Entries for Australia’s annual vanilla slice baking championships, The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, are now open. Anyone who thinks their vanilla slice might be the best in the country is encouraged to enter.
The Triumph will be held on Saturday August 17 in Merbein, on the Murray River near Mildura. The day will include live entertainment for adults and children, lots of delicious vanilla slices and other food to eat, an art exhibition, and a big country market.
The professional bakers’ category is the most keenly contested competition, with Shepparton’s North End Bakery taking out the title in 2023. The win saw demand for their vanilla slice greatly increase, with the bakery producing 1.6 tonnes of vanilla slice in the two weeks immediately after their win. On the back of this success, North End Bakery has recently opened a second store in Mooroopna.
Other vanilla slice competition categories include those for operators of registered kitchens, primary school students, secondary school students, seniors and amateur adults.
Professional bakers can also enter their most creative takes on the vanilla slice in the “innovative vanilla slice” category. Last year’s winner, CJ’s Bakery in Adelaide, produced a lemon and blueberry vanilla slice whose unique approach soon found popularity in their store.
In addition, categories for a number of different dried fruit dishes are also open. Professional bakers and amateur home cooks can enter their best plum pudding, fruit cake and fruit mince tart, and our judges will tell them if they are one of this year’s winners.
The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph began in 1998, when the then Victorian premier Jeff Kennett tried a vanilla slice from the bakery in the small Mallee town of Ouyen, exclaimed it was outstanding, and that the town should run an annual vanilla slice competition. “The pursuit of the best vanilla slice and the best vanilla slice baker in Australia should be of great national interest,” he announced soon after.
Quote attributable to The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph President, Mr Jason Telford:
“Make sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, August 17, if you’re a fan of vanilla slices. It’s going to be a fantastic day in Murray-side Merbein that you won’t want to miss!”
Quote attributable to EOI:
“Since 2012 EOI Bakery ingredients have proudly been the event sponsor of The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph conducted in regional Victoria every August.
“As one of Australia’s leading bakery ingredient suppliers since 1933, EOI are passionate about encouraging the current and the next generation of artisan Pastry Chefs and Bakers by supporting national and regional bakery competitions. During the 12 years we have supplied our experienced bakery staff as the Head Judge, and judges, and are proud to be the Event Partner again for 2024.”
Quote attributable to Dried Fruits Australia Chairman, Mr Mark King:
“Dried Fruits Australia is once again delighted to be involved with The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph in 2024. Having included competitions that highlight Dried Fruit is a great promotion for our area. We wish the organisers of The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph every success and encourage people to support this event in August.”
The NBIA are a Bronze Sponsor of the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph. We encourage you to get your entry registered before the cut off date and may the best vanilla slice win!