Easy Derby Pie Recipe

What better way to end the evening than with a sweet pie that's great for a crowd? As most of us know, pie comes in all different flavors, and a lot of pie recipes contain a sweet fruit filling. This easy derby pie recipe is slightly outside of the box when it comes to traditional pies; instead of fruit, it's filled with a tasty batter that comes complete with semisweet chocolate chips and walnuts, adding just the right amount of crunch. If you haven't heard of derby pie, recipe developer Molly Pisula explains it best. "Derby Pie is a type of pie invented in Kentucky in the 1950s that features chocolate chips and walnuts in a pastry pie shell," she explains. 

Pisula also gives a little insight into her favorite part about the recipe."What I like most about the pie is that it is so easy to make," she raves, noting that you don't even need a mixer to make it. She adds that it's also "really tasty — almost like a nutty chocolate chip cookie in pie form." Give fruit pies a break and opt for this unique and delicious derby pie instead — it would make the perfect sweet treat to serve at a Kentucky Derby watch party.

Once you are ready to begin, you will need to make a list of ingredients and head to the store. Be sure to pick up a store-bought pie crust, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, eggs, unsalted butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, kosher salt, chopped walnuts, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Since you will need to use an oven for this recipe, go ahead and preheat yours to 325 F. While you wait for the oven to get nice and hot, grab the pie crust and press it into a 9-inch pie plate. "You can save even more time by buying one of those disposable pie tins that are pre-lined with the crust," Pisula says, but be sure that you're getting a raw crust, not a pre-baked one.

Crimp the dough around the sides of the pan with your fingers, making sure to pinch firmly around the edges. Alternatively, could use a fork instead.

Take out a large bowl and add the sugar and the flour. Use a whisk to incorporate the two ingredients together, making sure to break up any large chunks with your fingers if necessary. Then, add the eggs, butter, bourbon, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. "Let the butter cool slightly before adding to the batter — that will make sure the chocolate chips don't melt when you add them," Pisula notes.

By the way, almond extract is the secret ingredient. "This derby pie has a slightly nutty flavor due to the walnuts in the batter, but adding the almond extract brings out that flavor and plays beautifully with the chocolate flavor as well," Pisula shares.

The last two things you will need to add to the batter are walnuts and chocolate chips. "You can substitute pecans for walnuts," Pisula notes. Once you add them, stir everything together to combine.

Now, you can add the batter to your prepared pie pan and let it bake for 50 to 55 minutes. Cook until the pie is fully set and the top is lightly browned.

Once you remove the pie from the oven, let it cool on a wire rack. "It's important to let the pie rest and cool after taking it out of the oven," Pisula notes. "If you try to cut it too early, you won't get clean slices of pie." Pisula adds, "It is delicious on its own, but also great topped with whipped cream or a big scoop of vanilla ice cream." 

Anything left? "Pie will last for 48 hours, covered, at room temperature. Or you can refrigerate or freeze leftovers," Pisula notes. "Great to pop leftovers in the microwave to warm up before serving."

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The derby pie was created in 1954 by George Kern and his parents, Walter and Leaudra Kern, who owned the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky. The inn owners were trying to create a unique recipe that could become a signature offering of their establishment, and in the years since its creation they have fiercely defended the name of the pie, which is a registered trademark since 1968. However, though the pie remains a beloved symbol of southern cooking and the Kentucky Derby, it's not the only pie of its kind from the region. The combination of a standard pie crust with a cookie or custard-like filling can be found in a few variations with different names — though none of them can be called derby pie.

A chess pie, which is also from the south, might have been the inspiration for derby pie because it's been around a lot longer — since the end of the 19th century, in fact. It's more basic than the derby pie, and usually just contains a simple filling of eggs, butter, and sugar. A Jefferson Davis pie is likely a variation of a chess pie, but it contains additional ingredients like dried fruit, nuts, and spices. A buttermilk pie, as the name implies, adds buttermilk to the mix, and sometimes includes lemon zest or nutmeg. A vinegar pie is also similar but contains — you guessed it — vinegar, which gives it a slightly tangy flavor. 

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