The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph Sponsored by NBIA

The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph is an Australia-wide competition held annually in Merbein since 1989. The 2022 event coincided with a family fun day attracting around 5,500 people with approximately 20,000 Vanilla Slices being sold.

The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph began in 1989 after Geoff Kennett (Victorian Premier at the time) claimed that the Vanilla Slice from Mallee Bakery in Ouyen was the best he’d ever tasted. Since then the event has been hosted in various locations before settling in Merbein.

There are three professional categories and two amateur categories including Plum Pudding, Fruit Cake, and Vanilla Slice. The professional categories are open to registered bakeries and apprentices, while the amateur categories are aimed at home cooks, seniors, and primary/secondary students.

Plum Pudding and Fruit Cake categories were introduced in 2023 to showcase the high-quality dried fruits that are grown and processed in the Merbein region. An Innovative Vanilla Slice award has also been added to the professional vanilla slice category. Registered bakeries and apprentices are invited to enter one recipe per category section.

The National Baking Industry Association are a gold sponsor of this event.

Vanilla Slice Category

Professional and apprentice entrants of the Vanilla Slice Category are required to submit ten vanilla slices in square or rectangle shape. Six of the ten will be judged by a panel of professional judges with the remaining four to be displayed to the public on the day.

Entrants are encouraged to use their imagination with design, colour, and flavour with an emphasis on the pastry and custard style filling elements. Description of flavour must be submitted with your entry. Professional entries must be available in store for a period of no less than three months after the date of competition.

Plum Pudding Category

Professional and apprentice entrants of the Plum Pudding Category are required to submit a non-decorated pudding ranging in size from 800g to 1kg. Puddings can be cooked in a pudding basin or cloth and should contain separate portions of sultanas, currants, and raisins. Nuts or any other dried fruit used must be listed, while other ingredients like flour etc. should be listed at the entrants discretion. Gluten-free recipes are accepted.

Fruit Cake Category

Professional and apprentice entrants of the Fruit Cake Category are required to submit a square fruit with no icing or decoration containing separate portions of Australian sultanas, currants, and raisins. Nuts or any other dried fruit used must be listed, while other ingredients like flour etc. should be listed at the entrants discretion. Gluten-free recipes are accepted.