Food: Cake Takes the Gold(ies)

Top Tier Cakes Win State Fair Layer Cake Awards

Bakers from across the state put their cakes to the test in the Cake Takes the Gold(ie’s) competition judged Thursday, August 8, at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Brian Keul of West Des Moines won First Place Overall in the Layer Cake class. Ann Gillotti of Ankeny earned Second Place Overall and Meredith Willey of Norwalk earned Third Place Overall.

In the One-Layer Cakes and Cupcakes class, Ann Gillotti of Ankeny won First Place Overall. Mary Priske of Coralville claimed Second Place Overall and Amy Herold of Indianola earned Third Place Overall.

Ann Gillotti of Ankeny won the Sweepstakes award.

Marcia Miller of Des Moines won Reserve Sweepstakes honors.

Entries were judged on texture, appearance and flavor.

Additional results follow:

Layer Cake - Black Forest

1. Brian Keul, West Des Moines
2. Justine Siergey, Waukee
3. Jessica Denner, Polk City

Layer Cake - Butter

1. None awarded

Layer Cake - Butter Pecan

1. None awarded

Layer Cake - Cake Mix Fix-Up

1. Meredith Willey, Norwalk
2. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
3. Sara Carlson, Des Moines

Layer Cake - Carrot (frosted)

1. Bryan Herold, Indianola
2. Dawn Osmonson Sturm, Waukee
3. Danielle Mitchell, Maxwell

Layer Cake - Chocolate (frosted)

1. Deborah Cronin, Des Moines
2. Katie Brouwer, Story City
3. Brooke Mickelson, Clive

Layer Cake - Chocolate Fudge

1. Brian Keul, West Des Moines
2. Joseph Barsetti, West Des Moines
3. None

Layer Cake - Chocolate Sour Cream

1. Meredith Willey, Norwalk
2. Brian Keul, West Des Moines
3. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny

Layer Cake - Coconut

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. Jessica Denner, Polk City
3. None

Layer Cake - Coconut Cake with Lemon Filling

1. Dawn Osmonson Sturm, Waukee
2. Jessica Denner, Polk City
3. None

Layer Cake - German Chocolate

1. Jessica Denner, Polk City
2. Roxi Kellar, Missouri Valley
3. Melissa Toney, Lamoni

Layer Cake - Italian Crème Cake

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. Jessica Denner, Polk City
3. Jessica Zabel, Ankeny

Layer Cake - Pink Champagne

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. Brooke Mickelson, Clive
3. None

Layer Cake - Red Waldorf

1. Brian Keul, West Des Moines
2. Dawn Osmonson Sturm, Waukee
3. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny

Layer Cake - Spice

1. Brooke Mickelson, Clive
2. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
3. Melissa Toney, Lamoni

Layer Cake - Triple Layer Lemon

1. Rita Barsetti, West Des Moines
2. Dawn Osmonson Sturm, Waukee
3. Jeffrey King, Newton

Layer Cake - Walnut Mocha

1. None

Layer Cake - Whipped Cream

1. Meredith Willey, Norwalk
2. Marcia Trevillyan, West
3. None

Layer Cake - Yellow (frosted)

1. Brian Keul, West Des Moines
2. None
3. None

Layer Cake - Split Layer Cake or Torte

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. None
3. None

Layer Cake - Layer Cake Other Than

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. Dawn Osmonson Sturm, Waukee
3. Jenny Petersen, Knoxville

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes – Angel Food

1. Nanette Everly, Batavia
2. Matthew Walz, Marion
3. Mary Priske, Coralville

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Bundt

1. Jeffrey King, Newton
2. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
3. Susan Desmond, Urbandale

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Cake Rolls

1. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
2. None
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Carrot (frosted)

1. Meredith Willey, Norwalk
2. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Chiffon

1. Mary Priske, Coralville
2. Meredith Willey, Norwalk
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Coffee (non-yeast)

1. Mary Priske, Coralville
2. None
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Creations with Cake Mixes

1. Jeanette Cox, Douds
2. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
3. Rachel Petersen, Knoxville

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Cupcakes

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. Jessica Denner, Polk City
3. Melissa Toney, Lamoni

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Filled Cupcakes

1. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
2. Susan Desmond, Urbandale
3. Marcia Miller, Des Moines

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes – Gingerbread

1. Mary Priske, Coralville
2. Ann Gillotti, Ankeny
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Gluten Free

1. Joseph Barsetti, West Des Moines
2. Melissa Toney, Lamoni
3. Christina McCleary, Des Moines

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Oatmeal

1. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
2. Jenny Petersen, Knoxville
3. Mary Priske, Coralville

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Pineapple Upside Down

1. None
2. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Pound (unfrosted)

1. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
2. Jessica Denner, Polk City
3. Jeffrey King, Newton

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Raw Apple

1. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
2. Kathleen Haley Taylor, Knoxville
3. Mary Priske, Coralville

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Rhubarb

1. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
2. None
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Sponge

1. None awarded

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Wacky

1. Amy Herold, Indianola
2. Meredith Willey, Norwalk
3. Jessica Denner, Polk City

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Any Fruit Cake

1. Marcia Miller, Des Moines
2. Diana Bedwell, Norwalk
3. None

One Layer Cakes & Cupcakes - Cake Other Than Named (frosted or unfrosted)

1. None
2. Jeffrey King, Newton
3. Mary Priske, Coralville

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There were 140 divisions, 726 classes and over 6,400 entries at this year’s Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center.