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 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 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.
- 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.
- I do not remember what kind of pie it is, but it looks awesome.
- This is Porkchop, the pug. He did not eat any cake or pie.
- The aftermath.
- 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.
