Baking a Blue-Ribbon Recipe: Tips for Success

County fairs offer lots of different avenues for participants to express their interests and passions, including culinary. Do you have a family pie recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation? Or a new cookie recipe that you created that is always a crowd pleaser? Whether you are young or old, consider entering your baked goodies into the fair this year. Here are some tips for blue-ribbon success at the fair.

First, make sure you read the fair rulebook carefully! There are specific guidelines that should be followed if you plan to enter any food item into the fair. For example, no foods that need refrigeration or may be a food safety concern. You may also have to have a certain number of cookies per plate or bring it to the fair in a certain way.

Second, make sure you read your recipe and practice! Don’t plan on baking a recipe for the first time the night before it is to be judged. Consistency is key in baking. Make sure your cookies or cake layers are the same size. Know how long it takes to bake and cool to have the perfect final product. And don’t rush, as that is when mistakes happen. A judge doesn’t want to taste 1 tablespoon of salt when it was supposed to be 1 tablespoon of sugar! Make sure to prepare it for friends and family and ask for their honest feedback too. Input earlier helps you make sure you bring a blue-ribbon product to the fair. It is not only how the product tastes but how it looks that will get you the coveted ribbon.

Last, have fun! Whether you get a blue ribbon or not, participating in the fair is a great way to share your skills and favorite recipes and learn from others.

So, grab that apron, pull out your mixing bowls, and start baking. Whether you enter your treasured baked goods into the fair or not, you can get in the spirit of the fair this month by baking for your friends and family in your own kitchen.

Looking to increase your knowledge, find new recipes, or improve your techniques? Join us for one of our hands-on cooking classes or explore the Home Baking Association’s website at www.homebaking.org.

by Chelsea King, Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent, 2025