As a part of the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE®) happening now in Las Vegas, cake designers from around the world competed in Pillsbury’s Creative Cake Decorating Competition. At a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, Love Cakes by Dorothy Lane Market designers Lee Ann Parsons and Kaytlyn Stanuszek were announced as the grand champions of the multi-day competition and awarded the 21st Pillsbury Bakers’ Plus Grand Champion Trophy.
Six two-person teams from bakeries around the world came to compete, including designers from Quebec, Mexico, and other United States teams representing bakeries in Baton Rouge and Illinois. Lee Ann has been with Love Cakes by DLM, the boutique cake division of Dorothy Lane Market, for seven years. Kaytlyn joined the Love Cakes team just three years ago. Judges evaluated everything from artistry and skill to imagination. Starting on Sunday, the competitors completed cakes live on the exhibit floor, working for several hours both Sunday and Monday. Winners were announced at the award show on Tuesday in each of the four categories: Wedding cake, rolled fondant, buttercream, and hyper-realistic. The Love Cakes team came in first place in the Wedding Cake and Buttercream Cake categories, in addition to being honored for their cumulative points as the overall grand champion.
“I am so very proud! Lee Ann has wanted to participate in this international competition for so long, so her dreams have come true. This is a new experience for Kaytlyn that took her outside of her box, and I just couldn’t be more thrilled for them both,” says Sabrina Fiffe, Love Cakes by DLM manager.
