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Kentucky Derby Party Recipes for Horses and Hats

May 1, 2017 by Jennifer 6 Comments

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Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 03:09 pm

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These Kentucky Derby Party Recipes will make your gathering perfect. These menu and derby party ideas include appetizers, main dishes, sweets, and cocktails to make your celebration complete!

If you like throwing parties, check out these Fall appetizers, Fall cocktails, and Fall desserts to get some menu ideas!

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Kentucky Derby Food

Put on your crazy hat and cheer for your favorite horse during the Run for the Roses. Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with family, friends, and these delicious foods that are perfect for your Derby Party Menu!

Derby Day Sweets and Treats

These sweet treats are perfect for drinking with your Mint Julep at your Derby Party. Let’s start with some brownies!

Derby Pie Brownies

The best way to celebrate the Kentucky Derby is with Derby Pie Brownies. Chocolate Brownies covered in bourbon, toasted pecans, and chocolate chips!

Derby Week Bourbon Balls

These boozy Bourbon Balls are made with 4 ingredients and are great for your Derby party or your holiday cookie exchange too!

Photo Credit: www.theseasonedmom.com

Derby Day Bourbon Brownies

The moist, rich brownies are spiked with Kentucky bourbon whiskey and then topped with a creamy layer of bourbon frosting for a perfectly boozy party dessert!

Photo Credit: www.hwtm.com

Bourbon Peach Pie Pops Recipe

These pie pops are perfect bite-sized treats, and most importantly… super easy! These will surely impress your party guests with their Southern flavor and stylish little bow ties.

Photo Credit: hungryhappenings.com

Ladies' Hat Piñata Cookies

Wearing ladies hats may have gone out of fashion, but these festively decorated Ladies’ Hat Piñata Cookies will still be fun treats to serve at a Kentucky Derby Party.

Photo Credit: www.savoryexperiments.com

No Bake Horse Cookies

While my mind tends to think of the Triple Crown Races: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, these adorable no bake horse cookies are perfect for any horse themed party.

A Derby Party Menu would not be complete without a pie that has bourbon in it!

Photo Credit: champagne-tastes.com

Salted Bourbon Chocolate Pie

This vegan-friendly Salted Bourbon Chocolate Pie is made with chocolate, cream (or coconut cream), bourbon, and sea salt, is simple to put together, and is perfect for parties!

Photo Credit: www.theroadtohoney.com

Chocolate Bourbon Pie + Mint & Brown Sugar Pecan Crust

Perfect for the Kentucky Derby with its rich chocolate-y goodness while you watched the ponies trot around the race track.

What is a party without cake and cupcakes?

Photo Credit: www.spendwithpennies.com

Glazed Bourbon Pecan Pound Cake - Spend With Pennies

This cake is a delicious combination flavor. The Bourbon is accented perfectly with a generous amount of nutmeg. They’re really amazing together. Then this cake has chopped pecans and lots of good quality butter, all topped off with a thick caramel glaze.

Photo Credit: www.insolenceandwine.com

Mint Julep Cupcakes

If you’re having friends over to watch the Derby, these cupcakes are the perfect dessert to set out on your buffet table.

DERBY PARTY APPETIZERS, STARTERS, AND MAIN DISHES

You can’t go wrong with iconic regional dishes like the Kentucky Hot Brown.  Check out these spins on it!

Kentucky Hot Brown Skillet Dip

This Hot Brown Skillet Dip is the best parts of the open face turkey sandwich transformed into a bubbly, cheesy, skillet dip that is perfect for Derby Day!

Photo Credit: cupcakesandkalechips.com

Kentucky Hot Brown Dip Recipe

Kentucky Hot Brown Dip is one of the best hot dip recipes you need and the ultimate Kentucky Derby food. Everything you love from the classic Southern sandwich gets baked into a hot cheese dip recipe loaded with turkey, bacon, and tomatoes.

Photo Credit: www.theseasonedmom.com

Dump-and-Bake Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole

This easy Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole is loaded with turkey (or chicken), bacon, tomatoes, and a creamy sauce. It’s the perfect dish for weeknight dinners and Derby Day celebrations!

Photo Credit: buythiscookthat.com

Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders

These Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders are so good. Yummy turkey, buttered buns, fresh ripe tomato, cheese gravy (yes, I said CHEESE GRAVY), and bacon.

No Kentucky theme party is complete without some true Southern specialties like deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, and grits!

Benedictine Cheese Ball

This Benedictine Cheese Ball is a riff on the traditional cucumber dill spread that is eaten all over Kentucky, especially at the Derby!

Pimento Cheese Straws

These savory, crispy pimento cheese straws get an update with the flavor of pimento cheese!

Photo Credit: www.aspicyperspective.com

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs

Creamy zesty Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs, perfect for the Kentucky Derby!

Photo Credit: www.thevintagemixer.com

Southern Cheese Grits Recipe

These Cheese Grits are to be enjoyed as a side dish, but could also be a delicious breakfast with a fried egg on top or some asparagus. 

Photo Credit: www.italianbellavita.com

Fried Green Tomatoes with Garlic, Bacon and Buttermilk Sauce

Hot, crispy, and tangy fried green tomatoes encrusted in a perfect fried batter are the perfect treat for your Kentucky Derby Party.!

Photo Credit: www.halfbakedharvest.com

Kentucky Bourbon Corn Pudding

Classic corn pudding with Kentucky bourbon and candied jalapeños.

Pimento Cheese Spread

Creamy, cheesy Pimento Cheese Spread is a great party spread! You can make it ahead of time, it keeps for a few days - if it lasts that long, and you can serve it in a bowl or roll it into a cheese ball and sprinkle with toasted pecans! Serve with crackers or on a burger for a new twist!

Now for some more Kentucky Specialties!  Benedictine Spread is a regional spread from Louisville and Burgoo is a typical fundraising meal for Kentucky and Indiana sort of like a chili cook-off!

Photo Credit: bluegrassbites.com

Benedictine Tea Sandwiches

Derby is all about tradition, so I feel that it’s only right to start with some Derby/Louisville/Kentucky food staples for the blog’s first time covering good eats for this spectacular time of year.

Photo Credit: www.kathymillertime.com

Baby Hot Browns

An appetizer version of the famous Brown Hotel’s Hot Brown Sandwich.

Photo Credit: www.thespruceeats.com

Old-Time Kentucky Burgoo

This Kentucky burgoo is a typical version, a chicken and beef stew with cabbage, potatoes, okra, and lima beans.

Photo Credit: www.runwaychef.com

Southern Sliders — Runway Chef

A fluffy, buttery biscuit topped with zesty quick-pickled green tomatoes and a well-seasoned turkey burger piled high with creamy pimento cheese.

Other fun appetizers for your Kentucky Derby Party to round out the collection!

Photo Credit: simpleseasonal.com

Sweet Pea Crostini

Sweet Pea Crostini – This light and fresh spring appetizer is the perfect way to whet your Derby appetite (without spoiling your dinner).

Photo Credit: thekittchen.com

Sweet Peppers Stuffed with Cheesy Spinach Dip

Sweet peppers are filled with a simple cheesy spinach dip, wrapped with prosciutto, and baked. This is an easy recipe that your friends will love!

KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY COCKTAILS AND DRINKS

Since the run for the horses wouldn’t be complete without a Mint Julep or an Oaks Lily, let’s talk Derby Day Cocktails!

Pineapple Bourbon Lemonade Mixed Drink

Bright and tropical pineapple meets its tart cousin the lemon and works together to tame the richness of bourbon in my Pineapple Bourbon Lemonade!

Sparkling Mixed Berry Lemonade

My Sparkling Mixed Berry Lemonade is full of frozen berries and made with fresh squeezed lemons and sweetened with honey for a healthy and fun drink!

Photo Credit: champagne-tastes.com

Lavender Bourbon Sour

This Bourbon Sour with Lavender is a sweet spring cocktail!  Mix one up in no time with lavender simple syrup, lemon juice (or Meyer lemon juice), and bourbon.

Photo Credit: www.homeandplate.com

Barrel-Aged Bourbon Manhattan

This Barrel-Aged Bourbon Manhattan cocktail is a twist on a classic. Featuring aged quality bourbon, maraschino liqueur and dark cherries, this drink will become your all time favorite!

Blackberry Coconut Splash

It's officially Fall and there is a crispness to the air now. Let's celebrate with a crisp light cocktail made with fresh blackberry syrup and sparkling water, my Blackberry Coconut Splash!

Photo Credit: bluegrassbites.com

Mint Julep Granita

A lazy version of a Mint Julep, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby!

Photo Credit: goodiegodmother.com

Sparkling Mint Julep

Whether you make it as a cocktail or a mocktail, this sparkling mint julep is a lovely drink for a celebration! Large hats optional.

Photo Credit: culinaryginger.com

Basil Julep

Based on a classic mint julep, this recipe for a basil julep is very refreshing and perfect for sipping as the sun goes down. Fresh basil leaves and rye Whiskey served chilled over ice is the perfect warm weather cooling drink.

Photo Credit: champagne-tastes.com

Blueberry Bourbon Smash

This Blueberry Bourbon Smash is made with a quick and easy blueberry syrup and fresh basil leaves.  It’s a blueberry cocktail that’s perfect for Derby days!

Photo Credit: www.sprinklesandsprouts.com

Lemon and Blueberry Punch

This Lemon and Blueberry Punch, is fruity and refreshing, but it packs a punch. It is perfect for relaxing with friends, or for serving at a larger party!

HORSES AND HATS DECORATIONS

These party favors and decorations will help you round out your festive Kentucky Derby Party!

Kentucky Derby Horse Racing Streamers (3PCS)

Horse Racing Mini Centerpieces (12) 4.75" - 5.5"

Kentucky Derby Photo Booth Props (55pcs)

Mini Metal Horse Shoes Favors with Kraft Tag (12)

Horseshoe Fanci-Frames, One Size, Gold/Black

Kentucky Derby Julep (2) Stainless Steel 12oz

Paladone Drinking Derby Card Set

24 Kentucky Derby Golden Cup Cupcake Toppers 

Paper Cocktail Napkins, Horse Jockey Silks (20)

Kentucky Derby Popcorn Treat Boxes - Set of 12

Kentucky Derby Frosted Roadie Cup Set

Fanci-Fetti Horses (black & copper)

Derby Party Bundle for 16: Plates, Napkins, & Tablecloth

Kentucky Derby Round Candy Sticker Favors 108

Talk Derby to Me - Drink Coolers Set of 6

I hope you have a great party with all these derby party food ideas!  When you make them while wearing your big hat and bow tie tag me on social media with #TakeTwoTapas and the person’s recipe you make so we can see!!

If you love these recipes and party favors as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

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@TakeTwoTapas.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encourages and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Filed Under: Hosting and Entertaining Tagged With: Derby, hats, horses, Kentucky Derby

« Derby Pie Dip – A Delicious Twist on Traditional Kentucky Derby Pie
Pineapple Hummus with Smoked Paprika »

Comments

  1. Kylee says

    March 24, 2019 at 7:35 PM

    This collection of deliciousness makes me wish I knew people who held derby watching parties!

    Reply
  2. Michaela Kenkel says

    March 24, 2019 at 8:09 PM

    You make me want to book a ticket to the Kentucky Derby!! Great recipes!!

    Reply
  3. Julia says

    March 8, 2019 at 3:07 AM

    It was delicious and easy to prepare! Thank you, it’s very delicious!

    Reply
  4. Patria Alway says

    August 28, 2018 at 8:56 PM

    I very pleased to find this website on bing, just what I was searching for : D too saved to bookmarks.

    Reply
  5. Teri says

    May 1, 2017 at 7:23 PM

    This is by far THE best collection of Derby recipes I have ever seen. Great job and thanks for sharing! I can’t decide which is my favorite, but I think I’ll start in the drink section and work my way backwards. 🙂

    Reply
    • chubcheeks@bellsouth.net says

      May 1, 2017 at 8:11 PM

      That was my first thought too!

      Reply

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