Kentucky Derby Pie is a rich, creamy pie made with sugar, butter, vanilla extract, chopped pecans, and melty chocolate chips all baked in a flaky pie crust.
If you love Chocolate Pecan Pie, then you’re sure to love this rich, sugary, buttery pie with pecans. It’s the ultimate Southern Dessert Recipe that’s perfect for any holiday or celebration!
This classic Derby Pie recipe is a surprisingly easy dessert to make. It’s a simple matter of whipping together the buttery filling ingredients, then folding in the chocolate chips and pecans before baking it. The semisweet chips add some melted chocolatey goodness, while the pecans bring a nice crunch to this delicious dessert. Kentucky Derby Pie is easy enough to make year-round, but delicious enough you could serve it for the holidays.
There are other similar pies, such as regular Pecan Pie. However, Kentucky Derby Pie has more of a rich baked filling outside of the pecans. Along with that, the chocolate chips make it a chocolate lover’s dream. To make an even more decadent dessert top the Derby Pie off with Vanilla Ice Cream or chocolate ice cream, Whipped Cream, and some chocolate syrup.
Derby Pie is a sweet combination of nuts, chocolate, butter, and sugar all baked into one pie. Traditionally the recipe calls for bourbon, but this pie is just as delicious and full of caramel vanilla flavor without the booze. If you want to keep it alcohol free, but have that bourbon flavor, add an extra teaspoon vanilla or they even make non-alcoholic bourbon extra but it might be hard to find.
This classic southern pie was first made at the Melrose Inn, in Prospect, Kentucky in 1950. Because it was made in Kentucky and called Derby Pie, it’s often associated with the Kentucky Derby, so this pie is perfect for a Derby Watch Party! Keep it kid-friendly with this booze-free recipe, or spike it up with some bourbon. Serve with Mint Juleps and have guests wear fancy hats for a fun, festive afternoon!
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Cooking Tips
- Prep time: Start by preheating your oven, and placing the unbaked pie crust in the pie pan. If you have whole pecans, cut them into pecan halves.
- Filling mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, flour, melted butter, white sugar, and vanilla. Continue mixing until smooth then add the pecans and chocolate chips.
- Baking time: Pour the pie filling into the prepared dish. Bake for 45-50 minutes until perfectly golden brown. Serve the pie warm or wait for it to cool. Either way is delicious.

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Variations
- Sweeteners: The recipe calls for brown sugar and granulated sugar, but you can always swap in sweetener substitutes. Try using maple syrup or molasses in place of the brown sugar. Coconut sugar or honey make good alternatives for white sugar.
- Nuts: For some different mix-ins try different kinds of nuts. Walnuts, cashews, or almonds would all taste great in the Kentucky Derby Pie recipe.
- Bourbon: Traditional Derby Pie is often made with a dash of bourbon. The bourbon adds a little extra flavor with its sweet caramel, vanilla, and oak undertones. You can add a little bourbon at a time and taste the pie filling to see how you like it.
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How to Store
- Serve: To keep your pie fresh as long as possible, don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store: Cover the Derby Pie Tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to store it in the fridge. If it’s nicely sealed the pie will stay good for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: If you make the pie in advance or have plenty of leftovers, you can freeze it for up to 2 months. Make sure the foil is tightly covering the dish so no moisture gets in. To reheat the frozen pie, let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and pop the pie in for 15-20 minutes right before serving. It will be warmed through and taste as good as if it was freshly baked.


Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups pecans , chopped
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter , melted and cooled
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips , miniature
- 1 9 inch unbaked deep-dish pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Whisk eggs, brown sugar, light corn syrup, flour, butter, white sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until smooth.
- Fold pecan pieces and chocolate chips into the egg mixture until combined; pour into prepared pie crust.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the pie is set 45-50. Serve warm or chilled.
I just came across this recipe and I plan to make it for my potluck group on Saturday. If I make it ahead of time, what is the best way to reheat it? Thanks! Can’t wait to try this out 🙂
Freeze: If you make the pie in advance or have plenty of leftovers, you can freeze it for up to 2 months. Make sure the foil is tightly covering the dish so no moisture gets in. To reheat the frozen pie, let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and pop the pie in for 15-20 minutes right before serving. It will be warmed through and taste as good as if it was freshly baked.
Excellent recipe. My oven isn’t accurate so I had to bake mine for 54 minutes total. I also blind baked my frozen gluten free crust for 8 minutes. The pie turned out wonderfully. I’ll make this again for sure. Thank you Sabrina!!
Can it be made without the corn syrup & if so what can be used in lieu of it?
5 Healthier Substitutes for Corn Syrup
Maple syrup. Derived from the sap of the maple tree, maple syrup is a natural sweetener known for its distinct taste and aroma. …
Honey. Honey is a popular sweetener that has been lauded for its health benefits. …
Stevia. …
Golden syrup. …
Molasses.
Would this work well in a graham cracker crust?
I haven’t tested it with a graham cracker crust but there are those who have and have enjoyed it. It would be a different flavor than the flaky crust called for in this recipe but would still be yummy! Let us know how it turned out!
This is going to be perfect for NYE! I made it for Christmas and it was a HIT! Thanks for the recipe!
One of the best pie recipes I’ve made! This Kentucky derby pie is so easy to make and flavorful. So satisfying!
We tried this Kentucky Derby Pie at home last Christmas and it was a hit! It tastes so good. Everyone loved and enjoyed it. It tastes so good. Would probably make this again.
I am craving Kentucky Derby pie …
Can dark Karo syrup be used instead of light?
TY!
Sure!