Following two tough days of competition, Sophie Weeding from Brighton’s Best Bakehouse has been named as the 2026 Bake Skills National Apprentice Pastry Chef winner.

The national final was held in Melbourne from August 31 to September 2, at Fine Food Australia.

Sophie competed against three other apprentice pastry chefs from across Australia at the competition, which saw them tackle products like:

• Choux pastry and the modern eclair,
• Puff pastry palmiers, vol au vents and Mille Feuille
• Sweet Pastry Tarts
• Dairy Farmers Italian Birthday Cake
• Callebaut Salted Caramel Chocolate Swiss Roll.

Speaking with Pulse Tasmania following the win, her boss, Scott Donaghy, said Sophie had showed promise from the moment she started doing weekend work six years ago.

“She showed us that she had a passion, she had skills and she wanted to work hard,” Scott told the publication.

“From that, she’s dedicated a lot of time and in the stuff that she produced, it’s always at next level.”

Bake Skills organisers Baking Association of Australia said the products Sophie had created were “absolutely amazing and sent the judges’ tastebuds into overdrive”.

“Your hard work, talent and passion for pastry have definitely paid off, and you should be incredibly proud of yourself,” they said.

“What an incredible achievement…!