DINE Derby Day Desserts

Kentucky DerbyIt’s hard to believe that the annual Kentucky Derby is upon us.  In DINEcountry, it feels like winter just ended. The Kentucky Derby is another reminder that spring really has come and the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England are ready to welcome it.  Knowing that not everyone will have the chance to combine the Kentucky Derby with a romantic getaway at one the Distinctive Inns of New England, we thought we’d bring some recipes from our kitchen to yours to use for your own Derby Party.  Since Mint Juleps are surely on the menu, here are a few additional sweet treats to use for your Derby Party from the kitchens of our distinctive inns.

It seems fitting that with Derby Day comes chocolate, so we bring to you two recipes that will be perfect sweet endings for your Derby Party.  We start out with a Kentucky Derby Pie recipe, made specifically for celebrating the running of the first of the Triple Crown races.  This comes to you from Chesterfield Inn, and we hope you’ll add it to your Derby Party Menu.

CHESTERFIELD INN KENTUCKY DERBY PIE

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup butter, melted and cooled
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 3/8 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup flourKentucky Derby Pie recipe from Chesterfield Inn
  • 3 ea  eggs, beaten lightly
  • 4.5 Tablespoon bourbon
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup walnuts, coarse chopped
  • 18″ pie shell, unbaked

Method:

Preheat oven to 350F. In mixer, cream together butter and sugars.

Add flour, then eggs, bourbon, salt and vanilla.

Spread the chocolate chips and nuts in the bottom of the pie shell.

Pour in the filling. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until it set then cool.

Serve with bourbon caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream and enjoy the race!

Next comes a delicious and light chocolate souffle cake recipe from the Gateways Inn & Restaurant.  Serve it warm right out of the oven, but better not serve it up right at race time.  It will distract your guests from the race.  It’s that good!

Chocolate Souffle Cake from Gateways Inn and RestaurantCHOCOLATE SOUFFLE CAKE FROM GATEWAYS INN & RESTAURANT

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
  • 2 Tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
  • 12 ounces Bittersweet Chocolate, coarsely chopped (or Chips)
  • 1 Cup (2 Sticks) Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Cup White Sugar
  • ½ Cup more All-Purpose Flour
  • 6 Large Eggs

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter and flour eight 6-oz. foil baking cups or ramekins

Place the chocolate and butter together in a metal bowl, on top of a pot of simmering water, over low flame, or, in the top of a double boiler. Warm until completely melted, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.

In a separate large bowl, place the sugar, flour, and eggs. Beat until thick fluffy, about  5 minutes. Gently beat in the chocolate mixture.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking cups, filling three-quarters of the way up the  sides. Bake until the cakes puff up, about 15 minutes. Note-they will look runny in the center.

To serve, run a knife around the edges to loosen, and turn upside down onto serving     plate to unmold. Serve with Ice Cream, garnishing with fruit sauce & fresh berries.

The 12 Distinctive Inns of New England have many recipes to share.  You often find them on this blog.  What’s better than reading about them is trying them in person, though.  We hope to welcome you for a romantic New England getaway or a culinary vacation to one of our 12 inns sometime this spring.

Visit each of the Distinctive Inns of New England by clicking below on links that will take you to each of their websites:

In Maine:  Captain Jefferds Inn in Kennebunkport & Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden

In New Hampshire:  Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield

In Massachusetts:  Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.

In Vermont:  Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton

In Rhode Island: Cliffside Inn in Newport

In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic