The Kentucky Derby takes place today! What a great day to make
Kentucky Derby Pie! Over the past few years, I've posted several
chocolate recipes that are perfect for
Kentucky Derby Parties. I have more than one recipe for
Derby Pie, the traditional
chocolate, nut, bourbon pie, so here's a re-post of the three most popular --plus a
Pie in a Jar to take to your
Kentucky Derby party!
Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Walnut Pie has been served at the annual
Derby Horse Race
for over 60 years. It was a special recipe that was first made at the
Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky. * Note: You can't legally call it a
"Derby Pie" recipe. The name "Derby Pie" is trademarked, and the
owners of the name are very aggressive protecting the name "Derby
Pie." DyingforChocolate.com is not a commercial site, but to be safe, I'm calling it
Kentucky Derby Pie. Similar Pies to the one above are sometimes called
Brownie Pie or
Tollhouse Pie, but it's really
Derby Pie. There have been many modifications over the years, but the most important ingredient is
Kentucky Bourbon.
I'd love
to hear about your favorite Kentucky Derby Pie. Do you use Pecans or
Walnuts? How much chocolate? What kind? How much Bourbon? What kind?
1. Kentucky Derby Chocolate Pecan Pie
Ingredients
1 pie crust (
homemade or store bought)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup light corn syrup
4 large eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup Kentucky Bourbon
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1-1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, shelled and chopped in half
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll crust out.
In large mixing bowl, on medium speed with whisk attachment, whip
butter, sugars, corn syrup, eggs, vanilla, and bourbon together until
frothy.
Remove bowl from mixer, and fold in chocolate chips and pecans or walnuts. Blend well.
Pour into prepared pie crust and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until set.
Serve warm or cool completely before serving with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
2. Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Walnut Pie
Ingredients
1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar (1/2 brown/1/2 white)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
2-4 Tbsp Kentucky bourbon (it's a matter of taste)
1 cup chopped English walnuts (
you can vary this by using pecans)
1-1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped dark chocolate)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
dash of salt
1 - 9 " deep-dish pie shell (pre-made crust or make your own)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix
flour and sugar.
Add eggs and melted butter; mix to combine.
Stir
in bourbon, walnuts, chocolate chips, vanilla, and salt.
Pour
mixture into unbaked piecrust.
Bake for 35-40 minutes.
Pie should be chewy
but not runny.
Another variation: don't add the
chocolate chips to the mix: Arrange them on the bottom of the unbaked
pie shell. Pour over chocolate chips and bake.
***
Several years ago my friend Janet Appel sent me this recipe. Leave it to someone from Kentucky to make the 'real' thing. I miss Janet. She was the quintessential Kentucky belle.
3. Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie
(Originally called Derby Pie)
FROM ENTERTAINING THE LOUISVILLE WAY--QUEEN’S DAUGHTERS 1969
Ingredients
1 stick melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
4 eggs beaten
1 Tbsp Wild Turkey Bourbon
1 cup whole pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1- 9 or 10 inch unbaked pie shell
Directions
Mix above ingredients and pour into pie shell.
Bake for 45 to 50
minutes until fairly firm at 350 degrees.
Let cool and set up before
serving.
Garnish with sweetened whipped cream.
Note from Janet Appel:
We soak the pecans in bourbon over night and use a jigger of bourbon.
We still add the tablespoon of bourbon to the mixture. White corn
syrup is Karo.
***
No time to bake? Going to a Kentucky Derby Party? You can assemble and take this Kentucky Derby Pie Mix in a Jar!
For this recipe, I substitute
Bourbon for the vanilla in the directions. You can always write vanilla (
or Bourbon optional) on your recipe gift card.
4. Kentucky Derby Pie in a Jar!
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar (
or use half brown and half granulated)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup coursely chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Directions:
Pour sugar into lightweight food storage bag. Tie bag and cut off some of the excess and fit bag into bottom of a 1 quart wide-mouth canning jar.
Pour in half of nuts, then put in layer of chocolate chips, and then add remaining nuts.
Into food storage bag, add flour and pinch of salt.
Tie with twine or ribbon and cut off excess plastic bag end, if necessary.
Fit into the top of jar and screw on top.
Directions for gift tag or label:
Kentucky Derby Pie in a Jar!
Here's what to add:
Ingredients:
1 9-inch pastry shell, unbaked
4 ounces melted sweet butter
2 large eggs
1 tsp Bourbon
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°.
Remove bag of flour from jar; set aside.
Pour nuts and chocolate chips into pie shell, spreading evenly.
In small mixing bowl, whisk 2 eggs.
Remove sugar bag and empty sugar and flour bags into bowl, stirring to blend well.
Whisk in 1 tsp Bourbon or splash more (
or vanilla) and 4 ounces melted butter. Blend well.
Pour batter evenly over nuts and chocolate chips.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until nicely browned.
Chill thoroughly before cutting.
Serve with whipped cream.
