National Cup Cake Week

Jennifer Buls of Absolute Treats is enjoying a quadruple celebration after winning two category awards and the title of National Cupcake Champion at the National Cupcake Championships, at the same time as securing a permanent premises for the business.

Her winning Lime & Coconut cupcake was named Best Free-from Cupcake of the Year and Best Tasting Cupcake of the Year at the judging event at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, held on 15 August.

Currently run from home, Absolute Treats was set up by Jennifer and her mother Virginia around 12 months ago, and caters for dairy free, gluten free, diabetic, coeliac and vegan dietary requirements. Jennifer told British Baker the paperwork is just being signed but the pair hopes to open the tearoom in St Clears, in West Wales, by the end of autumn.

“We’re aiming for it to be a cross between an English tearoom and French patisserie,” she said.

The idea for the Lime & Coconut creation came about through experimentation with the flavours used in desserts and also drinks, said Jennifer, who also devised recipes for pecan pie, and banoffee cupcakes.

The winning cupcake contained a high portion of coconut, and less flour than she would usually use in cake recipes, along with soya milk and oil. She said she hoped the win would help increase orders with the customers it already has, as well as being beneficial for the launch of the new business premises.