If you love baking or eating apple pie… then you are in for a treat! As part of this year’s Battle of Bennington celebrations, the Bennington Fire Department and the Daughters of the American Revolution (Ormsby Chapter) with support from the Bennington Regional Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to present the inaugural “Battle of the Pies.” This baking contest is both an opportunity to test your pie-making skills and compete to win a cash prize, or simply an opportunity for you to eat apple pie to your heart’s content.”
Did you know that apples are the official state fruit? Even better… in 1991 Vermont made apple pie it’s official state pie! The legislation also specifies that; “When serving apple pie in Vermont, a “good faith” effort shall be made to meet one or more of the following conditions: (a) with a glass of cold milk, (b) with a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of 1/2 ounce, (c) with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.” To help honor this legislation, Cabot Cheese and Wilcox Dairy have both agreed to sponsor this event and provide the cheese and ice cream.
To register to compete in the baking contest, go to bennington.com/battleday and scroll to the bottom of the page to download your pie entry form. A $5 donation is requested, with all proceeds to benefit the Bennington Fire Department and the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ormsby Chapter. The registration deadline is August 15.
The Battle of the Pies will be held at 423 Main Street on Saturday August 18. Bring your pies between 3:30 and 4:30 pm, with judging to start promptly at 5 pm. After each pie is judged, pie slices will be available for sale, with your choice of milk, ice cream, or cheddar cheese if you so choose! The Battle of the Pies continues the next day with the pie contest winners marching in the parade if they wish to, and pie slices being sold at that same location from 11 am to 3 pm, or until the pie runs out.