Celebrate the Derby - Mint Cream Julep Pie

Nothing is more synonymous with the Kentucky Derby than the iconic Mint Julep, that famed cocktail made from Kentucky bourbon, muddled mint leaves and simple syrup.

 

 

 

There’s more than one way to enjoy your bourbon on race day though.  You can drink it, of course, but you can also incorporate it into your sweets.

Take for instance the fabulous chocolate, bourbon, pecan pie – aka Derby Pie where the chocolate and bourbon take the ordinary pecan pie to a heavenly level. 

 

 

 

 

But if you’re in the mood for a little twist on tradition, try this Mint Cream Julep Pie recipe created by the executive pastry chef of The Bakery at Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky.

And, get yourself ready for the South’s swankiest horse race when you can have your bourbon and eat it too!

 

 

 

 

Mint Cream Julep Pie
1 ¾ cups whole milk
½ cup sugar
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
¼ cup Kentucky bourbon (like Maker’s Mark)
1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup jarred chocolate sauce (like Smucker’s Simple Delight dark chocolate)
1 9-inch pre-baked pie shell
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract
Chocolate curls to garnish

In a medium saucepan, bring milk, sugar and cornstarch to a boil over medium heat.

In a heatproof bowl, whisk egg and yolks until mixture is smooth and lightened in color.  Very slowly pour hot milk over egg mixture, whisking constantly.  Pour mixture back into saucepan and return to heat.

Cook, whisking constantly, until very thick, 3 to 4 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Stir in bourbon, butter and chocolate sauce.  Cool completely at room temperature.  Pour in pie shell and smooth top.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip cream until soft peaks form.  Add confectioners’ sugar and peppermint extract and continue beating until medium peaks form.  Top pie with whipped cream.  Chill for at least 4 hours.  Garnish with chocolate curls.  Serves 8.

(Recipe from Robin Richardson, GM and executive pastry chef, The Bakery at Sullivan University, Louisville, Ky.)

 

Happy Derby week!