Presidential Pie, The Original World Record?

July 2, 2015

When Traverse City residents decided to go for the world record for biggest cherry pie in 1987, they might have been doing more than just breaking Charlevoix’s 1976 record. They might have been taking the record back.

In 1926, long before there was a Guinness Book, a Traverse City resident who had been a college roommate of President Calvin Coolidge baked what was probably the biggest pie ever made at that time.

This pie may sound tiny in comparison to other world record pies, but as far as pies go, this one was a monster. It weighed 46 pounds, was 30 inches in diameter, 4 inches deep and contained 5,000 cherries.

For some added flair, the bakers decided they would send it across the country and serve it to President Coolidge.

When the emissaries attempted to drive the pie "by high speed automobile" to the president in New York City, the pie nearly went bad when they were stopped in Canada for speeding.

A newspaper explained, "The two men reported that they were held up in Canada by a police officer for traveling at high speed, but they were permitted to proceed when they explained their mission and urged consideration of international comity."

The 1987 Recipe

For the pastry shell:
1,260 pounds flour
790 pounds shortening
266 pounds water
38 pounds salt
63 pounds dextrose
Mix together in 400-pound batches and
spread across pie tin

For the filling:
20,776 pounds cherries
3,698 pounds sugar
907 pounds corn starch
533 pounds water
41 pounds salt
Mix in 200-pound batches and haul in
5-pound pails to pie tin.
Bake between 375 and 425 degrees for
three hours.