This year’s CNE First Cake Competition carried the theme “Unexpected Pairings”—and what a challenge it was! 4 Local Bakers from Toronto came together to push the boundaries of flavor, design, and creativity.
For me, it was an invitation to take risks not only with flavors but also with design, creating something playful yet meaningful.
For our entry, we wanted to celebrate both taste and storytelling. The cake itself combined daring layers: rich dark chocolate cake paired with a spicy gochujang chocolate fudge, textured with cornflakes praline, balanced by silky chocolate ganache. The second cake is a celebration of our Filipino heritage with sponge ube cake, layered with Ube Halaya, french buttercream with Queso de bola and finish it with Swiss Meringue Buttercream. It was a fusion of flavors that didn’t seem like they should belong together—but ended up harmonizing beautifully.
But the showpiece was the design, a gravity-defying tribute to the CNE midway itself. Each tier was transformed into an edible miniature food stall replica, highlighting the joy of wandering through the fairgrounds:
🍡 Marry Me Mochi –blackpink mochi donut, soft and dreamy in sugar form.
🍕 Pizza Pizza (deep fried) – a playful twist, complete with tiny fondant pizzas.
🌽 Deep-Fried Roasted Corn – golden corn on the cob, brushed crisped edges to mimic that fairground char.
🥒 Mr. Pickle – a quirky nod to dill pickle fries, with tiny green fries peeking out of a striped mini stall.
🍦 Coni Creamy – inspired by travel and flights, featuring sugar cones swirled with “soft serve” fondant,🥥 Lemonade (Dubai Coconut Sundae) – a refreshing twist captured in a coconut-shell design, filled with frosty sugar details and topped with edible fondant sprinkles.Behind the scenes, our journey wasn’t easy—from assembling the structures, balancing tiers, perfecting miniature details, and ensuring every stall was edible tested both skill and patience. But when it all came together, it captured exactly what we envisioned: a playful tribute to the joy of the CNE. When the judges announced our cake as 2nd place winner, the moment felt surreal. The recognition was more than just a prize—it was a celebration of taking creative risks, embracing challenges, and telling a story through cake.

This win is a reminder that cake is never just dessert. It’s art. It’s storytelling. It’s memory-making. And sometimes, the sweetest victories come from embracing the unexpected. 💜🎂✨
Thank you to everyone who cheered us on—this win is for all of us who believe in dreaming big (and baking even bigger)!

Jackie's Creative Cakes & Sweets proudly announces our recognition in the CommunityVotes Scarborough 2023. We are honored to have received:

• GOLD in the Bakeries Category
• GOLD in the Dessert Category
• SILVER in the Cakes Category

This recognition reflects our dedication to crafting exceptional cakes and sweets for our community.

We are excited to announce that Jackie's Creative Cakes & Sweets is a nominee for the 2024 Canadian Choice Award. This nomination recognizes our commitment to excellence and positions us among Canada's most distinguished businesses. We are honoured to be recognized among the best, and we look forward to continuing to delight our customers with our creative cakes and sweets!