When a friend requested I make the famous chocolate walnut pie associated with the Kentucky Derby, I happily took on the challenge — and immediately started obsessing over which version. I already have two good recipes but neither includes a homemade crust. Not that that's a huge deal because the filling is the star of Derby style pie, but I wanted to go the extra mile and made a new Kentucky Derby Day pie — this time with a quick, buttery homemade crust made from cream cheese, butter, and flour.

Kentucky Derby Day Pie also known as Race Day Pie with bourbon, walnuts and chocolate chips plus a homemade crust.

Cream Cheese and Butter Crust

The crust for this pie is a little different from a traditional pastry crust. It’s soft and easy to work with — more like a European-style cookie dough than a flaky pie dough. Instead of cutting in cold butter, you simply mix everything together with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. No pastry mat, no extra flour needed. Just roll the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap, fit it into the pie plate, crimp, and give it a quick chill to help relax the gluten before baking. Here's what it looks like unbaked and filled.

Kentucky Derby Day Pie Filling

The filling is everything you’d want in a Kentucky Derby Pie — rich, gooey, and loaded with chocolate and pecans. It’s a simple mixture of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, with a splash of vanilla for good measure. The chocolate chips melt into puddles while the nuts stay toasty and crunchy. Paired with the tender, buttery crust, every bite feels a little extra special and just right for a big day like the Derby.

Bourbon

You can keep it light with just a tablespoon of bourbon, or be a little more generous if the mood strikes. Most of the people I know will already have a Mint Julep in hand, so there’s really no need to go wild with the bourbon in the pie. But if you feel like throwing caution to the wind, I say go for it. It’s Derby Day, after all.

Best Way to Serve

This pie can be served gooey, as in the photos, or solidified for more of a chunky feel. It seems like people love gooey things, but my preference is to bake the pie, chill or freeze and then cut so that it's more cookie like and firm. One advantage to serving it warm the day of the race is that if you are having a Derby party, you can make it a few hours earlier and your house will sell like melted chocolate, nuts and bourbon.

Recipe

Kentucky Derby Day Pie

Anna

The classic walnut, chocolate & bourbon pie to eat on race day.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Cooling Time 2

Total Time 3

Course Dessert

Cuisine Southern

Servings

Ingredients

Crust

4 oz cream cheese, softened (114 gram
⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened (75 grams)
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour, spoon into cup or weigh (165 grams)

Filling

2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
⅓ cup all-purpose flour (45 grams)
½ teaspoon salt (reduce to ⅛ if using salted butter)
8 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened to almost melted (114 grams)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons bourbon whiskey 30 ml
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts

Instructions

Crust

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened cream cheese, butter and salt. Beat with the paddle attachment until creamy. Add the flour and beat on low just until the mixture comes together. Don't overdo it.
Shape into a large ball and set on a large piece of plastic wrap. Cover with another sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a large circle. Remove one layer of plastic and invert over a 9-inch metal pie tin. Press into tin, trimming as needed, and fit to the pie plate. Crimp the edges. Chill for 30 minutes or until you are ready to make the filling.

Filling

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Put a rimmed baking sheet in the oven and allow it to heat with the oven.
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs just until a little foamy. Beat in the sugar, followed by the flour, salt, butter, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate chips and nuts.
Pour the filling into the unbaked crust and bake for about 50 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving OR let cool completely, chill overnight and bring to room temperature.

Notes

You can use softened butter or if you prefer you can brown the butter for extra flavor.

Keyword Kentucky Derby, Race Day Pie

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