A Kentucky Derby Party

It may only be March, but you might want to consider...

Cupcakes created by Save the date for cupcakes, and how about the brown sugar racetrack!

Saturday, May 5, 2012 is the date of the 138th running of The Kentucky Derby.  Why not plan a party around it starting now?  Make yours casual, or have your guests dress up like those attending the derby. 

This is a lovely spread for a Derby Party!

A great invitation to set the theme! Include all the details!

Or...for a different invitation, how about printing them on paper, rolling them up, tying with a ribbon and tying on a tiny horse figurine purchased at the dollar store?  

Save the Date for Cupcakes featured this lovely Derby table.

How fun would these be decorating your table?

Metal Mint Julep cups are the traditional way to serve them.

Mint Julep Recipe

4 Fresh mint sprigs

2 1/2 ounce Kentucky bourbon 

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

2 teaspoon  water

Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a glass.  Fill the glass with crushed ice and add bourbon.  Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

A great Derby-themed cake!

Derby Pie is another dessert choice to consider!

It is my understanding that "Derby Pie" is trademarked.  There are quite a number of variations, some using pecans, others walnuts, I will let you search out the recipe that suits your tastes and talents! 

Decorate the back of each chair with a different horse's number.

1. Encourage guests to wear hats, give a prize for best Derby hat!  
2. Serve mint juleps, the traditional drink of the Derby.
3. Use red roses in your decorating, The Kentucky Derby is known as The Run for the Roses.
4. NBC Derby coverage begins at 4:00pm with The Kentucky Derby Red Carpet coverage, and continues with the race at 5:00 and additional coverage until 7:00.  Have all of your televisions sets tuned in.
5. Serve traditional Kentucky foods to keep with the theme.
6. Make rosettes like winners typically get, to decorate the backs of guests' chairs.
7. Have a horseshoe-shaped cake decorated with red frosting roses.
8. Put numbers 1 - 20 on pieces of paper and put them in a silver bowl.  Have each guest pick one one, that is the horse they will root for during the race.  The winner receives a small prize.  
9. Use a large horse head sculpture, or little toy horses set on your serving tables.
10. Use astroturf for your tablecloth on your serving tables.
11. Bring out all the best china and silver, celebrate this one-hundred and thirty-eight year old tradition!

Benedictine spread finger sandwiches are another Kentucky classic.

Kentuckians are thankful that Miss Jennie Carter Benedict created her Benedictine spread back around the turn of the century for her catering business.  Use this cream cheese and cucumber spread for finger sandwiches, or as a dip for vegetables and on crackers.


Benedictine Recipe


1 large cucumber
8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
2 Tablespoons finely grated onion
Dash of Tabasco sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 drop of green food coloring

1. Peel, grate and drain the cucumber
2. Combine with remaining ingredients in food processor
3. Serve as is as a sandwich or canape spread
4. Thin with sour cream to make a dip for vegetables.

Country ham served on biscuits is a real Kentucky treat.

Bourbon Balls are a must have!

Bourbon Balls Recipie

1 cup chopped nuts

5 tablespoons Kentucky Bourbon

1/2 Cup butter, softened

1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar

18 ounces semisweet chocolate

1. Place the nuts in a jar, pour the bourbon over the nuts, seal the jar and allow the nuts to soak overnight.
2. Mix the butter and sugar; fold in the soaked chopped nuts.  Form into 3/4" balls and refrigerate overnight.  
3. Line a tray with waxed paper.  Melt the chocolate, roll the balls in the melted chocolate to coat, arrange in a single layer and store in the refrigerator until serving.  

Party on! - Chloe Crabtree