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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Chow Photos From Monday Night's Cake Vs. Pie Battle at the CakeSpy Shop

Posted by Megan Seling on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:40 PM

On Monday night I crowded inside the CakeSpy Shop, along with dozens of other cake and pie enthusiasts to decide once and for all, which is better, cake or pie.

There were 10 representatives from each side, and a panel of judges scoring each baked good on crust (or crumb), appearance, and flavor. Contestants brought things like rosemary ricotta lemon cake, chocolate cake with mocha buttercream, blueberry rhubarb pie, peach ginger pie, and cheescake swirled with chipotle chocolate pecan butter. The room smelled amazing.

Once all the cakes and pies arrived, the judges dug in, taking small bites of everything on the table (there were two judges for pie and two judges for cake). Then, the crowd got to sample the goods. That's when the place turned into a sugar-fueled madhouse. Small paper plates heaped with slices of Italian cream cake, caramel cake, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting were passed over people's heads. Someone was shouting "Who wants blueberry pie?!" and another woman kept asking the crowd "Who wants an elegant Ding-Dong?" Everyone wanted an elegant Ding-Dong. Some people were wearing Team Cake buttons, while others supported Team Pie. Someone spilled lemonade; someone spilled a spoonful of blackberry filling onto the carpet; someone behind me said "I'm dizzy from all the sugar."

After over an hour-long feeding frenzy, the winners were announced. There were first, second, and third place finalists in both the pie and cake categories, and then one overall winner. That winner was the deciding factor on the long-standing pie vs. cake argument.

Find out who won, and see 16 delicious photos, after the jump.

This was a honey cake with sour cream frosting. Six layers of magic. It was second place in the cake category.

This was a honey cake with sour cream frosting. Six layers of magic. It was second place in the cake category.

This cake was called Gateau Alorange. It smelled delicious.

This cake was called Gateau Al'orange.

The flowers are made with sliced almonds, and there was raspberry jam filling. The cake in the background was a very decadent gluten-free fudge cake.

The flowers are made with sliced almonds, and there was raspberry jam filling. The cake in the background was a very decadent gluten-free fudge cake.

The Rhueberry (rhubarb and blueberry) pie won second place in the pie category.

The Rhueberry (rhubarb and blueberry) pie won second place in the pie category.

The baker of this carrot cake had to make a fresh cake the morning of the competition because her cat walked on the cake she baked the night before.

The baker of this carrot cake had to make a fresh cake the morning of the competition because her cat walked on the cake she baked the night before.

This was a lemony chocolate cake. It took third place in the cake category.

This was a lemony chocolate cake. It took third place in the cake category.

Mini bourbon pecan pies.

These were called Sweet Bliss but everyone kept referring to them as elegant Ding-Dongs. They had amazing cream filling inside, and the ganache was perfect--not too sweet. They took first place in the cake category.

These were called "Sweet Bliss" but everyone kept referring to them as elegant Ding-Dongs. They had amazing cream filling inside, and the ganache was perfect—not too sweet. They took first place in the cake category.

I do not remember what kind of pie it is, but it looks awesome.

I do not remember what kind of pie it is, but it looks awesome.

This is Porkchup, the pug. He did not eat any cake or pie.

This is Porkchop, the pug. He did not eat any cake or pie.

The aftermath.

And the winner is....

This ginger peach pie received a perfect score from all the judges and was declared Best of Show for its expert crust. Its official, Team Pie wins.

This ginger peach pie received a perfect score from all the judges and was declared Best of Show for its expert crust. Its official, Team Pie wins.

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Comments (36) RSS

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Team Lebo!!!

Posted by paulus on August 11, 2010 at 3:44 PM

I'd wear a team pie shirt. I'd wear it twice as often if it said "expert crust" at the bottom.

Posted by lukeiscool on August 11, 2010 at 3:46 PM

PIE > CAKE W/O ?!

Posted by brokn2pieces on August 11, 2010 at 3:56 PM

Cakes and Pies are what Jumps were made for.

Well, that and small forks.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on August 11, 2010 at 3:59 PM

Why did I not know about this??? Where does one find out about such events of vital importance? I don't remember seeing it in Suggests, but maybe that was my own FAIL...

Posted by lblah on August 11, 2010 at 4:08 PM

OH MY GOD! This is completely and utterly awesome. I wish I could have been there. Must have cake AND pie right now. LOL.

Posted by thunderchaps on August 11, 2010 at 4:11 PM

@5, it was here on Slog.

Of course Team Pie won, pie is better. And cheesecake is NOT cake; it is not leavened and thus has no cake matter in it (i.e., grossly sweetened bread). Cheesecake should be considered a pie.

Posted by Fnarf

on August 11, 2010 at 4:14 PM

Cake or pie? what a rediculous question. everyone know's it's cake or death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNjcuZ-Li…

Posted by Womyn2me $http://http:\\www.shelleyandlaura.com$ on August 11, 2010 at 4:32 PM

I'll take some ding dongs, please.

Posted by Cory on August 11, 2010 at 4:41 PM

Oh god those pictures are eeeeeeeeevil. I am a weak, weak woman.

Posted by Dee on August 11, 2010 at 4:51 PM

P.S. I confess that if one of my cats walked on a cake that I was supposed to take somewhere, I would probably just scrape any fur or paw marks off and do a touch-up with the icing to cover the incident. I am weak and bad, it seems.

Posted by Dee on August 11, 2010 at 4:59 PM

I generally prefer cake, but when I saw the words "peach ginger pie" in the first paragraph I thought it sounded like the most delicious thing in the world. Yay, I was right! Now where can I get the recipe?

Posted by Irena on August 11, 2010 at 5:15 PM

As I said yesterday, "Pie. Duh." Neener neener neener.

Posted by jen on August 11, 2010 at 5:15 PM

Mmmmm, ginger-peach pie. hrhgllrghhlrl

Posted by emma's bee on August 11, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Oh, and RM over at Questionland made one of those honey cakes once and has instructions on her blog. Looks sooo good!

http://www.areyoumyghost.com/2009/09/15-…

Posted by Irena on August 11, 2010 at 5:23 PM

Pie pride!

Posted by samktg on August 11, 2010 at 5:23 PM

@15, oh shit, is RM team cake? I have a standing rule that says she's always right, because she is, especially about food. And yet...cake...pie...CONFLICTED.

Posted by Fnarf

on August 11, 2010 at 5:29 PM

Recipes please!!!!

Posted by Smartypants on August 11, 2010 at 5:29 PM

Recipes please!!!!

Posted by Smartypants on August 11, 2010 at 5:29 PM

@12 (And, really, anyone who wants the winning recipe):

It is here: http://goodeggseattle.blogspot.com/2010/…

(Thanks to Cakespy for sharing the link!)

Posted by Megan Seling on August 11, 2010 at 5:34 PM

RECIPES! WE WANT RECIPES!

Posted by Merlin D. Bear on August 11, 2010 at 5:44 PM

In this competition, no one loses. (except diabetics).

Posted by Annag on August 11, 2010 at 6:01 PM

Oh pie, pie, delicious pie.

Yup. Pie always wins! For me anyway. And I totally want a Team Pie shirt. :-)

Posted by Jasperblu

on August 11, 2010 at 6:12 PM

That's my pie! Thanks for posting a link to the recipe, Megan. The best part about baking contests is that you get to eat the competition.

The crust recipe is on my blog, Good Egg (www.goodeggseattle.blogspot.com), but you can also get it by picking up a copy of A Commonplace Book of Pie: http://www.etsy.com/listing/44524862/a-c…

Posted by Kate Lebo

on August 11, 2010 at 6:51 PM

I love both. But, I must admit that pie has the advantage on savory. Now I want a hand pie and a nice pint.

Posted by kim in portland

on August 11, 2010 at 7:57 PM

God, I'm so hungry!

Posted by Cynic Romantic on August 11, 2010 at 8:15 PM

You did not get to eat my blueberry pie with self-rendered lard and butter crust you poor sorry people. Now it is gone.

Posted by ejamadoodle on August 11, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Hey, it was great meeting you the other night! I was the bundt cake girl. When I told my boyfriend I met you, he was so impressed/jealous. I didn't even have to mention your last name, he just knew it!

Posted by emilyadi on August 11, 2010 at 11:45 PM

The winning cake entry called Sweet Blisses (aka gourmet Ding Dongs) was made by Sweet Life Cakery in Kingston, WA. http://sweetlifecakery.net

Posted by AmberCake on August 12, 2010 at 5:07 AM

@28: "bundt cake girl"

That sounds so naughty.

Posted by Gloria on August 12, 2010 at 7:04 AM

The recipe for the almond cake (the one with flowers made of sliced almonds) can be found here:
http://350-degrees.blogspot.com/2010/08/…

Posted by miss. b on August 12, 2010 at 9:18 AM

Screw both cake and pie. I want cookies or cheesecake.

Posted by Geni on August 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Sorry...the full link for the almond cake recipe is:
http://350-degrees.blogspot.com/2010/08/…

Posted by miss. b on August 12, 2010 at 8:46 PM

I look forward to the tea party sponsored war of 3012 Cake vs Pie. I have 30 spacebucks on cake. (30 is a lot in the future)

Posted by Fenrox on August 13, 2010 at 9:12 AM

That pie that you don't remember the flavor of, but looks amazing was a 'Bacon Cherry' pie - Bacon in the crust, cherry filling, all around AMAZING!

Posted by Quazie on August 13, 2010 at 3:34 PM

Should I feel slighted that you managed to mention the dog, but you didn't mention the fact that I was brought in to read cake and pie poetry for the event? I'm not taking it personally, but a mention would've been nice.

Posted by Evan J Peterson on August 25, 2010 at 12:01 AM