Derby-Pie

Few desserts are as closely tied to Kentucky tradition as Derby-Pie. This famous chocolate-and-walnut pie was created in 1954 by Walter and Leaudra Kern, along with their son George, at the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky. Looking for a signature dessert that would set their restaurant apart, the Kern family developed a rich, gooey pie filled with chocolate and walnuts baked in a flaky crust. The dessert quickly became a customer favorite and would eventually become one of Kentucky’s most beloved culinary creations.

The pie’s name has an interesting origin. After creating the recipe, family members suggested various names and placed them into a hat. The winning name drawn was “Derby-Pie,” A fitting tribute to Kentucky’s famous horse racing heritage

Today, nearly seventy years after its creation, Derby-Pie is still made by the Kern family in Louisville, Kentucky. More than 100,000 pies are sold annually, and the dessert remains a staple of Kentucky Derby parties, holiday gatherings, and Southern celebrations. For many Kentuckians, a slice of Derby-Pie® is more than dessert—it’s a delicious piece of Kentucky history.