Sugar Plum Blog

Below are the must‑have snacks and drinks that define Derby Day:

1. Bourbon Balls - A Kentucky bite-size staple that is rich, chocolatey, and boozy.
2. Hot Browns - An open-faced turkey, bacon, and cheese sandwich. These crowd-pleasers were created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville.
3. Country Ham Biscuits - Southern food that is salty and buttery.
4. Benedictine Spread - A cucumber-dill dip to enjoy with snacks.
5. Pimento Cheese - Called the “caviar of the South," serve it with crackers or veggies.
6. Derby Pie - A sweet dessert made with chocolate and pecans.
7. Mint Juleps - The official drink of the Kentucky Derby. The beverages are made with bourbon, mint, sugar, and crushed ice.

While pesto is traditionally made with roasted pine nuts, we decided to put a Sugar Plum spin on it with Herbes de Provence pecans.