Baking enthusiasts can test their culinary skills in a themed cupcake competition this weekend.

The Iron Cupcake Challenge pits bakers against each other every month to win prizes and the prestige of appearing in a recipe book at the end of the year, which raises money for St Francis Hospice.

The next challenge will be on Sunday at MyPlace in Harold Hill from 3pm and the theme is Hidden Treasures.

Each cake must have something hidden within the cake for a lucky ‘eater’ to find. Bakers must make at least 12 cupcakes in each batch, and there is no limit to how many batches each baker can enter into the competition.

Previous themes have included ‘school dinners’, where the winner was a chocolate, toffee and vanilla cupcake with a topping of decorative bangers, peas and beans, and ‘tropical treat’, with the winner being a cocktail themed cupcake.

Organiser Victoria Johnston thinks that simplicity is the recipe for success, adding that practice would make perfect.

She said: “Practice at least twice. Once you’ve tasted the first batch, you can tweak it. You’ll find this flavour will work, this won’t, and you can make a hash of it on the second try.

“One good flavour will work as too many flavours can ruin the cake.”

The entrants will be judged by ‘eaters’, who will pay to taste and evaluate as many cakes as they deem possible. Bakers get in for free.

At the end of the year a recipe book featuring the best entrants of the past 12 months will go on sale.

Entry is £5 for adults, £2 for under 13s and £4 for students and over 60s. More information can be found at www.yousheandi.com or by emailing cupcakelondon@gmail.com.