This weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to report on Cake International at Alexandra Palace, London. The sugarcraft and cake decorating show always pulls in the crowds with it’s world renowned competitions, exhibition stands and tasty treats to take home.
I am always amazed by the sheer level of talent on display at Cake International. The competition entries are out of this world and with 18 different categories and hundreds of entrants, it makes for some amazing viewing!
This year, it was held at Alexandra Palace, making a change from it’s usual home at ExCeL. It’s a beautiful building and on Sunday when I went, the sun was shining and the grounds looked exquisite. A life-sized wedding cake dress, which I had seen on social media on the build up to the show, greeted you as you walked into the bright and open entrance hall. It was stunning.
Wedding Dress Cake made by Fun n Funky Cakes & Selba Ltd.
There were lots of companies there selling all sorts of cake, baking and sugarcraft equipment including FMM Sugarcraft who make the wonderful tappit cutters I use for all of my messages, (for a step by step tutorial, click here). They have recently brought out an Emoji cutter set that I can’t wait to try and also a Farm Animals and Tractor sets, don’t they look adorable on this cake! Topped with the More Than A Birdhouse cutter to look like a barn! Adorable. As well as Dawn Butler with her Cake Frame sets which I think are amazing! They really add a WOW factor to your bakes.
Farmyard Cake by FMM Sugarcraft
Cake Frame by Dawn Butler
As well as tool stands, there were tasty treats on offer from The Brownie Bar (I’m slightly obsessed with their Lemon Meringue Blondie and I *meant* to take a picture but I ate it as soon as I had my hands on it…) and The Ice Cream Cab, which is so cute. I got a two scoop Mint Choc Chip and Toffee & Honeycomb. It was amazing.
The Cake Carnival by Sugar Show Productions was a nice touch! You could go in and see the amazing works of art from the traditional Punch & Judy, ringmaster and circus tent, through to the weird and wonderful two headed lady, Zoltar and even a human heart under a glass dome. Fantastic work!
Batman vs Superman by Rose Masefield
Maleficent by Emma Jayne Cake Design
Hollywood was represented at Alexandra Palace this weekend to in the form of Batman vs Superman by Rose Macefield and Maleficent by Emma Jayne Cake Design. Amazing work!!
And of course, it wouldn’t be Cake International without the competitions. Bakers from around the world are eligible to enter in one of the 18 categories including celebration cakes, decorative exhibits, wedding cakes (of three or more tiers), cupcakes and sculpted novelty cakes. Young bakers also get a chance to show off their skills in four categories including a decorative exhibit (under 18 years) and birthday cakes in under 9’s, 10-12 years and 13-16. I think this is great, I wish I had my passion for baking now at that young age!
Here’s just a few of the amazing works on show this weekend. Congratulations to everyone who entered. I know from having lots of caking friends that it is a ridiculously stressful thing to undertake and you all have my utmost respect and are all winners! Your hard work is amazing and they all looked incredible.
And of course, there was Best In Show. The competition entry that surpasses all others and the one the judges deem worthy of taking home the much sought after title. I am very pleased to say that the winner this year was Dawn Butler for her Albert Einstein bust. It’s incredible and Dawn has done exceptionally well. It’s a work of art and VERY well deserved in my opinion. I know how hard Dawn works on everything she does so seeing her win makes me very happy indeed. Congratulations, Dawn!
That’s all from me for Cake International April 2016 at Alexandra Palace! I had a fantastic day. I hope you enjoyed my coverage and if you went, enjoyed the show! The next Cake International is at the NEC Birmingham on 4th – 6th November.
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Happy baking!
Britt xo