There were 28 entries to the pumpkin dessert contest at Skidompha Library on Saturday, Oct. 11 as part of the Pumpkinfest weekend in Damariscotta.

With Heather Troydl, chairperson of the Pumpkinfest Dessert Contest officiating, and Ashley and Kelly Sawyer volunteering their time, the tasting got underway around noon.

Three judges sampled all the delectable looking desserts with pumpkin as the main ingredient, and chose a first place winner, a second place winner, a third place winner, and two runners-up.

The judges who were lucky enough to be chosen for this sweet contest were Susan Axelrod, food critic and writer from the Portland Press Herald; Standard Baking Co. of Portland owner Alison Gray; and Becky Shepherd, owner of Wild Oats Bakery in Brunswick.

Axelrod said it's not always easy to choose winners in food contests.

“I've done a lot of these contests, and it can be difficult with three judges because we may all like different things.”

Axelrod said it's not always the entries with the best presentations that taste the best.

King Arthur Flour was the sponsor of the event this year, and donated prizes of money, King Arthur cookbooks and King Arthur gift cards. First place received $150, second place received $100 and third got $50. Winners were also presented with the cookbooks and gift cards.

And the winners were:

First Place: Tiffany Thomas for her Pumpkin Pecan Holiday Bundt Cake

Second Place: Ellen and Ingrid Whitaker for their Pumpkin Napoleons

Third Place: Lynn Kalloch for her Pumpkin Mousse with Pumpkin Seed Brittle

The two honorable mentions were Greg Bartholomae and the Mackenzie family.