08/02/2026
The results are in! 🥧
Another year of the Delaware State Fair is in the books, and I couldn't be happier with how my pies did. Nine entries, seven ribbons, and plenty of lessons learned along the way!
🥇 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲
🌽 Street Corn Quiche
🥧 Baked 9" Crust
The Street Corn Quiche was probably my biggest surprise. I wasn't sure how the judges would react to the crushed Takis (would it be too much?!), but turns out the spice and crunch were exactly what they liked about it. Sometimes taking a chance pays off!
🥈 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲
🍋 Lemon Gingersnap
☕ Mocha Pecan
🍑 Peach Walnut Crumb
The Peach Walnut Crumb deserves its own story. After Molly's "quality control" incident with pie #1, I had to make a second one at the last minute. The judges noted that the peaches were "uneven"—and they were absolutely right. I had to use frozen peaches because I couldn't find ripe ones in time, and some were definitely firmer than others. (Pie #1 had beautiful, ripe peaches...but apparently wasn't meant to be.) So I'll gladly accept that 2nd place ribbon. Thanks, Molly.
The Mocha Pecan had a little redemption moment, too. This pie debuted in 2018, my first year entering the fair, and didn't place. One judge's comment was that there was "too much going on"—but I mean...chocolate? Good. Coffee? Good. Cinnamon? Also good. What's not to like?
This year I simplified the name from Chocolate-Coffee-Cinnamon Pecan to Mocha Pecan, and it came home with a 2nd place ribbon. Sometimes you just have to believe in your pie.
🥉 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲
🫐 Blueberry Lattice
🍎 Apple Brown Sugar Crumb
No major notes on the Apple Brown Sugar Crumb, but the flavor and crumb were enjoyed. And honestly? As long as it's still the #1 pie with my friends and family, that's what matters most.
Thank you to everyone who has followed along, cheered me on, and encouraged me to keep entering year after year. ❤️
That's a wrap on the 2026 Delaware State Fair...and maybe the biggest lesson this year is that "too much" isn't always a bad thing. Don't worry about being too much. Sometimes too much passion, too much creativity, and too much trying something new is exactly what makes something special.
