National Cup Cake Week

2010 Winners

David Bennett of the Sunshine Bakery in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, was crowned Cupcake Champion of Great Britain 2010.   >> Read interview with David Bennett

Bennett set up the business only 18 months ago, having worked in Michelin-starred restaurants for 17 years, five of which were under Marco Pierre White. He switched from chef to baker and has quickly found success with his winning Banana & Mango recipe, tweaked from a Passionfruit & Mango recipe . He beat over 60 professional cupcake bakers to the title.

The competition was organised by British Baker as part of its build-up to 2010 National Cupcake Week. The week was sponsored by Renshaw and Chevler and supported by BFP Wholesale and Robert Dyas. There were seven winners in total, representing each day of the week, as follows:

Grand champion: Banana & Mango

Inspired by "sunny days", David Bennett of the Sunshine Bakery won the overall crown for his Banana & Mango Cupcake. The ex-restaurant chef, converted to baker, is now running a local small bakery producing breads, cupcakes, patisserie, sandwiches, teas and coffees. "We stand out because we only use natural ingredients and make everything from scratch using French gastronomic recipes," he says. www.sunshinebakeryleeds.co.uk Chapel Allerton, Leeds

Chocolate Ginger (vegan)

The Cupcake Theatre has hit the ground running, having been awarded a business start-up grant in May, and has devised a good way of getting customers to try new flavours in the gifts and special occasions market. "We gift mini-samples with orders to encourage customers to try something different. This has proved highly popular," says Lisa Harris. "As a ginger fanatic, this is my personal favourite. This little cupcake has won over those who really don't like ginger," she says of her winning cake, adding that customers are often astonished to fi nd they are vegan. It is now in talks to supply high-end coffee shops. www.thecupcaketheatre.co.uk Bournemouth, Dorset

Tropical Explosion

Natalie Penzer and Rachel Brown run the community-focused Cupcake Garden, which has been trading since May. A self-confessed "cottage industry", its tropical cupcake was a world away from its rural base in Dorset. "The butter icing swirl resembles a tropical island with its combination of colours, and is flavoured with passion fruit arome. We wanted to provide a cupcake different from the norm!" says Penzer. Its cupcakes are packaged in their own individual plastic dome containers, which come with a packet of wildflower, vegetable or fruit seeds for recycling them into plant pots. www.cupcakegarden.co.uk Beaminster, Dorset

Ernest Hemingway

Sweet Tooth Cupcakery's effort is the cupcake version of the classic Floridian key lime pie. "It's inspired by a Mancunian hankering for some Floridian sun and a passion for surprise, sophistication and innovation," says baker Vicky Parker. Her business opened in 2008, having been inspired to create a Cupcakery/Milk Bar with friendly staff, for local residents and friends to enjoy. It now has two locations. All 100-plus of the company's cupcake flavours are named after famous people. www.sweettoothcupcakery.co.uk/chorlton Chorlton, Manchester

Sweet & Wicked Mojito

Sweet & Wicked is a small artisan business that has been trading for eight months, selling at farmers' markets, delis and direct customer sales. Its USP lies in making filled dessert cupcakes, many inspired by cocktails, combining exotic flavours and textures. "Unlike many others, we use classical British cake methods, rather than American-style cupcakes," says baker Susan Angoy. Her Mojito-inspired cocktail was "a cupcake with the freshness and kick of a Mojito cocktail, inspired by my tropical origins, herb garden and love of Mojitos!" It features a delicate lime, rum and mint sponge with a creamy mint, lime and verbena-infused filling, laced with Havana rum, topped with a swirl of mint and lime and rum buttercream frosting and a mint sprig, finished with the firm's signature butterfly and glitter. www.sweetandwickedcupcakes.co.uk Camden, London

Sticky Toffee

The Little House of Cupcakes has been trading for over two years and its shop in Thornton, Dorset recently celebrated its first birthday. Its customers come from as far north as the Lake District and Manchester, but it has a loyal customer base of local people made up of all ages. "I have recently become addicted to sticky toffee pudding and that inspired me to give this traditional dessert a modern-day twist," says Katie Rawcliffe, baker of this simple cupcake made with a rich toffee sauce centre, decorated with duo buttercream and topped with homemade fudge. www.thelittlehouseofcupcakes.co.uk Thornton, Lancashire

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