The Kentucky Derby is Saturday and if you make the chocolatey, nutty pie associated with the race, don’t call it Derby Pie, because it’s DERBY-PIE®. The Kern family of Prospect, KY registered the name in 1968, after it became an established hit at the Melrose Inn, and they protect their trademark zealously, as they should. They guard the recipe, too; to this day, only two people are said to know it.
What’s in the pie? One authorized distributor lists semi-sweet chocolate and English walnuts. Beyond that, who knows? Supposedly there’s a secret ingredient, perhaps more than one, and that is surely the reason for the mystique. I’ve never had the original but I’ve had pies calling themselves “Derby” and some were like pecan pies with chocolate chips, others were reminiscent of a chess pie with nuts and chips. All were good.
Recipes for pies with this name have been around for decades and the Internet has dozens. One purports to be the original, saying the recipe is from the 1920’s. Problem is, the Kerns didn’t begin serving it at the Inn, which they sold long ago, till the mid 1950’s. This “original” recipe also calls for a ready-made crust. Many recipes include corn syrup and those with bourbon abound. Could that be the secret ingredient? I suppose it couldn’t hurt. Most versions specify pecans, not English walnuts; I even found one that uses macadamia nuts.
My own old recipe files turned up one without corn syrup and with walnuts. It also has whipped cream on top, which is how Leaudra Kern served it warm from the oven. I really don’t remember if I ever made this, but it’s so easy I probably did and liked it enough to hang on to it. I’ve renamed it.
That Horse Race Pie
1 unbaked pie shell
1 c. chocolate chips
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. butter, melted and cooled
1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 tsp. vanilla
Whipped cream for garnish.
Sprinkle bottom of pie shell evenly with chocolate chips. Combine eggs with sugar and flour. Gradually mix in the butter, nuts and vanilla. Carefully pour mixture over chocolate chips so it does not disturb the chips. Bake 1 hour at 325 degrees. Serve slightly warm, with whipped cream, if desired.
