On Saturday, March 26, over 400 attendees — bakers and cupcake-eaters alike — filled a frosting-scented ballroom at the Grove Park Inn for the Second Annual Cupcakes for Cures competition. Cupcake connoisseurs enjoyed their pick of 124 creative cupcake entries. The contest raised over $11,800, all of which goes to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to fight cancer.

The 2011 Cupcakes for Cures winners are:

Best In Show:
Adult: City Bakery’s S’mores Cupcake, by Sarah Resnick
Youth: Pink Velvet Cupcake, by Meg Kurdys


—Photos by Paul Anderson

Best Special Occasion Cupcake:
Professional

1st: S'mores - Sarah Resnick, City Bakery

2nd: Vanilla Chiffon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream (Baby Shower) - Megan Kirby, Sugar and Such

3rd: The King - Enrique Figueroa, Biltmore Cake Ball Bakery

Amateur

1st: Blackberry Cobbler Cupcakes - Regina G. Aton

2nd: Pinkalicious - Heather Miracle

3rd: Star Spangled Sandwich! - Julie Loven

Youth - High School:

1st: Chocolate Peppermint - Gabby Biddix

2nd: Going Bananas for Graduation - Courtney Ponder

3rd: Gimme S'mores - Katie Grimsley

Youth - Middle School
:
1st: Diggin' for a Cure (Groundhog Day) - Peyton Duckett

2nd: Chai Baby Chick Cupcakes (Baby Shower) - Willow Bostic

3rd: Little Bunny (Easter) - Katelyn Edmonds



Best Cocktail or Beer Inspired Cupcake:
Professional

1st: Corpse Reviver #2 - Kether Smith, Biltmore Forest Country Club

2nd: Irish Car Bomb - Katie Good, West End Bakery

3rd: Sunday Brunch! - Sarah Matusicky, Chelsea's Village Tearoom

Amateur

1st: Tropicana Delight - Mary Banks

2nd: Chocolate Addict's Dream with Highland's Mocha Stout - Steve Petusky

3rd: Beerlicious Chocolate Stout Cupcakes - Eden Lewis & Sarah Chesnutt



Best Retro Cupcake:
Professional

1st: Patrick’s Old Fashioned Banana Pudding - Jodi Rhoden, Short Street Cakes

2nd: German Chocolate Cake - Anomaly Romano, Take the Cake!

3rd: What's Up Doc? - Kathryn Geitner, Mama Bird's Nest

Amateur

1st: Modern Red Velvet - Oksana Kukharets

2nd: Blonde Banana - Patricia Kubica

3rd: Chocolate Mayonnaise with a Twist - Katie Kelley

Youth - High School

1st: Pink Velvet - Meg Kurdys

2nd: Applie Pie Cupcakes - Erica Lynn Katz

3rd: Grandma Lulu's Red Velvet Cupcakes - Megan McDonald

Youth - Middle School

1st: Classic Creamsicle - Ethan Baechtold

2nd: A Timeline of Childhood Favorites Through the Years on PB&J - Lost Ridge Academy

3rd: Vanilla Sundae – Allie Brooks



Best Gluten-Free Cupcake:
Professional

1st: World's Best Carrot Cake Chocolate Gluten-Free Cupcake - Avi Sommerville, World's Best Carrot Cake

2nd: Violet Tendencies - Meyer Lemon Cupcake with Strawberry Filling, Vanilla Bean Buttercream, Candy Violets, and Fresh Thyme - Ian Grout & Jason Pierson, Sugarbomb Bakery

Amateur

1st: White Chocolate Mocha - Meghan Huckaby

Best Local Foods Cupcake:
Professional

1st: Sweet Potato Ginger Cupcakes with Ginger Mascarpone Frosting - Terri Siever, Well-Bred Bakery

2nd: Black(berry) Forest Cake - Devils food with local blackberry filling and swiss vanilla bean buttercream - Jael Rattigan, French Broad Chocolate Lounge

3rd: Maple Candied Bacon Pancake - Amber Gricius, Sweet Ambie's

Amateur

1st: Very Berry - Alicia Harrison and Jayanna Gillespie

2nd: Paula's Perk - Denise Lingenfelter

3rd: Granny's Savory Southern Supper - Sandra Biddix

Best Wedding Cupcake:
Professional

1st: Bliss, squared - Vanilla cake, lemon cream, raspberry compote, and white chocolate ganache - Jael Rattigan, French Broad Chocolate Lounge

2nd: Autumn Spiced Carrot with Pecan Cream Icing - Michelle Fountain, Icing on the Cake

3rd: "Spring Engagement" Apricot & Hibiscus - Amanda Krueger, Bake It Pretty

Amateur

1st: Coconut Lovecakes with Almond Buttercream Frosting - Cynthia Bowser

2nd: A Black & White Affair - Kelsey Graf

3rd: Lavender Vanilla - Heather Maynard



Best Media Inspired Cupcake:
Youth - High School

1st: I Love Boys that Sparkle (Twilight) - Allison Bryan

2nd: A Mad Hatter's Cupcake Dream - Greta Humphrey & Saige Hopkins

3rd: Hello Kitty - Daisy Homolka

Youth - Middle School

1st: Follow the Yellow Brick Road - Anna Kate Baechtold

The VIP judges for the competition were Laurey Masterson, Laurey’s Catering & Gourmet To Go; Mackensy Lunsford, Mountain Xpress; Carol Motsinger, Asheville Citizen-Times; Melinda Vetro, owner of Old Europe; and Kenneth Pace, General Manager of the Sunset Terrace at the Grove Park Inn. Dozens of other bakers, chefs, and community members also volunteered as judges for each category.

Sponsors include the Grove Park Inn, Bake It Pretty, Mountain Xpress, Sophie Magazine, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Biltmore Cake Ball Bakery, Southern Audio Visual, Clingman Café, Mama Bird’s Nest and Icing on the Cake. The Grove Park Inn donated the space for the event and the adult grand prize – the Grove Park Inn’s Bed, Breakfast and Dinner for Two package.

Cupcakes for Cures raises money to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to find cures for cancer because it is projected that in 2011 over 1,000 Ashevilleans will hear the words, “you have cancer.” The event was started in 2010 by two couples in Asheville as their Relay for Life team. Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs in the fight against cancer. It represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. Participants are also invited to the Relay For Life of Asheville on June 3 at Reynolds High School.