and culinary creativity. Most of the dishes come from the lower class and have become so popular that some names had to be protected.
Yes, we’re talking about the Kentucky Derby Pie, whose name is trademarked. At this point, you may be wondering: Who trademarks the name of a dish? – Well, this heartwarming dessert caught the attention of millions of people because of the Kentucky Derby and the creators wanted to protect it.
That means this is something special, right?
Let’s go over the recipe for the perfect Kentucky Derby pie and find out how to recreate the flavor without getting into legal trouble.
What makes Kentucky Derby Pie unique?
The Kentucky Derby Pie is characterized by its mix of crunchy nuts, velvety chocolate chips and a touch of whiskey, all embedded in a flaky pie crust.
It’s like any other cake, just with a dash of bourbon. The spirit adds depth to the taste and makes it something very special.
The idea is simple. You’ll enjoy a not-so-sweet dessert that’s an icon of the Kentucky Derby while you browse the live odds and betting favorites at the following link: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/odds/
Maybe the Kentucky Derby Pie will inspire you to choose the right horse to win the race.
Did you know? George Kern created the first Kentucky Derby Pie recipe in the 1950s at the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky. After becoming a Derby tradition, the cake’s popularity skyrocketed.
Ingredients Required for Kentucky Derby Pie
Before we begin, let’s gather the ingredients you’ll need to make your Kentucky Derby pie a showstopper:
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons bourbon (optional, but recommended for authentic Kentucky flavor)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 unbaked cake base
Why bourbon in Kentucky Derby pie?
Bourbon gives the cake a special depth of flavor, complementing the richness of the chocolate and the nuttiness of the pecans. It honors Kentucky’s storied bourbon-making heritage.
Fun Fact: Kentucky produces around 95% of the world’s bourbon, making it the birthplace of this popular American drink.
How to do the Kentucky Derby | Pie step-by-step instructions
Now that we’ve gathered all the ingredients, let’s focus on the hard part: combining all the ingredients into a delicious cake. Don’t be put off, it’s not that hard, especially if you buy a pre-made pie crust.
1. Preheat the oven to 175°C.
2. In a mixing bowl, add chopped pecans, chocolate chips, flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Mix well to achieve an even distribution of the components.
3. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, bourbon (optional), vanilla extract, and eggs until well blended.
4. Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Spread the mixture evenly over the unbaked cake base.
6. Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, until the filling is set and the crust is golden brown.
7. Allow the cake to cool before cutting to give it a firmer consistency.
Serving suggestions
If you want to take it a step further, top your Kentucky Derby pie with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s the ideal way to enhance an already delicious dish.
Pro tip: Toast the nuts before adding them to the pie filling to improve their flavor profile. This adds a delicious nuttiness and crunch to every bite.
This is how you make your own cake base
Ingredients for the cake base:
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
• 2-4 tablespoons ice water
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.
2. Add the cooled butter cubes to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter.
3. Gradually add a tablespoon of ice water and mix gently with a fork. Stop adding water once the dough starts to come together.
4. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
5. Once the dough has cooled, take it out of the fridge and let it rest at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter, making sure it is large enough to fit into your cake pan with some overhang.
7. Carefully transfer the rolled out dough into your cake pan, gently pressing it into the bottom and sides. Trim excess dough from edges and fold as desired.
last words
As you can see, making the ultimate Kentucky Derby pie at home is easy and you don’t need to be an experienced chef to make this dish. This is the original recipe for the cake and there are many different variations.
You can always experiment by adding other ingredients as you like, but remember that this combination will always remind you of horses running around the racetrack.