Which Apple Dessert Will Take the Cake?

One year ago, an apple cake shaped like an apple helped start Northborough's Applefest on a berry good note.

Which apple dessert will be the top banana next Friday?

Featuring desserts with apple as the main ingredient, the Applefest Dessert Bake-off is from 11 a.m. to noon at the Northborough Senior Center, kicking off the 2013 Applefest.

Bake-off entries are due at the senior center by 10:30 a.m., Senior Center Director Kelly Burke said Friday.

Five judges, including 2013 Applefest Grand Marshal Patricia Cluff, will evaluate the entries for such criteria as presentation and taste, Burke said.

The top three desserts in the two categories, regular and diabetic friendly, will be announced during the Applefest Luncheon, from noon to 1 p.m. next Friday at the senior center, she said.

"The first prize winner last year did a great job: the entry looked like an apple, but it was a cake," Burke said.

"They're a lot of times very beautiful, and always delicious."

The cost of the luncheon is $6.25.Guests may choose turkey chili or fish chowder, and from these sandwich choices: tuna, egg salad, chicken salad or cranberry walnut chicken salad and low-salt turkey, Burke said.

Reservations are required, with tickets available at the senior center.

Next Saturday, Burke noted, the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center will have a table at the Applefest Street Fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Algonquin Regional High School. 

The Friends will give away $5 gift certificates to the senior center's Bistro@119 for new Friends memberships, Burke said. It's $5 to join for Northborough residents, and $10 for non-residents.