The ZuckerBäcker Ball with its more than 3,000 international guests is a magnificent venue for awarding the coveted titles of "Vienna Cakemaster 2023" and for apprentices "Vienna Junior Cakemaster 2023". The Zuckerbäcker Award was held for the 13th time this year.

Confectioners and apprentices had the opportunity to present themselves to a wide international audience and to put themselves and their delicious craft in the spotlight. The motto was “Plants and Flowers”.

The most talented confectioners and apprentices in the country showed their impressive craftsmanship at the ZuckerBäckerball. Their artistic cakes were on display at the ball during the big cake show of the "Zuckerbäcker Awards" in the foyer of the Hofburg - a highlight that is very popular with the guests of the ZuckerBäckerball. Stomachs started to rumble when the guests marvelled at the appetising and spectacular finale of the cake competition.

"The confectioner's award is a wonderful thing to present the creativity of the confectionery trade to the public," confirmed ball organizer Dr Kurt Schebesta.

Honorary Vice Consul and “Ballmutti” Birgit Sarata was particularly pleased: “The cakes of the award are real works of art, really great. Unfortunately, you can't taste them; that would be nice but there would be for sure no cake left."

THE COMPETITION

The evaluation was carried out anonymously using the candidate's participant number. The following main criteria were laid down as the basis for the jury's assessment: Adherence to the invitation to tender, creativity (artistic implementation), processing of the materials, implementation of the "Plants and Flowers" motto and the level of difficulty of the showpiece.

THE WINNERS

The winners were announced and the titles awarded in the course of the ball's midnight ceremony in the ballroom of the Hofburg: the winner of the apprentice award now hold the title "Vienna Junior Cakemaster 2023" for one year, the winner of the confectioners may be called "Vienna Cakemaster 2023".

Both the pastry chefs and the apprentice category had to produce a showpiece including cake of 40 to 100 cm overall height and a maximum base area of 50 x 50 cm from freely selectable, edible material in any colour.

Once more, Vienna’s Café Central could claim the title. Following Veronika Schmidt’s victory in 2020, Anna Saurer representing Café Central made it to the top floor. The freshly baked “Vienna Cakemaster 2023” put Anna Heidenreich from Restaurant Herzig, Vienna, and Artemis Karavani from Andaz Vienna am Belvedere, Vienna, in second and third place.

Vienna Junior Cakemaster 2023 is Salome Amira Emser from Café Central in Vienna. The confectionery won both competitions this year. This is followed by Sandra Wögerbauer from the Politzky pastry shop in Velden am Wörthersee and Andjelo Kostic from the Oberlaa pastry shop in Vienna in third place.

„Vienna Junior Cakemaster 2023“ is Valentina Otzelberger from Konditorei Oberlaa in Vienna, followed by runner-up Marlene Ehlers from Hotel Sacher Vienna. Third came Laura Daniel from Bäckerei Wienerroither in Pörtschach, Carinthia.

The planning for the 121st ZuckerBäckerball has already started, we are looking forward to a wonderful ball night in January 2024.