Kentucky Derby Pie
The Best Kentucky Derby Pie – Our Kentucky derby pie recipe includes just the right amount of bourbon and a rich, fluffy and delicious Salted Caramel Whipped Cream for the most amazing pecan pie with chocolate you’ve ever tasted!
Why We Love This Kentucky Derby Pie Recipe
If there was ever a pie recipe I would urge you to make this holiday season, or for your next Kentucky Derby party (obviously), it’s this one… Kentucky Bourbon Derby Pie with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream. *Drool!*
Classic derby pies are essentially nut pies with chocolate chips in the mix. Usually, the filling is made with either pecans or walnuts. Once baked, it sets in a gooey layer… The chocolate chips sink to the bottom creating a molten chocolate layer that oozes out from under the nuts. This is sweet southern perfection.
Here we are kicking up the deliciousness by adding boozy bourbon whiskey to the dark chocolate filling, and finishing the whole thing off with a luscious Salted Caramel Whipped Cream to balance the sweetness.
The beauty of our easy chocolate pecan pie recipe is that the filling takes just moments to mix: Dump the ingredients and stir. Then pour the filling into a pie crust and place it in the oven. It really is as easy as… Well, you know!
The only thing that could possibly make this pie even better is to bake it in, and serve it on, stunning porcelain-enameled serving pieces.
Wait. I did that!!
Shout Out to Barn Light Electric
Notice the stunning pie pan in the photos, and the charming two-tone plates? Or possibly the stackable mixing bowls??
They are made here in the states by Barn Light Electric. This Florida-based business specializes in handcrafted porcelain-enameled lighting, kitchenware, and home furnishings.
Barn Light’s kitchen collection is artisan-made, extremely sturdy, and can go from the freezer to the oven!
Barn Light makes gorgeous dinnerware, serving pieces, bakeware, mixing bowls, and cups that are wonderful holiday gifts for your favorite cook. Especially when they have everything else.
My current favorite Barn Light pieces are the nesting bowls, and their beautiful cake stand!
Ok, now LET’S BAKE!
Ingredients You Need
For the Bourbon Derby Pie:
- Homemade Pie Crust – or refrigerated roll-out dough
- Brown sugar – packed
- Flour – I use all-purpose flour
- Eggs – large, at room temperature
- Butter – unsalted butter
- Bourbon Whiskey – your favorite brand
- Vanilla extract – use a quality brand for the best flavor
- Salt – a bit to balance the sweetness
- Dark chocolate chips – for the most rich and decadent chocolate pecan pie filling
- Pecans – roughly chopped
For the Salted Caramel Whipped Cream:
- Heavy cream – don’t try to sub with half and half or milk
- Salted caramel sauce – at room temp or slightly warmed so it’s pourable
How To Make Chocolate Pecan Pie with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream
- Make The Pie Crust – Preheat the oven and roll out the dough into a circle, three inches wider than your pie plate. After you roll out the crust, carefully move the dough to the pan and fit it into the bottom of the pan. Crimp the edge and place the pie crust in the fridge.
- Make the Filling – Whisk together the the filling mixture in a large mixing bowl, stirring in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans last.
- Fill the Pie and Bake – Once the crust is very cold, pour in the filling and make sure that it is evenly spread in the crust. Place the pie on the lowest rack in the oven and bake until the center of the pie is firm and the top is golden, about 45 minutes. Then take the pie out of the oven and put it to the side to cool completely.
- Make the Whipped Cream – When you are ready to serve this pie, whip the heavy cream in a stand mixer or electric mixer until it forms stiff peaks. Then whip in some caramel sauce very lightly so you don’t lose all the air in the whipped cream.
Right before serving, scoop the whipped cream on top of the pie and spread until it is smooth. Finish off the pie by drizzling some salted caramel sauce over the top before cutting to serve.
Pro Tip: The Bourbon Derby Pie can sit out at room temperature for up to four days, without the whipped cream topping. Keep it well-covered. The texture is best warm or at room temperature. Only add the whipped cream on the day you plan to serve the pie.
Recipe Variations
- Pie Crust – You can use your favorite recipe for homemade pie dough, or simply use a store bought packaged pie crust.
- Gluten-free – Use your preferred GF pie crust and swap all-purpose flour for almond flour to make the chocolate pecan pie filling.
- Without Alcohol – You can substitute the alcohol with maple syrup or light corn syrup to make this a Kentucky bourbon pie recipe without alcohol. But note that this will yield a sweeter pie!
- Nuts – Use your choice of chopped pecans (like we do here) or walnuts.
- Whipped Cream – Feel free to use good-ol’ plain whipped cream if you prefer! You can even make it super easy on yourself and use canned whipped cream from the store.
- Served Hot – If serving the pie hot, add a dollop of whipped cream to each plate instead of spreading it over the top of the pie.
Get the Complete (Printable) Kentucky Derby Pie with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
A classic pecan pie is made entirely with chopped pecans and a sweet filling that usually includes corn syrup or other similar binder. This Kentucky derby pie recipe, however, also includes chocolate chips for a more decadent dessert.
This derby pie is typically served on its own, since it has all the good stuff in one slice! However, it would be delicious served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some crushed nuts for garnish!
When you are ready to store the pie, loosely cover it with foil or plastic wrap. It can stay in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Yes, you can make the pie portion the day before you want to serve it (even 2-3 days before you want to serve it!) Yet I would advise you to not add the whipped cream until you are ready to serve this pie.
Yes! Wrap it well in a two layers of plastic wrap and another layer of aluminum foil, and it can be kept in the freezer up to 6 months. Then thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.
Looking for More Pie Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
- Pecan Pie Bars (Caramel Bars) Recipe
- Caramel Apple Slab Pie Recipe
- Cinnamon Cream Pie with Brown Sugar Whipped Cream Recipe
- Fluffy Pumpkin Cream Pie Recipe
- Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
- Fluffy French Silk Pie Recipe
- Easy Pumpkin Slab Pie Recipe
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
Check out Barn Light’s brand new website for gift ideas! Also find Barn Light on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Houzz.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Barn Light Electric. All opinions are my own.
Kentucky Derby Pie
Video
Ingredients
For the Bourbon Derby Pie:
- 1 homemade pie crust, or refrigerated roll-out dough
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 stick butter, melted (1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 10 ounces dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup roughly chopped pecans or walnuts
For the Salted Caramel Whipped Cream:
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons salted caramel sauce + extra for top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the pie crust into a circle, 3 inches wider than your pan pie, usually 12 inches to fit a 9 inch pan. Carefully move the pie crust to the pan and fit it down into the bottom. Crimp the edges. Refrigerate the crust while making the filling.
- In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar, flour, eggs, butter, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans.
- Once the pie crust is very cold, pour the filling into the crust and set in the oven on the lowest rack. Bake until the center is firm, and the top is golden, about 45 minutes. Cool completely before moving on.
- When ready to serve the pie, whip the heavy cream on high until firm peaks form. Whip in the caramel sauce. Scoop the whipped cream onto the top of the pie and smooth out neatly. Drizzle the top of the pie with extra salted caramel sauce. Cut and serve.
This was our first time having this pie. It was good. But the bourbon was very strong with the dark chocolate. I was a bit taken back by how it tastes, honestly. I expected this to be even better then pecan pie and for pecan pie lovers it wasn’t. I’m didn’t realize I could use milk and just keep the bourbon out. I wish I did to know how it tastes. I think if this had alot more pecan pie filling with just half the amount of chocolate and a splash of bourbon it would be alot better.
That would be more of a pecan pie than a derby pie. Derby pie is essentially a big chocolate chip cookie. You can make the recipe without bourbon. Nothing needs to be substituted for it. My family has made it for yrs w/o the bourbon and the original recipe didn’t call for it. We found similar recipe with bourbon and the only difference was you added an ounce of bourbon
Perfect pie! My guests loved it.
Hi. If subbing milk for the bourbon, is the 4 day out of the fridge rule still valid or does it then need refrigeration? I always get confused about dairy and shelf stability. Thanks!
Hi Mary!
Yes, I find most baked goods can sit out at room temperature 3-4, even with dairy or fruit included, AS LONG AS you don’t live in a super humid climate. If you do, I would place it in the refrigerator to be safe. Then let it warm to room temperature before serving.
if the pie is well cooled can I put the whip cream on and store in refrigerator for 2 or 3 hours before it is served?
Hi Carol,
Absolutely! Happy Baking! :)
Oh my goodness this looks so delicious and so yummy! My husband and daughter’s boyfriend are going to love this recipe! I can’t wait!
That salted caramel drizzle to finish this off is just divine! Can’t wait to dig into this!
This pie is a decadent perfection! Just what a holiday table needs!
Can this pie be frozen?
Hi There,
Yes, wrap it well and it can freeze up to 6 months. Then thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.
Can we omit the bourbon? While I’m sure my husband and I would love it, making it for younger kids.
Hi Summer,
Sure thing! You can add milk in its place. :)
Baked for thanksgiving 2017. Was obsessed with the recipe. Very good. Love the bourbon.
Didn’t have all of the chocolate chips and subbed for more pecans. Didn’t miss the chocolate chips, as the pie was still very sweet.
Needs to be done in at least a 9 inch pie pan or larger, was too much filling for the typical 8 inch.
I baked this for Thanksgiving. My son requested me to bake it again. So, it is a keeper. Thanks for correcting the recipe.
So we ended up baking it for 15 minutes and then taking it out to stir in the butter lol. Put it back in… hope it’s good. please revise the recipe!!
Hi Sommer..! amazing your bourbon derby pie…looks so yummy & creamy, delicious and i can’t wait making this pies. Thanks for sharing…!
YAY! I’m so very glad you liked it! :)