53 Kentucky Derby Desserts

53 Kentucky Derby Desserts

Read Time: 18 mins

53 Kentucky Derby Desserts2/53 Bourbon Balls 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Remember the days at Grandma and Grandpa’s house when you made these wonderfully traditional treats? We love these Kentucky Derby bourbon balls—the blended taste of bourbon and pecans is irresistible! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 3/53 Southern Peach Toasts Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Southern Peach Toasts Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These bruleed peach toasts are

my creative homage to the beloved southern fresh peach cobbler

my creative homage to the beloved southern fresh peach cobbler. Its upscale presentation with delicious peaches is an amazing Kentucky Derby dessert. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia Pair these tarts with a mint julep for the freshest after-race treat. 4/53 Banana Pudding Cake 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Banana Pudding Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love to make cakes, and my family loves banana pudding. One day while brainstorming in the kitchen, I came up with this banana pudding cake recipe to combine

My family and friends can’t get enough of it!

the two. My family and friends can’t get enough of it! If you are pressed for time, you may substitute whipped topping for the homemade sweetened whipped cream. —Tiffany Barbee, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 5/53 Mama’s Buttermilk Coconut Pie 3 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mama showed me how to make this Kentucky Derby dessert about 40 years ago, just as her mama showed her how to make it. I was 6 when Mawmaw passed away, but I can still remember her

cooking in the kitchen in her beautiful cotton dresses dusted with flour

cooking in the kitchen in her beautiful cotton dresses dusted with flour. I am honored to teach my daughter how to make this dessert, too. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama 6/53 Pound Cake 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Classic Pound Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We’ve always included pound cake on our family menus. Through the years I’ve tried many recipes, and I can honestly say this million-dollar pound cake is the best! It has a very fine, rich texture that makes it unusually smooth.

Drizzled with white chocolate on top, they’re fancy enough for a buffet table

That texture, plus fantastic flavor, makes this pound cake a special treat each time we serve it. —George Dunn, Jasper, Texas 7/53 Fudge Bonbon Cookies 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 35 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These fudgy favorites are double delights—the cookies are flavored with both chocolate chips and chocolate kisses. Drizzled with white chocolate on top, they’re fancy enough for a buffet table. —Janice Smith, Cynthiana, Kentucky These Kentucky Derby food ideas are the best way to fill out your party’s food table. 8/53

Everyone loves it

Dr Pepper Cake 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Dr Pepper Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This Dr Pepper cake is my favorite “go-to” Kentucky Derby dessert. Everyone loves it. When it’s baked in layers rather than in a single layer, its presence makes people say “wow.” It is a crowd-pleaser! —Shannon Parum, Vernon, Texas 9/53 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the

Recipe Creator: Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California 10/53 The Best Pecan Pie 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Pecan pie is a Thanksgiving tradition in my house, and I was on a quest to create the ultimate version. This might be it!—James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor 11/53 Chocolate Mint Creams

I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts

2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved GRACE NATOLI SHELDON FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings about 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This Kentucky Derby dessert came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone’s cookie request list. I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri 12/53 Jam Cake 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Old-Fashioned Jam Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I remember

It has been a popular staple at our reunions

my Aunt Murna telling me she made this old-fashioned jam cake often when she was a young girl. Through the years, she made improvements to it, and her cake become a real family favorite. It has been a popular staple at our reunions. —Janet Robinson, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 13/53 Bananas Foster Sundaes 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I have wonderful memories of eating bananas Foster in New Orleans, and as a dietitian, wanted to find a healthier version. I combined the best of two

recipes and added my own tweaks to create this southern treat

recipes and added my own tweaks to create this southern treat. —Lisa Varner, Charleston, South Carolina 14/53 Citrus Cranberry Pie 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cranberry Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: To showcase abundant fall cranberries, make this beautiful lattice-topped cranberry pie. A dollop of orange cream complements the slightly tart flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 15/53 Fudgy Brownie Recipe 34 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ultimate Fudgy Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings

Boxed, these could make a

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin 16/53 Salted Butterscotch & Pecan No-Bakes Test Kitchen Approved Salted Butterscotch & Pecan No-Bakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I was deciding what type of cookie to make for a Kentucky Derby dessert, I opted for something with coconut, pudding mix and salted caramel. Boxed, these could make a

great gift as well

great gift as well. I like to drizzle caramel over the tops of the cookies before serving for a special touch. —Stacey Ritz, Sudbury, Ontario 17/53 Humble Bumble Crumble Bars 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 15 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: While developing a treat for my bingo group, I asked my husband for ideas. He suggested a fruity bar. This berry bar is lightly sweet and so easy. —Nancy Phillips, Portland, Maine 18/53 Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Test Kitchen Approved JULIA HARTBECK FOR TASTE OF HOME

The bourbon sauce tastes extravagant, but it’s really simple to prepare

Total Time 3 hours 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: There’s nothing better than this comforting bread pudding on a cold, wintry day. The bourbon sauce tastes extravagant, but it’s really simple to prepare. The slow cooker does the most of the work for you! —Hope Johnson, Youngwood, Pennsylvania 19/53 Honey Cinnamon Bars 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My Aunt Ellie gave us the recipe for these sweet bar cookies with cinnamon and walnuts. Drizzle with icing,

and serve with coffee or tea

and serve with coffee or tea. —Diane Myers, Star, Idaho 20/53 Mocha-Pecan Ice Cream Bonbons 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mocha-Pecan Ice Cream Bonbons Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These bite-sized bonbons may sound tricky to make, but you’ll find that fashioning them is a breeze. What’s more, our cooking experts advise that you keep this recipe handy when you serve them—as soon as folks sample the treats, they’ll be asking how to make them. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 21/53 Blueberry Lemon Trifle

Don’t worry about heating up the oven—this trifle doesn’t require baking

20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Blueberry Lemon Trifle Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 14 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A refreshing lemon filling and fresh blueberries give this sunny dessert sensation plenty of color. Don’t worry about heating up the oven—this trifle doesn’t require baking. —Ellen Peden, Houston, Texas Go old-school and serve up an Oaks Lily cocktail at your Kentucky Derby shindig. 22/53 Chippy Blond Brownies 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chippy Blond Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

Kentucky Derby Desserts2/53 Bourbon Balls 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Remember the days at Grandma and Grandpa’s house when you made these wonderfully traditional treats?

Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.

Dianna Croskey, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania 40/53 Hidden Mint Morsels 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Hidden Mint Morsels Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings about 10 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Is it a cookie or a candy?

Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.

Jean Castro, Phoenix, Arizona 50/53 Rhubarb Bars 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Rhubarb Dream Bars Recipe photo by Laura Scherb for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Dreaming of a different way to use rhubarb?

Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.

⭐ Expert Tips

  • Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

  • Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

  • Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

  • These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

  • Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

  • Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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