Final Six Bring Creativity And Camaraderie To Caring Homes Signature Cake Bake Off

With high tea a weekly highlight in all our care homes, the competition to choose a new Signature Cake to take pride of place on our high tea trolleys concluded this week with a final Bake Off!

Six Care Homes Represented in a Head to Head

Six finalists gathered at the Brakes Development Kitchen in Reading, ready to go head to head. Broadbridge Park, Horsell Lodge, The Manor, Benson House and Castle View were represented by chefs, while Vicky and Emily from Sanford House’s Activities team were chuffed to bits that their entry had also made the cut.

A Competition Full of Creativity and Camaraderie

Each team was set up at their own station and the preparation stage began with a flurry of sieving, grating, blending, measuring, mixing and beating. At this point, a few clues emerged - cooked beetroot, piped decorations, squeezed lemons, melted chocolate …. and despite the prize at stake, there was plenty of friendly banter and tips shared between competitors. Once the unmistakable aroma of baking cakes began to fill the kitchen, our contestants took a short break before the next stage – compilation and decoration.

Creativity was on display at every station, as cake bases were stacked, filled, iced and decorated. The competition criteria stated that cakes should be layered and straightforward to prepare, whilst also being easy to portion – and of course, look and taste fantastic. With the clock ticking, our competitors added final touches and flourishes before stepping back.

Residents Welcomed to the Judging Panel

Enter the judges! We were delighted to welcome residents Daphne and David from Horsell Lodge and Broadbridge Park, who both agreed to join the judging panel, offering their unique perspective on which cakes might be most popular on the weekly high tea trolley. Cakes were given marks out of five for appearance, texture, taste and creativity and both residents took their judging duties seriously.

Red Velvet Wins the Day with Lots of Talent on Display

Once the judges’ scores had been collated, the results were announced. Broadbridge Park Sous Chef, Clair Davis, came a close second with her delicious Banana and Ginger Cake, but first prize went to Graham Hogg, Sous Chef at The Manor, for his fabulous Red Velvet and Meringue Cake – our new Caring Homes Signature Cake!

Congratulations to the creators of all six delicious cakes: Emily & Vicky from Sanford House with a Lemon Meringue Cake; Castle View Sous Chef, Zoei Dillon for her Orange and Poppy Seed Olive Oil Cake; Benson House Kitchen Assistant, Nadiia Byrych who entered an Elderflower Cake with Raspberry Confit; and Horsell Lodge Sous Chef, Andrej Bartos with a Chocolate Beetroot Cake

Prizes were kindly donated by Procurement for Care and everyone left in high spirits after a day of challenges, camaraderie and a showcase of stunning cakes. And who knows, with so much talent on show there may be a future Great British Bake Off contestant waiting in the wings at Caring Homes!