There was plenty of pie and bragging rights to go around at the Batavia Mothers Club Pie Bakeoff Sunday during the annual Batavia MainStreet Block Party and Batavia Taste event.
Some of the pie recipes were handed down through generations while others were experiments and last-minute bakes, organizers said. After judging, the public could buy a slice of pie for $5.
Eunice Turnbaugh was awarded first place in the fruit pie division. She made a pie with freshly picked apples grown from an apple tree in her back yard in Batavia.
“This was a last-minute decision to make a pie,” Turnbaugh said.
“I baked the pie this morning on a whim. I had bags of apples from my apple tree and my friend encouraged me to enter the bakeoff,” she said Sunday.
Jennifer Nallenweg won first place in the non-fruit category for her rhubarb custard pie.
Batavia Mothers Club President Amanda Horne said this year’s pie bakeoff brought in 27 contestants.
“The pie bakeoff is one of our most popular fundraisers,” Horne said.
The organization donates the money generated to non-profit charities and local teachers.
Lisa Moore, a human resources manager at the Batavia Public Library, was recruited to participate as a judge along with Batavia Library Trustees Christy Ford and Jenny Culotta in the fruit pie category.
They had samplings of apple, blueberry, peach and rhubarb pies.
“They all taste awesome,” Moore said.
Kristen Jonsson baked a raspberry lemon meringue pie that got her second place in the non-fruit category based on the meringue.
“I got a cool baking spoon. I have never won a baking contest so it’s rather exciting,” she said.
The baker nicked her forearm on the hot oven pulling the crust out of the oven.
“I actually do a lot of baking. The raspberry lemon meringue was my husband Sven’s idea,” she said.
Aaron Kilburg was recruited to participate as a judge in the fruit-pie category that had 12 contestants. The pies were judged on overall appearance, taste and impression.
“I feel as though I have been preparing for this my whole life,” Kilburg said. “Pie is my favorite dessert.”
Jennifer Christopherson is a self-proclaimed “serious” pie baker.
More Top Picks Best Toddler Night Lights For Sleep
“An appetizing pie crust is flaky and the fruit filling is not too sweet or sour,” Christopherson said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.