All our desserts are winners, but these tasty county fair desserts have the ribbons to prove it!
20 Blue-Ribbon Winning County Fair Desserts
Updated on Feb. 07, 2024
First-Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband’s favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin
1/20
2/20
Golden Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pies are the dessert I like best to prepare. This one's the favorite for family get-togethers, and it has been awarded blue ribbons at a couple of local fairs. —Theresa Brazil, Petaluma, California
3/20
Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As someone who grew up in the country, I love getting out into nature whenever I can. I also love home-style recipes, including these yummy brownies. —Carol Prewett, Cheyenne, Wyoming
4/20
Cherry No-Bake Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added almond extract and voila! I won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
5/20
Streuseled Zucchini Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Inspired by an abundance of zucchini, I found a new way to use it up in this spiced and lightly sweet cake. It even won a blue ribbon at our county fair! —Regina Stock, Topeka, Kansas
6/20
Texas Pecan Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I won a blue ribbon for this pie at the Texas State Fair. Since I was in the military for more than 20 years, I didn’t really start cooking until after I retired. Now I enjoy spending my time in the kitchen. —Michelle Shockley, Wichita, Kansas
7/20
Blueberry Lattice Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Because our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for great new berry recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely yummy bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine
8/20
Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite, and you’ll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania
9/20
Double Peanut Pie
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this recipe for a national pie contest and won second place for my state. Many peanuts are grown in Virginia, and I always look for ways to use local products. —Vivian Cleeton, Richmond, Virginia
10/20
Apple-Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A layer of sweetened cream cheese topped with a tart fruit filling makes this pie popular with family, friends and co-workers. It won the blue ribbon at a local fair. —Donna Rettew, Jonestown, Pennsylvania
11/20
Apricot Bars
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is down-home baking at its best, and it really represents all regions of the country. It's won blue ribbons at county fairs and cookie contests in several states! Easy to make, it's perfect for potluck suppers, bake sales, lunchboxes or just plain snacking.—Jill Moritz, Irvine, California
12/20
Fudge Pecan Brownie Tart
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love inventing my own recipes and entering contests—I won a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair for this one! —Gloria Kratz, Des Moines, Iowa
13/20
Pear Pie
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I entered this pie in a local baking contest and ended up winning! Bartlett pears hold up well when baked, adding a nice layer of texture. —Darlene Jacobson, Waterford, Wisconsin
14/20
Amish Sugar Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I've passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
15/20
Cashew Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Some merry dairy snacking is guaranteed when you pass out these cashew-packed goodies! I found the recipe years ago in a flier promoting dairy products. It's been this farm wife's standby ever since. —June Lindquist, Hammond, Wisconsin
16/20
Caramel Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I developed this recipe through the years to get it exactly where we want it. I've entered several pie contests with it and placed first each time—one bite and you'll know why this pie's a winner! —Laurel Dalzell, Manteca, California
17/20
Red Velvet Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvets I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. For quicker assembly, you can leave the layers untrimmed and simply frost the top and side of the cake with icing. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina
18/20
Rhubarb Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We have two prolific rhubarb plants, so I’m always looking for new ways to use the harvest. The recipe for these soft, delicious cookies, flavored with coconut, was given to me by a friend. —Shauna Schneyder, Idaho Falls, Idaho
19/20
Marble Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This confection’s a proven winner—it earned me a blue ribbon and was named Division Champion at the county fair in my hometown! It’s our favorite. I’m the third generation in the family to make it. —LuAnn Heikkila, Floodwood, Minnesota
20/20
Contest-Winning Chocolate Potato Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I won grand champion honors in a potato festival baking contest with this moist chocolate cake. The icing recipe can be doubled for real sweet tooths. A great-grandma, I’ve spent over 85 years on the farm. —Catherine Hahn, Winamac, Indiana
