Phyllis Szymanek of Toledo, Ohio, has won amateur Best of Show twice: in 2009 with Category Five Peanut Butter Pie and in 2011 with Royal Macadamia Raspberry Pie. The APC reported 301 amateur entries across 17 flavors in 2011. Each win carried $5,000 and a Sears Kenmore range, per the APC’s releases.
The winning pie
A Crisco-based crust with ground macadamia nuts holds a cream cheese and Cool Whip filling, also made with ground macadamias. The pie is topped with a glaze of fresh raspberries and raspberry Jello. No published recipe has been located.
Sources
- 2011 National Pie Champions (archived), American Pie Council
- 17th Annual APC Crisco National Pie Championships Winners Announced (April 19, 2011), Perishable News
- 2009 National Pie Champions (archived), American Pie Council
- American Pie Council Names North America’s Top Bakers in 15th Annual APC/Crisco National Pie Championships (May 6, 2009), FoodReference.com