A rich chocolate and English-walnut pie in a buttery flaky crust, trademarked by Kern's Kitchen in 1969 and a Louisville Derby Day institution. Local bakeries serve look-alike versions under names like Triple Crown Pie.

Walter and Leaudra Kern, with their son George, developed the chocolate-and-walnut pie at the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky in 1954 as the restaurant's signature dessert. The family pulled the name out of a hat: Derby-Pie won. After leaving the Melrose Inn in 1960 the Kerns continued making the pie and registered Derby-Pie as a federal trademark in 1969, defending it with more than 25 lawsuits over the years. The pie is now made only by Kern's Kitchen with the secret recipe known to a small group of family members. Louisville bakeries sell look-alike chocolate-walnut pies as 'May Day Pie' or 'Triple Crown Pie'; Plehn's Bakery on Shelbyville Road runs a Triple Crown Pie each Derby season.

1 editor pick for Derby Pie in Louisville, ranked by editorial score. All Louisville signature dishes · Derby Pie across every city.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Derby Pie makes more sense with someone from Louisville explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

Taste Derby Pie with a local in Louisville

See all 35 bookable experiences in Louisville