North End Bake House have done it again: for the second year running Matt Aylett and his team have taken home both the Best Vanilla Slice and Best Hot Cross Bun titles.

It was the third year running the Shepparton-base bakery has claimed the Best Vanilla Slice title.

Acknowledging the feat on social media, North End Bake House shared their record-breaking win tally.

“Breaking records in these categories with win tallies! Vanilla Slice in 2023, 2024, 2025. Hot Cross Bun in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025,” they wrote.

“Thanks to the BAA for holding these events and thanks to all of the sponsors.

“Well done and congratulations to all the other winners and entrants. It’s  great to see the competitiveness throughout the industry.”

Speaking with Baking Business in 2024 following his The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph win the previous year, Matt said he had worked hard for years to perfect his vanilla slice recipe.

“There’s not a lot you can change when it comes to the recipe. But getting the recipe and consistency right is something we’ve always tried to perfect; making it light and fluffy and creamy, and obviously that you can bite through it without having it oozing and ending up on your lap. But we haven’t even worried about the flavour and taste of it in recent times. We know that’s already good,” he said.

“But it’s just getting that perfection each time. Making sure all of your lines perfectly straight, up and down, front to back, left to right. Make sure everything’s perfect and there are no crumbs leftover.”

The two competitions were held at the Victorian Baking Show, which took place in Bendigo on March 1.

Across the show there were 127 bakery / exhibitors participating, with a huge 449 pieces of product – a record-breaking number of entries.

The full list of Victoria Baking Show results can be found here.