Highlights from Our 5th Anniversary Celebration Party & Cupcake Bake Off Winners

5-year anniversary cake made by Brittany Dollar

Jessica Hamby began Itty Bitty Bakers in Hoover, Alabama in 2018. This year, our team wanted to have a party for the public to celebrate Jessica and this awesome five-year milestone.

The party took place on October 1, 2023 and included games, crafts, a photo booth, and yummy snacks made by our teachers and youth helpers.

It also included a Celebration Cupcake Bake Off Contest for kids ages 5-14!

The centerpiece of the event was made by teacher Brittany Dollar. She wanted to commemorate the occasion by celebrating all the cake decorating classes she's taught at Itty Bitty Bakers through the years. That included a Geode Cake, Harry Potter Cake, Bakery Cake, Gravity-Defying Cake, and Melted Ice Cream Cone Cake. At the bottom of the centerpiece, she added edible prints of her students with their cake creations. It was stunning!

Contestants for the Cupcake Bake Off on October 1, 2023 in Hoover, Alabama.

For the Cupcake Bake Off contest, each participant who entered had their picture taken in our photo booth and we could see the pride in their eyes. We could also see their nerves while having to transport and carry their beautiful creations into the mall. It was quite a challenging task!

Bake Off judges from left to right: teachers Brittany Dollar, Jeni Warram, Maryjayne Herring, and Youth Helper Aaliya Budhwani.

But the most difficult task of all went to the judges. They were blown away by the creativity of each participant's cupcake and different interpretations of how a "Celebration Cupcake" might look and taste.

One judge said, "It was a joy to taste so many delicious cupcakes and I hope all these kid bakers keep up the great work!"

But, a winner had to be chosen. The judges deemed Emma Romano's "Starbucks Run Cupcake" as the winner.

The judges said the flavor and texture was unlike anything the they had ever tasted.

Emma said she based her cupcake on this recipe. We asked her why she chose this recipe and she said, "Because what better way to celebrate than a run to Starbucks?"

Congrats to Emma and congrats to everyone who participated. You are all winners in our book!

Emma Romano with her "Starbucks Run Cupcake"

Special thanks to the Hoover City Chamber of Commerce for hosting us in their indoor patio space at the Galleria Mall.

We hope to be back there in 2024 for a Christmas Cookie Bake Off. Get those wooden spoons ready and we'll see you then!