Apple Pie & Dessert Contest
Celebrate Bayfield’s apple harvest by entering the annual Bayfield Apple Pie & Dessert Contest. Home bakers, local businesses and young bakers are invited to showcase their best apple-inspired creations using apples grown or purchased in Bayfield.
2026 Contest Details
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Location: Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion
Entry Drop-Off: 3:00–3:45 p.m.
Judging Begins: 4:00 p.m.
Community Tasting: 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Community Tasting Entry Fee: $5 Without 2026 Apple Festival Button I $4 with 2026 Apple Festival Button
*Late entries will not be accepted.*
How to Enter
Bring your completed pie or dessert entry to the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion between 3:00 and 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23.
Each entry must include:
- A completed contest application
- A full recipe with a complete list of ingredients
- The variety of Bayfield apples used
- The location where the apples were purchased or picked
Please label the bottom of your pie or dessert container with your name, address and phone number for ease of return.
Each entry may be judged in only one category.
Contest Categories
Home-Baked All-American Apple Pie
A traditional 9-inch, double-crust apple pie made with Bayfield apples, flour, sugar or an approved sugar substitute, shortening, liquid and spices. Nontraditional ingredients are not permitted.
Commercial All-American Apple Pie
A traditional 9-inch, double-crust apple pie submitted on behalf of a business. The same ingredient and preparation guidelines as the Home-Baked All-American Apple Pie category apply.
Home-Baked Creative Apple Pie
An apple pie made with Bayfield apples. Creative and nontraditional ingredients are welcome.
Home-Baked Apple Dessert
Any homemade apple dessert made with Bayfield apples. Pies are not permitted in this category.
Commercial Apple Dessert
An apple dessert made with Bayfield apples and submitted on behalf of a business. Pies are not permitted in this category.
Youth Apple Pie & Dessert
Open to bakers age 18 and younger. Entries must be made with Bayfield apples.
All-American Apple Pie Guidelines
Entries in the Home-Baked or Commercial All-American Apple Pie categories must follow the contest’s traditional pie guidelines.
Guidelines for Home Baked & Commercial All-American Pie Categories
Apples
Only apples purchased or picked in Bayfield may be used. Any apple variety may be used in fresh, frozen or dehydrated form.
Crust
All-American pies must have a double crust. A variety of flours and fats may be used, including gluten-free flour, butter, margarine, lard or shortening. Powdered and flaked shortenings are not permitted.
Sweeteners and Thickeners
Approved sweeteners include sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, corn sweetener, Splenda, dextrose and glucose syrup.
Approved thickeners include flour, cornstarch, potato starch, tapioca, rice starch and arrowroot.
Liquids and Seasonings
Water, apple juice, lemon juice and natural apple concentrate or flavoring may be used. Liqueurs are not permitted.
Seasonings may vary, but the finished flavor should remain recognizable as a traditional apple pie.
No coloring may be added to the filling, liquid or crust.
Finishing the Pie
Top-crust washes may include sugar, milk, butter, eggs or natural flavorings.
Entries must be fully assembled and ready for judging when dropped off. Judges will not add side sauces, toppings or other finishing elements.
Judging Criteria
A panel of judges will score each entry on a scale of 1 to 5 in three areas:
Appearance
Judges will consider the crust’s color, consistency, cracks and decorative presentation.
Flavor
Entries should have balanced sweetness and spice, with a memorable apple flavor.
Texture
Judges will look for a flaky yet tender crust and apples that are properly cooked without becoming overly soft.
Prizes and Community Tasting
First- and second-place prizes will be awarded in each category following judging.
All submitted entries become the property of the Apple Festival Committee and will be served during the Community Tasting from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion.
Contest winners and their recipes may be shared with local media and featured on Bayfield.org or the Bayfield, Wisconsin Facebook page. Contestants who do not want their recipe published should clearly note that on the recipe submitted with their entry.
2025 Contest Winners
Commercial Apple Pie
🥇 Beta Bodin, Sweet Sailing
🥈 Nestia from Moldova, Sweet Sailing
Home-Baked All-American Apple Pie
🥇 Beth Erickson
🥈 Nora Cadotte
Youth Pie and Dessert
🥇 Elana Bethany Koch
Home-Baked Creative Apple Pie
🥇 Marnie Krueger (Cran-Apple Cheddar Holiday Pie)
🥈 Serenity Walker
Commercial Apple Dessert
🥇 Sharon Johnson (Caramel Apple Custard Cake), Pier Plaza
🥈 Janine Johnson (Apple Crumble Cake), Pier Plaza
Home-Baked Apple Dessert
🥇 Shelli McMullen
🥈 Michael Burg
Entry Form
Download and complete the official contest application and recipe form before arriving. Bring the completed form, recipe and entry to the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion during the designated drop-off period.
