Birthday cake, brisket, apple pie headline new deviled egg flavors at 2026 Ohio State Fair
One of the taste testers bit into a Thanksgiving Dinner-flavored deviled egg. By the look on her face, you could tell this one was going to need some work. “That is god-awful,” she said. The others laughed. But Jim Chakeres believed this one could be salvaged by a simple tweak of the ingredients.
Chakeres is executive vice president of the Ohio Poultry Association. Here, in the trade group’s offices on South Front Street, he and a small group of taste testers are perfecting the “specialty” deviled eggs they will sell at this year’s Ohio State Fair. They will have to work extra hard if they expect to meet the expectations of almost one million fair-goers.
Chocolate deviled eggs were the first big hit, back in 2019. That’s when the Association was experimenting with the idea of specialty eggs. Later came Cotton Candy, Sriracha Peach and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. You get the idea. Soon, the Poultry Association was selling as many as 30,000 specialty eggs every year.
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Confident that Thanksgiving Dinner can be “fixed,” Chakeres and his group move on to Birthday Cake. Carrie takes a bite. “Not as bad as Thanksgiving Dinner.” This was going to be a long day.
In the end, the Association chose Birthday Cake as its featured deviled egg
flavor, as announced today (July 22 nd .) “As America marks its 250th anniversary, we’re proud to celebrate the farmers and traditions that have made eggs a staple on tables for generations,” said Jim Chakeres, OPA executive vice president. “From everyday meals to special family gatherings, eggs provide high-quality protein and essential nutrients at a great value. We’re excited for fairgoers to experience our unique new deviled egg flavors, inspired by America’s favorite cookout traditions, and discover a fresh twist on this timeless classic.”
Other new flavors for the 2026 Fair will include Apple Pie, Mac & Cheese, Hot Dog, Ranch and Brisket. The tasting committee believed from the beginning that Birthday Cake had potential; the recipe just needed a little tweaking.
All deviled eggs will be prepared hourly in the Poultry Association’s on-site kitchen, ensuring freshness throughout the fair’s entire 12-day run. Available individually, or in “flights” of six each. You can find them in the Taste of Ohio Café at the Ohio Expo Center July 29 through August 9. Oh… And they sell plain ones, too.
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