Come August the nations’ best vanilla slice bakers will all be eyeing off The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph trophy.

The hotly contested competition is set to be held on August, 16, in Merbein Victoria. In addition to the standard vanilla slice, there will be categories for innovative vanilla slice, plum puddings, fruit cakes, and fruit mince tarts. There will also be categories for everyone ranging from professionals to primary school students.

2024 The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph winner Jason Spencer from Banana Boogie Bakery in South Australia said their win had been eight years in the making.

“When we first bought the bakery in 2015, one of the first competitions we entered was the 2016 Vanilla Slice Triumph competition in Merbein. We managed to get second in everything we entered and it just went viral. Our bakery became known as the ‘vanilla slice bakery’ in Adelaide,” he said.

2023 winner Matt Aylett for North End Bakehouse said it seemed in recent years the entire baking industry as a whole had stepped up its game when it came to competitions like this.

“I worked hard at perfecting it over the years and then, once we bought this bakery, it was my goal to get that award,” he said.

Entries for The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph award are now open. Further information is available on The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph Merbein website.