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First place in IDDBA’s Cake Decorating Challenge this year went to Donna Barley, a decorator with 30 years of experience who currently works at Publix Super Markets in Cape Coral, Fla.
Katherine Dean, Dorothy Lane Market, Dayton, Ohio, came in second, while Stephanie Dillon, Hy-Vee, Lee’s Summit, Mo., took third.
The cake competition lasted three days at the Dairy-Deli-Bake Seminar & Expo in Atlanta. On the first day, decorators had to fill an eight-foot case with cakes. The second day was devoted to wedding cakes. On the final day, decorators completed three cakes based on the show theme — “Growing the Future” — a special occasion and decorator’s choice.
“I like to make the cakes really fun,” said Barley.
Barley said she likes to use fondant to create cake toppers like baby booties, flowers or even fishing lures.
Cupcakes are becoming more popular for adult parties and weddings because they are easy to serve, said Barley.
One of Barley’s playful cakes looked like a pizza.
Dean covered the bottom layer of her wedding cake with flowers made from wafer paper, a material she said not many supermarket cake decorators are using yet.
Dean said her elegant decorating style matches Dorothy Lane’s upscale atmosphere. “I don’t like the cheesy stuff,” she said.
Baby shower “reveal” cakes — with insides dyed blue or pink depending on the gender of the baby — are still popular at Dorothy Lane.
Dean said she gets inspiration from Pinterest.
Although Dean has worked at Dorothy Lane for 12 years, she has only been a decorator for two. She said she didn’t know how to decorate cakes when she applied for the position but was looking for a challenge.
Dillon wanted to highlight a different technique for each layer of her wedding cake.
While decorators should show off their creativity, the cakes created on the first day of competition are also supposed to be practical. “That’s why I did a lot of sheet cakes,” said Dillon.
“My customers give me the biggest inspiration,” said Dillon, adding that she has previously made for a customer every one of the cakes she decorated to fill her case.
Dillon has been a cake decorator for 16 years. She previously competed in IDDBA’s cake competition in 2011, where she placed second.
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