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    Home » Recipes

    Published: Sep 4, 2020 ·Updated: Sep 4, 2020 by Sabra · 1 Comment

    Derby Cookies | Chocolate, Bourbon, and Pecan

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    a wire cooling rack with chocolate bourbon pecan cookies. One cookie has a bite taken. The photo has a text overlay

    Take your standard chocolate chip cookie up a notch with these delicious Derby Cookies. Serve them at your Kentucky Derby themed party for a unique and festive treat!

    a wire cooling rack with chocolate bourbon pecan cookies. One cookie has a bite taken

    This Mom's Menu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This post may be sponsored or contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own. I may earn money from purchases made through the links shared here (at no additional cost to you)

    Looking for a Keto or Gluten Free Version of this Derby Cookie? Find the Recipe here!

    Derby season was one of the coolest things about growing up in Louisville and the festivals, parades, and other events were such an exciting time to be a part of the city.

    It's 2020, which means that due to the coronavirus and Louisville's horrendous response to the death of Breonna Taylor at the hands of the Louisville police department everything is canceled. Including all of the fun, and food-filled events that surround the Kentucky Derby.

    Luckily I have got you covered with tons of Derby-themed recipes so that you can still enjoy your favorite treats all from the comfort of your own home.

    One of my favorite Derby foods in the Kentucky Derby Pie. There are several different versions, but the most popular (and in my opinion, the best) is essentially a pecan pie with chocolate and bourbon.

    These cookies take all the flavor of the Derby Pie and put them into one delicious cookie!

    an overhead image of a Derby cookie on a cooling rack

    What you'll need for these Derby Cookies:

    • Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and salt
    • Unflavored Gelatin Powder - this is an unusual ingredient for cookies, but it is my secret trick to ensure perfectly soft and chewy cookies every time. If you prefer crisp cookies, or just don't have any gelatin, you can leave it out.
    • White and Brown Sugar
    • Vanilla Bean Paste is a new find for me, and I am OBSESSED. The flavor is so amazing and you won't believe the difference it can make in your cookies. With that said vanilla extract will also work fine.
    • Butter
    • Eggs
    • Kentucky Bourbon - You can add a little or a lot depending upon your preference.
    • Chocolate Chips
    • Pecans (you can also use walnuts)
    a four image collage showing the steps for making a chocolate, bourbon, and pecan cookie.

    Tips for making the perfect cookies:

    Make sure that your oven is preheated before adding the cookies to the oven. Otherwise the cookies will take longer to cook, causing them to spread more and they just won't be as good.

    When you add the bourbon to the butter and sugar mixture, it may have a broken or curdled appearence. This is normal and the cookies will still turn out great.

    I prefer a large cookie so I use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop. If you like a smaller cookie that is fine, just be aware that you may need to reduce the cooking time.

    Take the cookies out of the oven as soon as the edges turn golden brown. This ensures that the center will still be nice and soft. Once you remove them from the oven allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack.

    Completed Derby cookie dough in a silver mixing bowl.

    How to store these cookies:

    Thanks to the added gelatin, these cookies will stay soft for a lot longer then a traditional cookie. I store them in a sealed container for up to 10 days.

    Can I freeze the cookie dough?

    YES! If you want to have delicious cookies on demand simply scoop the cookie dough onto a lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet into the freezer fro several hours until the dough is frozen solid.

    Then transfer to a tightly sealed container and freeze for up to 6 months.

    To bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Place the desired number of cookies onto the baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.

    cooking dough in rounded scoops on a parchment lined baking sheet

    Be sure to check out these other great Derby Themed recipes:

    • Hot Brown Pizza
    • Mint Julep
    • Kentucky Derby Pie | Keto, Gluten Free
    • Keto Hot Brown Casserole
    • Bourbon Balls
    • Louisville Benedictine Spread
    • Kentucky Burgoo | Slow Cooker

    📖 Recipe

    a wire cooling rack with chocolate bourbon pecan cookies. One cookie has a bite taken

    Derby Cookies

    Sabra - This Mom's Menu
    Take your standard chocolate chip cookie up a notch with these delicious Derby Cookies. Serve them at your Kentucky Derby themed party for a unique and festive treat!
    4.60 from 5 reviewers
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Servings 24 Cookies
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins

    Equipment

    • Electric Mixer
    • Sheet Pan
    • Parchment Paper
    • Cookie Dough Scoop

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 2 tablespoon Unflavored Gelatin Powder
    • ¾ cup Sugar
    • ¾ cup Brown Sugar packed
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste or vanilla extract
    • 1 cup Butter softened (2 sticks)
    • 2 Large Eggs
    • ½ - 1 cup Kentucky Bourbon to taste
    • 1 ½ cups Chocolate Chips
    • 2 cups Pecans chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 375° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    • In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and gelatin powder. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the white and brown sugar with the vanilla and butter. Beat the mixture until light and fluffy and the sugars have begun to melt.
    • Add the eggs and bourbon and stir until well encorporated. Depending upon how much bourbon you use, the mixture may look broken or curdled. This is fine and it will all come together nicely in the end.
    • Beat half of the flour mixture in with the butter mixture until well combined. Repeat with the remaining flour.
    • Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans.
    • Drop the dough in a rounded scoop onto the prepared baking sheet. (I used a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop) Leave 2-3 inches between each cookie.
    • Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies have turned golden brown.
    • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.

    The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookieCalories: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 219mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 261IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thismomsmenu or tag #thismomsmenu

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.60 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    1. Jewels says

      February 09, 2021 at 9:41 pm

      Disappointed. For all the good ingredients I expected a really good tasting cookie. Just not much flavor.

      Reply

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    Hi! I am Sabra and I'm the face behind This Mom's Menu. I live just outside of Louisville Kentucky with my husband and four kids. Here at This Mom's Menu, you can expect to find family-friendly, healthy recipes plus articles about what is helping me get through my daily to-do list with a little sanity to spare! My favorite things right now are fresh flowers, eggs, and re-runs of The Office ...

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