Celebrate 150 Years of the Kentucky Derby with a Festive Tea Party

Find Kentucky Derby tea party inspiration to celebrate the 150^th Run for the Roses. You’ll find table and menu inspiration to host a tea or watch party with recipes for Buttercream Rose Mint Julep Cupcakes, Patchwork Tea Sandwiches, Cheddar Cheese Wafers, Brown Butter-Bourbon Scones and Sweet Tea Juleps.

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to April’s edition of Tea on Tuesdays,

a celebration of tea on the third Tuesday of every month.

Pam and I are excited to welcome our special guest

Bonnie at Living with Thanksgiving, today.

We’re glad you’re here, pour yourself a cuppa or glass of iced tea and join us!

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The Kentucky Derby is the longest continually held sporting event in America.

May 4^th marks the 150th Run for the Roses,

often referred to as ‘The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports’.

I was hoping to be outdoors for our tea party, but Mother Nature with her

stormy weather and 35mph wind gusts put a damper on my plans.

You’re invited to join me on the porch for a Kentucky Derby-inspired tea party,

don’t forget to wear your fanciest hat! 👒

🐎 🌹 🐎 🌹 🐎

We’re raising a glass to 150th Run for the Roses and

quenching our thirst with a Sweet Tea Julep. . .

. . .a marriage of two classic Southern drinks,

the Mint Julep and Sweet Tea!

For 4 servings you’ll need:

½ cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

1 lemon, use a citrus peeler to make fancy lemon wheel slices

2 tablespoons sugar

3 cups cold sweetened tea

1 cup bourbon

Crushed ice

Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Muddle cut or torn mint leaves with sugar in a 2-qt. pitcher with back of spoon to release flavors.

Stir in tea and bourbon and add lemon slices. Serve over crushed ice.

No tea party is complete without a scone!

Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth,

I was thrilled to spy Brown Butter-Bourbon Scones

 at the bakery at Publix. ;)

I added a simple vanilla confectioners’ sugar drizzle to the scones.

They’re served on assorted Gracie China Rose Chintz Plates

with a pretty Victorian tart server.

 Patchwork Tea Sandwiches are pretty open face tea sandwiches,

assembled with thinly sliced cucumber, radishes, and strawberries,

and garnished with edible violas and herbs!

I started with a vegetable cream cheese spread on Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Bread

for the tea sandwiches.

Use a mandoline to make thin slices or strips from an English or seedless cucumber,

radishes and strawberries (large strawberries work best).

Drain the slices on paper towels to absorb excess moisture before assembling.

Spread the cream cheese on your bread slices then place your strips/slices on top of cream cheese,

overlapping slightly and pressing down gently.

Trim crusts of bread and slice sandwiches corner-to-corner, into triangles

Garnish with edible flowers and herbs; I used violas, sprigs of thyme, chives and parsley.

To assemble tea sandwiches a day ahead, cover your assembled sandwiches with damp paper towels

and a layer of plastic wrap and place in the fridge to keep them moist.

Garnish with flowers and herbs right before serving.

Note: Strawberry tea sandwiches are best the day they are assembled.

For a savory bite, we’re enjoying Cheddar Cheese Wafers with Pecans.

If you’re a fan of cheese straws, I think you’ll love these!

 You can make these a couple of days in advance and your food processor does all the work,

from shredding the cheese, then mixing the ingredients together.

I’ve shared this recipe previously as Thumbprint Cheese Wafers with Pecans.

Forgo the thumbprint impression and enjoy them jam-free,

(the way my hubby prefers them),

making a crosshatch pattern with your fork before baking.

Printable recipe, HERE

And last but not least, Buttercream Rose Mint Julep Cupcakes are a sweet ending

to your Kentucky Derby tea or watch party,

served in a pretty teacup, garnished with a sprig of mint!

You can doctor a box cake mix for this easy Kentucky Derby-inspired cupcake!

Make these cupcakes according to the box directions using a yellow cake mix

adding the ingredients called for, but substituting

1/3 cup of bourbon for part of the water.

I used a Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix which calls for 1 cup water, 3 large eggs and 1/2 cup oil,

so I used 1/3 cup bourbon and 2/3 cup water.

Bake your cupcakes according to the box directions, allowing them to cool before frosting.

To pipe a rose and for the frosting to hold its shape, I used a Vanilla American Buttercream,

adding a 1/2 teaspoon of Crème de Menthe Extract.

 American Buttercream is typically a 1:2 ratio of butter to powdered sugar, recipe HERE.

Warning: Crème de Menthe Extract is strong, as it is concentrated, so start with 1/2 teaspoon;

taste and adjust, adding more if needed and the frosting isn’t mint-y enough for you. 

To make a rose with frosting, fill a piping bag fitted with an open star tip (1M or 2D)

and your buttercream frosting.

Hold your tip above the center of your cupcake at a 90° angle and squeeze out frosting to form a star.

Without releasing pressure, raise tip slightly as you pipe a circle of frosting around the star

in a tight complete rotation, decreasing pressure when you reach

the outer edge of the cupcake to create the rose.

Table Details:

Tablecloth & Napkins / Ralph Lauren Antibes, HomeGoods, several years ago

Floral Teacups / Gracie China, similar

Dinner Plates / Mikasa Endearment

Gracie China Rose Chintz Porcelain 8-Inch Dessert Plates

Wallace Hotel Flatware

Ice Tea Glasses / vintage, mother-in-law’s

Similar White Cake Pedestal Stands

Napkin Rings / Pottery Barn, several years ago

Shop for Kentucky Derby Hats HERE

You might also like:

Mini Derby Pies with Bourbon Whipped Cream

Mini Derby Pies marry pecan pie with chocolate and a touch of Kentucky bourbon for a winning trifecta!

A Bluegrass-inspired recipe that’s just the right size for “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

I hope you’re inspired to host your own Kentucky Derby tea or watch party!

🐎 🌹 🫖

 Join Pam and Bonnie for tea:

Pam at Everyday Living

Bonnie at Living with Thanksgiving

Thank you for your visit, sharing with:

 Between Naps on the Porch