You've Never Tasted Anything Like These 10 Unique Desserts In Kentucky
By Jenn Shockley|Updated on September 29, 2022(Originally published September 24, 2022)
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Kentucky has creative cooks and plenty of sweet ingredients, which paved the way for some mouthwatering desserts over the centuries. There is a lot to be said for southern cooks, especially when it comes to the sweets department. I can remember standing in the kitchen as a child while my Momma made quite a few of these from scratch. Store-bought is good, but nothing beats homemade, as southern cooks put a little love in every bite. I can easily testify to the truth in that, as over the years I’ve had the pleasure of trying each one of these. Here are 10 mouthwatering Kentucky desserts you’ll want to try at least once:
This is a chewy, gooey caramel candy with a sweet oozing marshmallow center. It was created in the 1880s by Anton Busath in Louisville and named to honor the 19th-century Shakespearian Polish actress, Helena Modjeska. Other candy shops have since taken to the recipe and made their own variations of it, but the original will always be the most amazing.
If you love cherry pie, Rhubarb will be a close second. Though it resembles deep-red celery with green leaves, it is actually very sweet when baked in a pie with some sugar. Some people mix cherries or strawberries with their rhubarb, but it is not necessary if done right. Those unfamiliar with Rhubarb would likely not be able to tell the difference between it and cherry in taste.
This is a cross between a butter kuchen and a vanilla pie, but better. It has been described as a more vanilla version of pecan pie filling. It is simple to make, using only butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and milk. It is absolutely wonderful to eat, warm or chilled.
A lot of states have cobbler but many do not have the variety we do. You can have Blueberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Peach, Apple, Elderberry, Pear, Strawberry, and more. Cobbler is good warm or cold, but my personal favorite way is with a dollop of vanilla ice cream while it is still warm.
This is another one of those versatile desserts. My Momma always started hers with homemade vanilla pudding she made stove top with fresh sugar, vanilla, milk, and flour. She would layer vanilla wafers, chopped fresh bananas, and pudding until she reached the top of the glass dish. She finished it off with meringue, which she lightly browned in the oven. Mouthwatering is an understatement.
There are several ways to make fried pies, and none of them are wrong. This has been a staple in Kentucky households long before I was born. The fried pie was made by making homemade biscuits, then rolling each biscuit flat. Next, we fill it with your fruit of choice, a little sugar, and then fry it in butter till lightly browned. An easy cheat is using canned biscuits instead of homemade. Some people fill them with apple butter and sliced apples, cherries, strawberries, peaches, or other berries.
The easiest way to describe how this tastes is; creamy chocolate fudge with crème de menthe liquor, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and a shot or three of bourbon. It is the bourbon ball of fudge and is often found in Louisville sweet shops around Derby time.
Bourbon balls are a Kentucky delicacy, and Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory makes the best in the Bluegrass! This confectioner is best-known for their Bourbon Balls, a Kentucky delicacy invented by Miss Ruth Booe herself in 1938. Today, folks come from far and wide to try this chocolatier's iconic treat: a truffle with a creamy bourbon center (with the kick of real bourbon!), covered in dark chocolate and topped with a Southern pecan.
This is a different take on the famed Derby Pie. The differences are that it contains walnuts instead of pecans, and adds a healthy shot of Kentucky bourbon. The combination with chocolate and the caramel-type center melts in your mouth, other than the walnuts.
Though Derby is in the name, this pie is not just for the Kentucky Derby, but can be served all year round. It is not a fruit-oriented dessert, but it does have pecans, chocolate, a caramel-type cream, and is wonderful warm, with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. Some people call it Chocolate Pecan Pie, but it is usually served under the name Derby Pie. Whatever you choose to call it, the pie is an insanely delicious Kentucky favorite.
Each and every one of these unique Kentucky desserts hold a special place in my heart and my stomach. The memories of watching my elder relatives create these sweets, and then enjoying the finished products are unforgettable. I can still imagine the scents wafting through the air and the anticipation of getting a slice or a piece. These are just 10 of my personal favorites, but I know every Kentuckian has their own. What are your favorite Kentucky desserts?
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Kentucky desserts
Sarah M.|September 29, 2022
What restaurants serve the best Kentucky desserts?
Alright Kentucky desserts fans: listen up! Looking for the best banana pudding in the Bluegrass? Banana pudding is a Kentucky delicacy that's the sweetest ending to a meal. And Shirley Mae's Café does it best. Creamy, smooth, and topped with vanilla wafers, you'll be in a happy food coma after this sweet dessert! For amazing fried apple pies in Kentucky, the seasonal farm stand at Ayres Family Orchard will get you set up. (The best sweet potato pie in Kentucky, meanwhile, can be found at the Bardstown Farmers Market!) Of course, Kentucky's breads are delicious any time of day; the Flower Pot Bread from Patti's 1880s Settlement is divine, especially when served with the seasonal strawberry butter! Finally, cornbread is a staple here in Kentucky and The Freight House does it best. Their skillet cornbread is about as perfect as it gets: crispy on the edges, moist and light in the middle, and absolute bliss topped with butter and honey.
