Kokova Magazine

British Baker has announced the finalists in the third annual National Cupcake Championships 2011 ahead of the gala judging and awards event which takes place on Monday, August 15th 2011 at the ICA in London.

Fifty innovative craft bakeries, independent cake emporiums and High Street multiples will battle it out across six different categories for the ultimate prize - to be crowned National Cupcake Champion 2011.

They include the High Street favourite Greggs; the 2009 champion Kevin Sibley from Mama’s Cupcakes in Chesham who is shortlisted in the most innovative category; Rich Products who create cupcakes for Asda; and a hefty contingent from the South East and South West, who are giving Northern based bakers a real run for their money this year.

The 2011 competition, which attracted more than 100 entries from professional bakers, is the first milestone in the run up to National Cupcake Week 2011 which takes place from September 12-18th.

The winners will be decided and announced in London on August 15th by an expert judging panel which this year includes cake emporium owners, decoration divas and celebrated greats. Among them are Eric Lanlard, Hummingbird owner Tarek Malouf, Food Network UK's "icing queen” Abigail Moule, Lily Vanilli and Peggy Porschen.

This year we've seen a notable shift away from some of the overly sweet entries of the past - a response no doubt to the changing consumers' palate and a shift away from the American style of cupcake that has dominated in recent years.

Last year, the UK witnessed a boom in home-baked cupcakes, accounting for nearly a third of all cupcakes consumed, and helping to push cupcake consumption up by 52%.

Bakers have had to raise their game and really innovate with flavour combinations - using tricks and skilled techniques that are hard to replicate at home - to make sure people keep buying cupcakes.

Andrew Williams - British Baker Deputy Editor

The finalists of the National Cupcake Championships 2011 are:

The Midlands:
Cameo Cupcakes, Derby; Charmaine’s Cupcakes, Tewkesbury; Classy Cupcakes, Nottingham; Crumbs Cupcakery, Huddersfield; Fatherson Bakery, Alcester, Warks; Frost & Snow, Birmingham; Kimmy Loves Cakes, Bewdley, Worcs; Lady Jayne’s Cakes, Burton-upon-Trent; Rachel's Cupcakes, Wootton Wawen, Warks;

The North East:
Eat Me Cupcakes, York; Greggs plc, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Naginski Cupcakes, Middlesbrough; The Beehive Bakery, Wearfield, Sunderland;

The North West:
Fantasweets Cupcake, Carlisle; Hey Little Cupcake, Manchester; The Little House of Cupcakes, Thornton, Lancs; The Penny Lane Bakery, Liverpool;

Scotland:
Bibi's Bakery, St Andrew’s; Rosewood Cakes, Glasgow; Tea Loves Cake, Greenock;

The South West:
April Bakery, Swindon; Beach House Bakery, Bristol; Cakeadoodledoo, Crediton, Devon; Clevercow Cakes, Bournemouth; Crazy Moose Bakery, Poole; Iced Gems of Swanage, Dorset; HoneyOrb Bakery, Basingstoke; Ice Maiden Cakes, Yeovil; Let them Eat Cake, Waterlooville;

London & the South East:
Call me Cupcakes, Bishops Stortford; Cinnamon Square, Rickmansworth; Claire’s Handmade Cakes, London; Cocktail Couture - CC Treats, London; Crazy Baker, London; Cuppa Cake Company, Knebworth; Delicakes, West Malling, Kent; House of Cakes by Helena Costa, London; Love Cakes London; Organic Delights, London; Mamma's Cupcakes, Cheshunt; Peggy’s Cupcakes, London; Munch@Coughlans, Thornton Heath; Rich Products for Asda, Fareham; Sweet & Wicked Cupcakes, London; Sweet Things, London;

Wales:
Absolute Treats, St Clear's Carmarthenshire; Little Suzi's Kitchen, Cathays, Cardiff; David Jenkins, Llanelli;

The finalists are shortlisted across six different categories, including:

• Best Decorated Cupcake of the Year
• Best Presented Cupcake of the Year
• Best Tasting Cupcake of the Year
• Most Innovative Cupcake of the Year
• Best Cupcake Crafted for Multiple Outlets
• Free-From Cupcake of the Year
• Cupcake Champion - the overall winner

The sponsors of National Cupcake Week 2011 are the UK's leading provider of sugar paste, Renshaw Napier; the Bristol packaging company Chevler; ingredients supplier Puratos; and the food and drink vocational qualifications organisation, FDQ. The official TV media partner of National Cupcake Week 2011 is Food Network UK.

Cupcake Charity Appeal

This year, British Baker has teamed up with the leading children's charity CLIC Sargent who will be asking bakers and cupcake lovers to help raise donations for their beneficiaries during National Cupcake Week itself.

National Cupcake Week 2011 Timeline

• June 17 - National Cupcake Championships 2011 are open for entry to professional cupcake makers and registered businesses only
• July 15 - Competition deadline
• August 15 - Grand judging day and cupcake theatre at the ICA in London when the 2011 winners are announced
• September 12 - 18 - National Cupcake Week 2011

@cupcakeweek www.nationalcupcakeweek.co.uk www.bakeryinfo.co.uk