The race itself may take just two minutes, but we all know the Kentucky Derby is fun to celebrate as a full day event.
It falls during such a lovely time of year--what better way to enjoy it than with friends, a tasty drink, and a delicious spread of nibbles on the patio?
Here's a list of our favorite recipes for a Kentucky Derby party--from finger sandwiches, to that classic mint julep. Who the winning horse will be is anyone's guess, but we already know each of these delicious recipes are winners!
1. Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
These little sandwiches are easy to make, and loaded with a lovely citrus-flavored chicken salad. A good thin-sliced bread is a must for these, and a fun way to add variety would be to make half of them on a nice seeded rye, for a mix of colors and flavors.
Just looking at these whimsical little sandwiches makes me want one right now. Isn't that little chive knot the cleverest detail?
Get the recipe here.
2. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
It's always nice to make sure there are plenty of light and refreshing options at the party table. These little smoked salmon cucumber bites fit the bill perfectly.
Quick and easy to make, they come together in just a few minutes. Do make plenty, because that cream cheese and salmon combo is absolutely addictive. Once you start nibbling on these, you won't want to stop!
Get the recipe here.
3. Buffalo Chicken Dip
This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe is everyone’s favorite!
Made with tender shredded chicken, tangy ranch dressing, cream cheese, hot sauce, and loads of cheese, this easy and delicious Buffalo Chicken Dip packed with flavor. Pop it in the oven until it's golden and bubbly, and you'll be ready for race time.
Get the recipe here.
4. Kentucky Hot Brown Appetizer
The Hot Brown, widely known as "the Kentucky Hot Brown" is a classic recipe we think of around derby time.
With all that cheese and bacon, you just can't go wrong. These are hearty, savory bites that everyone will want to try.
Get the recipe here.
5. 1800's Devilled Eggs
If you're going with an old fashioned theme, how about this 1800's version of deviled eggs? (Or "devilled" as they were called at the time.) The Kentucky Derby does date all the way back to 1875, after all!
Pulled straight from an 1800's cookbook, these little eggs are just delightful. The tang of the vinegar, that hint of spice from the cayenne, the familiar warmth of the mustard…it all just works.
Get the recipe here.
6. Cream Cheese And Pesto Bruschetta With Fresh Basil Flowers
This crispy bruschetta is topped with cream cheese and pesto, then topped with a pan-fried tomato. Delicious and slightly spicy basil flowers add the final touch, and really take this to the next level.
Perfect for race day, these tasty little toasts are a recipe you'll want to make again and again.
Get the recipe here.
7. Slice and Bake Lavender Shortbread Cookies with Vanilla Icing
Deliciously delicate and floral, these lavender cookies are made with just 6 ingredients, so they're not as complicated as you might think!
Vanilla icing tops each cookie, before a little sprinkle of lavender blossoms finishes each to perfection. Each bite is tender, buttery, and just tastes like summer.
Get the recipe here.
8. Mini Turtle Cheesecakes
Don't you wish you had one of these delicious little two-bite treats right now? Everyone will love discovering these on the dessert table!
These sweet little turtle cheesecakes have a buttery graham cracker crust, and a creamy vanilla cheesecake filling. They're finished off with rich caramel sauce and chocolate ganache, that's just addictive.
Get the recipe here.
9. Lemon Bars
Sweet and tart at the same time, these lemon bars really are a beloved classic, and they're a perfect complement to the must-have mint juleps!
Fresh lemon juice provides bright citrus zing, layered over top of a buttery shortbread crust. These cheerful yellow squares definitely brighten up the party table!
Get the recipe here.
10. Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake
This is an absolutely heavenly Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake recipe, and your guests will love it.
It's a moist sour cream pound cake infused with a rich, butter-rum caramel syrup, and then topped with a salted caramel glaze and dusting of flaky sea salt! Sweet and salty, and perfectly decadent, this is cake friends will ask you to make every year.
Get the recipe here.
11. Bourbon Brown Butter Mini Derby Pies
Bourbon Brown Butter Mini Derby Pies are so delicious, you'll find it hard to eat just one!
Browned butter makes these bite-sized treats are even more fragrant and delicious. They're quick to make, and an easy win for the treat table.
Get the recipe here.
12. Bourbon Butterscotch Apple Pie
This easy apple pie recipe features grown-up flair, by combining the apple pie we know and love, with a homemade bourbon butterscotch sauce. It's just the thing for a classic Kentucky Derby party!
Also, will you just look at the lattice work on that pie?
Get the recipe here.
13. Strawberry Cream Pie
This strawberry cream pie is so light, it's like biting into a fluffy cloud of cream, dotted with sweet strawberries, and tucked into a crispy crust.
It's an easy pie to make, and loved by everyone who tastes it. With it's light and fruity flavor, this would be a welcome addition to the treat table.
Get the recipe here.
14. Mint Julep Punch
It's always more fun to cheer on your favorite horses while sipping something delicious!
For those who might find a traditional julep a bit much, here's a lighter and more accessible twist. The addition of a delicious blend of fruit juices gives this drink a lighter, fruitier taste, while still carrying on the classic bourbon and mint flavors.
Get the recipe here.
15. Classic Mint Julep
For those who adore the real thing, here's the recipe you need for a mint julep, the official choice for celebrating the Kentucky Derby, since 1939!
This straightforward recipe walks you through making an easy homemade mint simple syrup. Fresh mint sprigs, your favorite bourbon, and a whole lot of crushed ice then come together to create the winning classic. Cheers!
Get the recipe here.
23 Classic Church Picnic Recipes Everyone Still Adores
There's nothing like a big church picnic--spending the day with all of your church friends and family, playing games, and eating all that wonderful food everybody brings!
If you grew up going to church picnics, you know the dishes we're talking about! The macaroni salads, the fruity fluffs, some seriously cheesy casseroles, and a dessert table so full there's not room to squeeze on another thing.
We've got recipes for them all here, in this divine list of time-honored dishes that are just perfect for that next big church picnic!
17 Old Fashioned Teatime Recipes
While we think of teatime as a fine old British tradition, the delightful custom of pausing in the late afternoon for a sociable snack was also common in the United States throughout most of the 1800's.
This delightful afternoon custom is starting to see a resurgence, and we are here for it!
Find all the recipes you need for an old fashioned teatime here.
Anna Chesley
Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.
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