Ballarat Crowns Its 2026 People’s Choice Pie

Emma Conroy, owner of Emma's Bakery

Ballarat has crowned its favourite pie for 2026, with Emma’s Bakery taking the top honour in the city’s popular Ballarat’s Best Pie competition.

After a month of pastry, creativity and thousands of public votes, Emma’s Bakery won the People’s Choice Pie title with its Meredith Dairy goat deluxe pie, highlighting Ballarat’s reputation for regional produce, innovative food and memorable culinary experiences.

Emma’s Bakery Takes the People’s Choice Crown

The winning Meredith Dairy goat deluxe pie brings together locally sourced ingredients and traditional pie-making craftsmanship.

The pie features goat shoulder that has been slow cooked until tender, with a cube of Meredith Dairy goat cheese placed in the centre. As the pie is eaten, the creamy goat cheese melts into the rich filling, creating a distinctive take on the classic Australian pie.

The combination of regional produce and creative cooking helped Emma’s Bakery capture the public vote and take first place in the 2026 People’s Choice competition.

Creative Flavours Take Second and Third Place

Mrs Browne Bakes Banana and honey
 miso caramel gold fever hand pie

Mrs Browne Bakes claimed second place with its Banana and honey miso caramel gold fever hand pie, a sweet creation inspired by Ballarat’s famous goldfields.

The hand pie combines banana, honey, miso, smoked salt, eggs and cream in a caramelised filling, finished with a crisp fuilletine crunch. Its unusual combination of sweet and savoury flavours provided a creative interpretation of Ballarat's food heritage.

Third place went to Sovereign Hill for its Slow-cooked blade steak pepper pie. The hearty pie features slow-cooked steak encased in golden pastry and draws inspiration from Ballarat’s goldfields during the 1850s.

Sovereign Hill’s creation also received the Best Bakery Pie award in the overall competition.

Ballarat’s Best Pie Celebrates Local Food

The 2026 Ballarat’s Best Pie competition ran throughout August, bringing together 30 restaurants, bakeries, breweries and artisans from across Ballarat.

More than 23,000 pies were sold and enjoyed during the month, demonstrating the popularity of the annual food trail with both local residents and visitors.

The competition showcased an impressive range of flavours, from traditional comfort food to inventive new creations. Several new participants also joined the trail, introducing fresh ideas and flavours to Ballarat’s culinary scene.

Many participating venues recorded sell-out days as demand grew throughout the month, creating a strong boost for local hospitality businesses during winter.

Discover Ballarat Through Food

Meredith Dairy Goat Deluxe Pie

from Emma's Bakery

Ballarat’s Best Pie demonstrates how food can provide a delicious way to discover a destination. Regional produce, local businesses and creative recipes combined to create an event that encouraged visitors to explore the city while supporting its hospitality industry.

For travellers planning a Ballarat getaway, the city's historic attractions, cultural experiences, dining scene and regional produce provide plenty of reasons to stay longer and explore.

Visit Ballarat

Website: https://www.visitballarat.com.au/
Address: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

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