Ireland’s Best Junior Baker
Thu May 10 2018
Spatulas at the ready, the search is on for Ireland’s best junior baker!
Dancing with the Stars Champion Karen Byrne was joined by members of Foróige to announce details of this year’s National Junior Baking Competition. Aldi will once again this year sponsor The National Junior Baking Competition, in association with Foróige, Ireland’s leading youth organisation and the National Ploughing Association. The finals will take place in the Aldi Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships in September.
The theme of the National Junior Baking Competition this year is ‘’Lemon Drizzle Cake’ and the judges are anticipating some delicious cakes from the wealth of talented young bakers around the country. Jessica Doherty (13) from Bundoran & Ballyshannon Foróige NYP, emerged as the winner last year, and her Lemon Drizzle Cake has been flying off the shelves in all 130 Aldi stores nationwide since Christmas!
“I couldn’t believe it when I won at the Ploughing last year,” said Jessica. “I was up against some other really great bakers on the day. The support from my friends and my family since then has been amazing, and it is so exciting seeing ‘Jessica’s Lemon Drizzle Cake’ on the shelf in Aldi every time I go into the store. I’d like to wish the very best of luck to everyone entering this year!”
The winner of the National Junior Baking Competition will win a €1,000 bursary to help them on their baking journey, as well as a €1,500 Aldi voucher for their local Foróige group. In addition to this, and for the third year as part of the National Junior Baking Competition, Aldi will be stocking the winning lemon drizzle cake – a huge achievement for any budding young baker!
Sean Campbell, CEO Foróige said, “This competition encourages young people to explore their passion for baking. It allows them to express their creativity, display their talents on a national platform, and learn about the world of food. It’s a fabulous opportunity and we are delighted to be partnered with Aldi in rolling it out for the fourth year running.
The qualifiers of The National Junior Baking Competition are currently being held nationally through youth organisation Foróige, in their 810 clubs and projects nationwide, with the regional finals taking place in late July. The National Semi Finals and Final will be held from 18th – 20th September at the Aldi Marquee during the 2018 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. For more information see www.aldi.ie