18 Kentucky Derby Desserts: The South's Best

If I could choose just one dessert to serve at a Kentucky Derby party, it would hands-down be this southern style peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream melting over a warm serving of the juicy dish. You can make it with fresh peaches or canned peaches and the crispy, buttery cobbler topping is one that will have you making this recipe again and again.

Pecans and shortbread go hand in hand in the south. Add a little dash of bourbon to the mix and you're ready for the ultimate end to your Derby party.

Need to keep it easy? Hosting doesn't need to be difficult. Grab a huge vanilla cheesecake from Costco and prep this triple berry sauce for drizzling over the top. Add some fresh seasonal berries for the perfect touch.

This pretty pink lemonade cake tastes amazing served chilled from the fridge and could be a refreshing dessert to serve on a hot afternoon of Derby fun.

For a unique dessert, make a batch of homemade buttermilk biscuits and sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top before baking. Serve them on a party platter with whipped honey butter and a mason jar of this delicious no cook blackberry freezer jam.

Want to win the prize for most elegant Derby dessert? You can prep the elements to this easy lemon meringue tart in advance and then just assemble the morning before the Derby party.

A classic poke cake recipe is always a hit on a hot spring afternoon with the chilled gelatin filling and creamy whipped topping. Mix and match the fruits you display on top to match your Derby decor.

Southern style bundt cakes are always a party pleaser. This zesty orange chocolate chip bundt cake is amazing with or without the chocolate ganache drizzle over the top. You could swap it for a bourbon orange glaze to go with the Derby theme.

Serve warm roasted cherries in parfait glasses over scoops of vanilla ice cream. You could add 1 - 2 tablespoons of orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or rum or bourbon to the cherries at the end of the roasting for extra flavor.

Pick up an angel food cake or individual sponge cakes from the grocery store and add this homemade strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries, and dollops of whipped cream for a shortcut strawberry shortcake dessert.

Pretty red grapes are nestled under that delicious cream cheese and brown sugar dressing. Topped with crispy pecans, this sweet grape salad is an easy no bake dessert that is always a hit at a party.

Be sure to add a bowl of this no-mayo ambrosia salad to your Derby dessert table. Guests will love adding a dollop to their plates because it is cold and refreshing and pairs perfectly with almost any savory Kentucky Derby appetizers you've got planned.

This stunning strawberry cream cheese tart is shockingly easy to prepare and will be a gorgeous addition to your party dessert table. You can mix and match the fruits on top to add any colors you want to your party theme.

This easy peach quick bread has a delicate almond flavored glaze drizzled over the top and real fresh peaches all throughout the spongy bread. You could easily call it a fresh peach cake and serve it with tea or coffee.

Homemade peach freezer jam can be used in a wide variety of easy desserts. Warm it up and drizzle over ice cream, a plain pound cake, or spread it over shortbread cookies for a fresh and fruity taste of the South.

I love to serve these caramelized grilled peaches as a side dish for my favorite rum glazed pork tenderloins but they also make an incredible dessert all on their own or when served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Another bite-sized dessert you could add to a buffet table would be these fresh peach scones, with or without white chocolate chips added to the mix. They pair perfectly with a cup of tea for an afternoon nibble.

Cut a pan of these easy butterscotch blondies into bite-sized squares and pile them up on a 3-tier tray for your party table. Watch them disappear in a flash.