Derby Party Recipes
Derby parties are one of my favorite events to host and a great way to kick off summer outdoor entertaining. Last year I collaborated with Lex Eats to pull together a collection of all our favorite Kentucky Derby party recipes! Our menu incorporates lots of finger foods + bite sized appetizers perfect for snacking on all day throughout your derby festivities. We also included an easy + refreshing cocktail as well as a fun dessert option! Check out the full menu + recipes below. You can even print out the menu to use for your own derby party! Also don't forget to check out the full list of Derby themed posts from other local Bluegrass bloggers!
xoxo
Emily
Where to Celebrate the Derby in Lexington / Lex Eats
Plus Size Derby & Oaks Style / Authentically Emmie
History of the Derby / Fabulous in Fayette
Oaks & Derby Looks from Amazon / Munchkins and the Military
How to Throw the Best Derby Party / The Bliss Between
Affordable Places to Experience Derby / Loud Girl Big World
Derby Party Cocktail / Space Place and Southern Grace
Horse Cupcakes with Bourbon Icing Recipe / Kentucky Girl Ramblings
Derby Cocktail / House Three Thirty Six
Beers for Bourbon Lovers / Love Me Brew
Advice to Survive Derby Week from a Multiple Derby Attendee / Dog Lady Horse Crazy
Derby Party Appetizers / Fashion, Frappes & Felines
Derby Recipe / Bourbon & Lipstick
How to Dress for the Derby / Styled in Blue
Vineyard Vines Run for the Roses Scarf Benefiting Norton Cancer Institute / HerKentucky
Affordable Derby Outfit / Same McKenna
Derby Recipe / Kabkitchen
Derby Outfit / This Lexington Life
find the full recipe here by Gathered Living
The signature drink of the Kentucky derby will always be the mint julep, but for those who might want to switch it up for something a little brighter + more refreshing, this gin cocktail is the perfect choice! It still has the mint but with the addition of some cucumber, rose water, + club soda making it perfectly fizzy with a slight floral twist. It's also super easy + quick to make for your entire derby crowd and will keep everyone cool + refreshed all day!
find the full recipe here by Gathered Living
No party in Kentucky is complete without our favorite dip, beer cheese! I personally love my beer cheese super smooth and not too watery in consistency, and this beer cheese recipe from Lex Eats is just that! It's also super easy to make as you just combine everything in the food processor together. Serve with your favorite crackers, veggies, pita chips, or pretzels, and it's sure to be a crowd pleaser!
Find the full recipe here by Lex Eats
The perfect appetizer for any southern soiree, this recipe combines a few of my favorite foods + ingredients. First of all, the beef tenderloin. I love a good, rare beef tenderloin that is well seasoned and this recipe gives you easy instructions for perfecting it. The shaved beef tenderloin is served on top of a slightly sweet, super crispy herbed cornbread crostini then layered up with horseradish blue cheese sauce, arugula, and pickled red onion (I KNOW, so good).
Find the full recipe here by Gathered Living
find the full recipe here by Lex Eats.
The hot brown is THE signature dish of the derby and Kentucky, BUT it is quite an ordeal to make from scratch for a crowd. These hot brown pinwheels are the perfect solution for serving up some Kentucky hot brown goodness without all the fuss and mess AND in the perfect bite size pieces! The recipe is super easy too and gives you a lot of servings per batch.
Find the full recipe here by Lex Eats
find the full recipe from Gathered Living here.
This milkshake is the perfect decadent dessert for your derby day festivities and it also makes for a beautiful presentation. These are so rich and chocolatey with a hint of bourbon and pecan! The graham cracker crumbles and toasted pecans add the perfect bit of crunch and texture as well. An ideal dessert that is refreshing and cool especially for the hot and humid derby days we sometimes get here in Kentucky! I can't think of a better way to celebrate Kentucky than a milkshake filled with bourbon!
