What's The Difference Between Derby And Pecan Pie?

Pie is a classic dessert that doesn't get nearly the same attention its cousin cake does. Its second-class status isn't fair, though, since pie is one of the most versatile and inventive sweets out there. And while it doesn't get all the shine, it's arguably the standard sweet on American holiday tables across the calendar. Consider all the options: Apple. Pumpkin. Cherry. Pie lends itself easily to fruit fillings. It glows with the season's bounties. But fruit isn't the only pie filling out there and it often overshadows other tasty options.

For instance, nuts make a stellar pie filling. Perhaps the most famous example is the pecan pie. Its roots may be in the southern United States, but it adorns tables across the country come holiday time. However, it has a very close cousin that doesn't get quite the attention it should: Derby pie. In some ways, it's very close to its pecan cousin. It's others, it's very different. But it's delicious however you slice it, and once you try it you just might agree it's one of the best pies around.

Pecan pie is an American classic. It has origins in the southern United States, with its first appearances in Texas cookbooks in the 1870s. The version closest to what we see today was first published in a church cookbook dating back to 1898, though the recipe's submitter was from Texas, speaking to its original roots. It's since joined the ranks of apple and pumpkin pies as an American classic, especially at Thanksgiving.

There's a long running debate on how to properly pronounce "pecan," but we can all come together over a fresh plate of pie. Pecan pie is characterized by the flaky crust filled with a dense layer of thick sweet gel and topped with a crust of perfectly roasted pecans. The filling is simple: it's a mixture of butter, eggs, and corn syrup that cooks down to a delicious, golden brown filling. That simple base allows the pecans to shine against the sweetness and buttery crust. But what about Derby pie?

Pecan pie is delicious, but it's not the only pie with nuts that's worth a spot at your table. The dark horse when it comes to pie would have to be Derby pie. It's very similar to pecan pie, but it's also pretty special in its own right. The filling has the same familiar sweetness, but with the addition of bourbon and chocolate chips for an extra rich experience. Who doesn't love booze with chocolate? That's not the only difference, though: Derby pie forgoes pecans for walnuts in its original recipe. The combination of chocolate and walnuts reminds us of a brownie, but in delicious pie form.

According to Kern's Kitchen, the Derby pie originated back in 1954 at the Melrose Inn in Kentucky, run by the Kern family. As the Kerns tell it on their homepage, many hours of trial and error resulted in the perfect pie, but the name was a matter of chance. "Because each family member had a favorite," they write, "the name 'Derby Pie' was actually pulled from a hat." The name for this dessert may have come down to luck of the draw, but it doesn't need luck to be a winner.