The American Pie Council has announced that it is expanding the upcoming APC National Pie Championships to offer opportunities for more bakers to test their skills in even more flavor categories than ever before.

Four new flavor categories have been added to the thirty plus flavors typically offered at the competition. These new flavor categories include: Beef Pot Pie sponsored by the Florida Beef Council; Pecan Pie sponsored by Karo Corn Syrup; Mango Pie sponsored by the National Mango Board and Pear Pie sponsored by USA Pears.

The new sweet and savory flavor categories will be open to all of four divisions this year, including the professional and amateurs. Last year, the annual competition was revived with commercial and independent bakers to great success after a three-year COVID hiatus, paving the way for the amateur and professional divisions to compete this year.

“There is no better time than on National Pie Day, with the nation’s focus on America’s most-beloved dessert, to announcement these enhancements to our 27-year-old competition,” says Rick Hoskins, chief executive officer, Colborne Foodbotics, and APC board president. The goal of the championships is to provide an opportunity for as many bakers as possible to showcase their inventive skills among their peers. These new flavor categories are sure to inspire many creative recipes among our now full field of competitors.”

Entry forms will be available on the new APC website, which will be live in February. Interested bakers are invited to follow the APC’s Facebook and Instagram pages or sign up to receive APC news for an announcement once the forms are live.

Entries for amateurs and professionals will be limited on a first-come, first-serve basis, and available in the four new flavor categories only this year, with the goal of offering all flavors for 2025. Commercial and independent bakers will be competing in all thirty plus flavors, as well as the four new ones. Special prizes will be awarded for each of the new flavor categories.

The 2024 APC National Pie Championships will take place in Kissimmee, Florida on April 29 and 30, at the Embassy Suites South of Lake Buena Vista.