Kentucky Derby Party Food Ideas

Marvelous Mint Juleps

Raise a glass with the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. This refreshing drink is traditionally made with bourbon, rich simple syrup made from raw Demerara sugar, and fresh spearmint to give a rich and minty flavor. Woodford Reserve’s Mint Julep Syrup makes the perfect crisp spring drink. It’s a liquid celebration of the Kentucky Derby!

Delicious Derby Pie

Leaudra and Walter Kern, along with their son, George, of Kern’s Kitchen created the Derby Pie in 1954 (the name was pulled out of a hat!). This Louisville bakery is the only one that makes this iconic, ooey gooey chocolate and walnut pie. Kern’s Kitchen sells 100,000 pies each year, baking each one at a time.

Perfect Pappy’s World Famous Ribs

Ribs are a quintessential party food, comfort food, and game day classic. Pappy’s Smokehouse makes Memphis BBQ ribs that are pure perfection. Each rack of dry rubbed ribs is slowly smoked for 24 hours over apple and cherry wood, making them finger lickin’ good. See why these celeb favorite ribs are Pappy’s World Famous.

Baller Bourbon Barrel Mini Cakes

Let them eat cake on Derby Day! Drink and eat your bourbon with Kentucky Woods’ Bourbon Barrel Mini Cakes. These brown sugar cakes have the essence of bourbon baked in. Each bourbon barrel cake is made with three kinds of aged Kentucky bourbon. This boozy brown sugar chocolate blended cake is topped with walnuts and a chocolate maple caramel drizzle.

Quintessential Kentucky Bourbon Gift Box

Woodford Reserve’s Kentucky Derby Gift Box is a Derby party-in-a-box. It also makes an excellent hostess gift. The Kentucky Bourbon Gift Box from Kentucky’s oldest operating whiskey distillery includes:

• 9-inch Kentucky Derby Pie from Kern’s Kitchen
• Box of 32 Bourbon Balls made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 10-inch Bourbon Barrel Cake in a wooden box
• 20 oz. Woodford Reserve Mint Julep Mix
• 2 Official Derby Glasses

Magnificent Martha’s Legendary Banana Pudding

Culinary icon and domestic diva Martha Stewart whips up made-to-order sweet banana pudding, a comforting dessert classic. Martha’s Legendary Banana Pudding includes two jars of dreamy, creamy banana pudding loaded with bananas, cream, and Nilla Wafers. It’s perfect for spooning on the couch while celebrating victory.

Perfect Pimento Cheese

A Southern staple, Pimento cheese is a bright orange cheese spread that is a must at every party. This dreamy cheese dip is made with shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos, and spices. Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit’s Pimento Cheese is a crowd pleaser that is delicious with crudite, crackers, and biscuits.

Sensational Southern Brunch

Let James Beard Award-winning Chef Kelly Fields do all the food prep for Derby Day. All you have to do is pop the biscuits in the oven and add your favorite spirit to the Bloody Mary mix and you have the perfect Southern Brunch. This Southern Brunch Weekender Box includes Southern comfort food classics, including:

• 8 fluffy ready-to-bake buttermilk biscuits
• Pork sausage gravy
• Creamy pimento cheese
• Homestyle raspberry jam
• 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers
• Bloody Mary Mix