There are few Australian treats more iconic than a warm, flaky, savoury meat pie.
So what better way to celebrate Australia Day than to honour some of the best pies in the nation?
From mince to chunky beef, plus pies that aren’t afraid to give tradition a twist, these are the bakeries making a splash with their creations across the nation.
A chicken, brie, and cranberry pie from the Victoria bakery Tatura Hot Bread holds the current crown for Australia’s Best Pie – beating out 2,000 competitors
Jeff Alexander, who opened Tatura Hot Bread with his wife Glenda when he was just 23, is the baker behind the unique creamy creation
It is actually a chicken creation that currently holds the crown of Australia’s Best Pie.
A chicken, brie, and cranberry pie from the Victoria bakery Tatura Hot Bread won the prestigious title during the 2017 competition – beating out 2,000 other pies.
Jeff Alexander, who opened Tatura Hot Bread with his wife Glenda when he was just 23, is the baker behind the unique creamy creation.
It wouldn’t be a best pie list without mention of South Australia’s Orange Spot Bakery, which has been cleaning up competitions for nearly a decade.
Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton took home best gourmet pie with this chili con carne creation
The bakery also took home the prize of Australia’s best mince pie (pictured) at the competition
It has been a big year for the bakery. Along with its mince and gourmet pie awards, the bakery also won Australia’s Greatest Pepper Steak Pie
And it’s not just the savoury that Country Cob excels at. The bakery also currently holds the title for Australia’s best vanilla slice
The beachside bakery in Glenelg won best poultry pie, as well as best traditional pastie, gourmet pastie, and vegetarian pastie at the competition.
Orange Spot Bakery, which is led by father and son duo Nick and Jamie Davey, was named best pasty in the country for six years in a row before reclaiming the title again this year.
Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton took home best mince pie and gourmet pie, nabbing the latter title with a chili con carne beef pie.
This year the bakery has also won Australia’s Greatest Pepper Steak Pie and was even named the country’s best vanilla slice.
Four Seasons Patisserie Bakery in Kelmscott took home the top prize for Australia’s best chunky beef pie
Owner and baker Andy Le won over the judges with his creation, and this year also became nationally recognised for his apple pies
Country Cob has seen massive success since coming under the management of Chan Khun, who only began baking five years ago after leaving his native Cambodia for Australia.
Finley Bakery & Patisserie nabbed the title of best beef flavoured pie in Australia with its Finley Farmer’s Choice pie.
Pastry chef Micka Littlejohn slow cooked local beef and added caramelised onions to the creation, which featured a map of Australia on the top with a hole to signify Finley’s location.
Family bakery Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes, in Ocean Grove, was crowned best seafood pie in Australia for their Prawn Laksa Pie.
Orange Spot Bakery in Glenelg won best poultry pie at the competition this year
The beachside bakery has a stacked trophy case, also winning best traditional pastie, gourmet pastie, and vegetarian pastie at the competition
The bakery, which has been owned by locals Geoff and Susie Chalker since 1997, also took the title of Australia’s Best Gourmet Pie in 2016 and Australia’s Best Pie in 2013.
Bruns Bakery in Brunswick, New South Wales is the titleholder for the country’s best vegetarian pie.
The vego pie features creamy onion sauce, sweet potato, broccoli, potato, and carrots all wrapped in a delicious pastry.
Tony Smith, the Executive Officer of the Baking Association of Australia, revealed that judges look at everything from the colour of a pastry to how it’s cooked inside when deciding which will be named best in the country.
Bruns Bakery (pictured) in Brunswick, New South Wales is the titleholder for the country’s best vegetarian pie
Finley Bakery & Patisserie nabbed the title of best beef flavoured pie in Australia with its Finley Farmer’s Choice pie (pictured)
‘On top of this, the pie needs to be one that is actually sold in the shop,’ he told Daily Mail Australia last year.
‘All entrants need to sign a disclaimer before entering the competition that their pie is not a show pie and then for four to six months after the competition one of us will go in unannounced, buy the pie and make sure it’s the right one.’
If the pie is not the same or not being sold in the shop, winners are actually stripped of their title.
‘Bakers enter this competition with a lot of heart and soul,’ he said. ‘People who make show pies and don’t show off their proper skills take the credibility out of it.’
Twelve judges from the Australian Baking Association tasted 2,000 pies in a bid to find the best one