Mint Julep Sundaes for Kentucky Derby Parties (Gluten-Free)

Try my Mint Julep Sundaes, you will love them! Are you planning a Kentucky Derby party this weekend? (The Derby is always held on the first Saturday in May.) How about a spin on the classic Derby cocktail for dessert? Mint ice cream covered with a Chocolate-Bourbon sauce – it is a winner’s circle treat!

There is no better way to honor the most exciting day in horse racing than putting a fun spin on the traditional Mint Julep. This time instead of a sipping on a bourbon and mint cocktail, we are going to have the mint in ice cream and the bourbon in the chocolate sauce — oh baby!

I dream of meandering along the Bourbon Trail, sipping bourbons throughout Kentucky and debating which is our top pick. Seeing the beauty of the rolling bluegrass-covered hills and lush pastoral vistas with grazing thoroughbreds. In my mind there is nothing more beautiful or peaceful and I swear I can smell the honeysuckle in the air.

In the past I have shared traditional Juleps, Southern Biscuits, Chicken Burgoo, Hot Brown Sandwiches, and a Mint Julep Cake. Or you can try my Chocolate Brownie Bourbon Gelato for a dessert your friends will be asking for again and again. And if you want an incredible ham to fill those biscuits with, try my Baked Ham with Bourbon-Chili Glaze.

Can you tell I love to cook with bourbon? I promise, there are plenty of recipes incorporating bourbon on my blog! And before you start yelling about it not being safe for people avoiding gluten, I know. Those with Celiac and anyone with severe sensitivities may want to avoid it. Not because it was made from grain (gluten is destroyed in the distillation process) but because in some cases the distiller adds caramel coloring to enhance the appearance and that may be the culprit. But if you are low on the sensitivity scale like I am, you can enjoy it on occasion.

Short Cut! In addition to using store-bought ice cream (hint below), you can also use a jarred chocolate fudge ice cream sauce. I personally like Fran’s brand, but any sauce you like and that doesn’t have gluten ingredients works fine. A “hot fudge” sauce has the best consistency for this trick. Put a few heaping spoons of the chocolate into a bowl. Pour a splash of the bourbon into the bowl and mix until it is smooth and creamy. Spoon this over the ice cream and you have a dessert in minutes!

But if you want to make your own chocolate-bourbon sauce from scratch, I’ve included a recipe below. Both the homemade and modified store-bought desserts are delicious and for me it all depends on how much I have going on and whether I have the time to make the sauce myself. The good news is that the sauce can be made ahead and if you make your own ice cream, it will last in the freezer for at least a week or two. The dessert components can be made well in advance – a major time saver!

 

If you are hosting a large party where you have a lot of dishes to make and get on the table, take a short cut on dessert. Use a good store-bought ice cream and your guests will be happy campers!

I rarely use corn syrup, but when you are making a cooked sugar confection such as caramel or this chocolate sauce, it will give you beautiful creamy and shiny sauces every time. Corn syrup has a remarkable ability to reduce the occurrence of crystallization, the chemical reaction that causes sugar syrups to be grainy. When I make fudge, sauces, and caramels, corn syrup helps it turn out every time.

So, as you get ready for this coming weekend’s race, make this Chocolate Bourbon sauce, pull out a beautiful dish, scoop in some mint ice cream, pour on the sauce and tuck in a sprig of fresh mint for a Mint Julep Sundae. Get fancied up in your finery, put on your most elegant or outlandish bonnet, and sit down to enjoy the race while eating these sundaes. I promise that your Derby celebrations will never be the same! 🙂

These Mint Julep Sundaes are the best way to wrap up your nibbling during the lead up to race time and celebrating the winner! Enjoy every single bite!

Did you enjoy this recipe? Let me know in the comments and leave a star rating, I love hearing from you!

 

Ingredients needed for Mint Julep Sundaes with Chocolate Bourbon Sauce:

• Chocolate-Bourbon Sauce: Sugar, corn syrup or golden syrup unsweetened cocoa powder, water, dark chocolate, bourbon*, salt
• Sundaes: Chocolate chip mint ice cream (homemade or store bought) or your favorite flavor of ice cream, fresh mint sprigs

 

PRO Tip:

For ease this time I used store-bought ice cream, but if you want to make your own, try this wonderful recipe from my friend Irvin Lin of Eat the Love. You will be amazed at his blog and recipes, always so beautiful and delicious. And take a look at his cookbook, Marbled, Swirled and Layered from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt! It is stunning and a personal favorite of mine!

 

How to make Mint Julep Sundaes with Chocolate Bourbon Sauce:

1. Chocolate Bourbon Sauce: Combine the sugar, corn syrup, cocoa, and water in a medium saucepan (nonstick for easier cleaning), bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When it is at a full boil, reduce the heat and simmer until it thickens, about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t scorch.
2. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the chopped chocolate, bourbon, and salt. Whisking constantly, place the pan back over the heat and bring back to a simmer. Cook until thick and smooth, about 5 more minutes.
3. Cool slightly before serving. You can make the sauce up to a week in advance. As soon as it is cool, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
4. Assemble the Sundaes: Scoop the ice cream into bowls, top with some of the sauce and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Serve immediately with a little extra bourbon on the side for those who want to add a touch more to their bowls.

 

PRO Tip:

If you are making this for someone who is celiac or highly reactive and they are concerned about the bourbon in the sauce, you can replace it with an equal amount of potato vodka plus 1 tbsp brown sugar. It will be a fairly close flavor without the risk of getting anyone sick. Check out the gluten-free note below for more details on distilled spirits.

 

Recommended Tools (affiliate links; no extra cost to you):

• Kitchen scale
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Ice cream scoop
• Small ladle
• Nonstick saucepan
• Silicone whisk
• Small glasses (optional)

 

Gluten-Free Tips:

*NOTE: The major gluten-free organizations have declared that distilled alcohols are gluten free. But some distillers may use caramel coloring or flavorings which sometimes contain gluten. For some very sensitive people this may cause issues. If you are making this for a very reactive person, or if they have Celiac disease, you can use potato vodka mixed with two teaspoons brown sugar in place of the bourbon in these Mint Julep Sundaes.

All recommended ingredients are gluten-free as of the writing of this article. Always check to be sure the products haven’t changed and are still safe to consume.

 

 

 

 

Create a New Tradition Today!

 

Welcome! The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. Please see the Disclaimers/Privacy Policy page for additional details. Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, please contact me. We participate 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases without any additional cost to you. This page may contain affiliate links. This post was first shared in April 2015. The article was updated in 2023.