Budding bakers showed off their skills in an exciting charity baking competition.

Romford Recorder: Cupacke challenge, to raises funds for St Francis Hospice at the Mypplace Centre, Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill Tracy Giddings,Cupacke challenge, to raises funds for St Francis Hospice at the Mypplace Centre, Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill Tracy Giddings, (Image: Archant)

Nine bakers battled it out to be crowned the winner of the Iron Cupcake Challenge on Sunday at the Myplace centre in Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill.

Vic Jonhston, who organised the event said: “It was lots of fun.

“I didn’t have enough time to concentrate on my entries, but there were some really nice creations that tasted wonderful.”

The theme of the challenge, in aid of St Francis Hospice was Valentine’s Day and the Oscars.

Margaret Griffin was crowned as the winner after impressing the judges with her tasty treat inspired by the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood ceremony.

Bakers had to have at least 12 cupcakes in each batch.

Margaret’s winning cake was selected by eaters, who paid to taste and evaluate as many cakes as they deemed possible.

Vic said: “It was everyone’s favourite because it had a good design but tasted really nice.

“The art of getting the perfect cupcake is to find the right balance between it looking nice and tasting good and she had everything right.”

The winning design is set to feature in a recipe book, which is due to be published at the end of the year.

The competition is set to continue next month with another baking challenge.

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.

Vic said: “Baking has become more popular recently because of shows like the Great British Bake Off and the bakers love it because they can experiment with different tastes and designs.

“Our youngest baker is just ten and she always has lots of fun”