The Pie We Eat on Derby Day has a long, fabled Kentucky history. It’s woven into the fabric of spring in the Bluegrass, especially on the first Saturday in May when the eyes of the world turn to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
And let’s be clear. This is not a mere pie with a handful of chocolate chips tossed in. This is something altogether finer. The real P.W.E.O.D.D. is built on a rich, buttery filling studded with walnuts and semisweet chocolate chips. Then it’s elevated with Kentucky’s not-so-secret ingredient—real bourbon. That splash of amber spirit deepens the sweetness, rounds the chocolate, and gives it a warmth tailor-made for celebration.
This is the traditional confection served on Derby Day—sliced generously and served proudly at any gathering worthy of the name.
The Kentucky Derby and Tim Tam
The run for the roses is the oldest sporting tradition in America and held annually since 1875.
My favorite Derby horse is Tim Tam, the 1958 Derby and Preakness winner. His career was cut short by fracturing a bone running the Belmont Stakes. He was overtaken in the home stretch and finished second, stumbling over the finish line. The good news is he survived and retired to stud, living his best life.
How PWEODD Got Its Name
Any rational person would ask why I don’t simply call this Derby Pie—and I’m happy to explain. Derby Pie® is a registered trademark of Kern’s Kitchen, the Louisville family business that created the original version in the 1950s. Over the years, they’ve become almost as well known for protecting the name as for the recipe itself.
And rightly so. They invented it, they built it, and they’ve earned their place in Kentucky’s culinary history. Out of respect—and yes, a healthy desire to avoid a strongly worded letter—I call my version something else.
The Kern family recipe remains a closely guarded secret, and any resemblance between theirs and mine is purely coincidental. With that clear and cordial disclaimer in place, I present to you the P.W.E.O.D.D.—pronounced Pee-Wee-Ohh-Dee-Dee—one of the great culinary delights made in the Commonwealth and a proud addition to any Kentucky table.
P.S. There’s a reason bourbon is in the picture, because it pairs beautifully with PWEODD! Print
Pie We Eat On Derby Day
A chocolate, walnut and bourbon flavored confection traditionally eaten on Derby Day
- Yield: 8-12 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs – lightly beaten
- 1 stick melted butter
- 2 TBL Kentucky bourbon – for the pie
- 1 cup walnuts – chopped
- 1–1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pie crust
- Whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream – optional
- 2 fingers Straight Kentucky Bourbon over a big rock – for the cook
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Combine the flour and sugar in a mixing bowl
- Lightly beat the eggs and add them to the flour and sugar
- Add the butter and mix to combine
- Stir in the bourbon, walnuts, chocolate chips, vanilla and salt
- Grease the baking dish with butter and place the pie crust in it
- Pour the filling into the pie crust and trim the crust about a half inch above the filling. Do not leave any overhang
- Bake until the filling is set, about 40-45 minutes
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing