The Disney CEP Bake Off!

Last week, the YJ Team welcomed several hundred hopeful candidates to our Epping office for the first round of interviews for the Disney Cultural Exchange Program 2017. The week coincided with Macmillan Cancer Support’s countrywide coffee morning, so we took the opportunity to help support a highly valuable charity, while giving our candidates the opportunity to chat, enjoy a cuppa and showcase their baking skills! Over the course of the week, we tried tasty truffles, chewed classic cupcakes and bit into brilliant biscuits. Here are our top ten tasty treats from over the course of the week:

10. Haunted Mansion Cupcakes

Thank you to Alice Doye for making the spooktacular Haunted Mansion themed cupcakes (although the YJ Team agree that they are more cute than creepy)! We do love a good theme and these came just in season as we approach Halloween!

9. Stormtrooper Cupcakes

These Star Wars themed cupcakes were out of this world! Not only did they look like tiny chubby Stormtroopers, they also tasted delicious. Thank you to Abi Portas for bringing these along!

8. Mickey Shortbread

We loved these tasty Mickey shaped shortbreads with chocolate ears! However, we're not sure who made them! Please let us know who you are - they were delicious.

7. Disney Princess Embellished Cupcakes

These gorgeous princess cupcakes came all the way from Wales! Although one or two didn’t survive the journey, they were beautifully decorated and tasted delicious! Thank you to Kate Detheridge for bringing them with you.

6. Sparkly Chocolate Mickey Cakes

Thank you to Elizabeth Redhall for bringing a bit of sparkle into the YJ office! Elizabeth’s delicious chocolate cupcakes didn’t actually last long enough once the box was open for a photo, but rest assured they went down a treat.

5. Oreo Truffles

The YJ Team completely fell in love with these delicious truffles; in fact the obsession was quite unhealthy. We are so impressed by the baking skills of Aleksandra Karandyszowska! Thank you for sharing these with the group, and we are so sad that we didn't get a photo!

4. Disney Princess Dress Cakes

Lucy Collier’s beautiful dress cupcakes were another highlight of our week. Not only were they lovely and fluffy but they were iced to perfection. Mary Berry would be impressed; not a soggy bottom in sight!

3. Minnie Crispie Cake Pops

In third place is Jenna Hughes’ adorable Minnie Cake Pops. We loved the gorgeous design of these, and they were very tasty! For third place, we’re pleased to award two cinema vouchers to catch the latest Disney movie (or others!) at the cinema, and a YJ drawstring bag.

2. Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

They’re not Terry’s, they’re Natalie Morgan’s! We couldn’t get enough of these delicious chocolate orange cupcakes, which were also beautifully presented. For second place, we’re pleased to award two cinema vouchers to catch the latest Disney movie (or others!) at the cinema, and a YJ drawstring bag.

1. Magic Kingdom Castle Cake

Wow! This cake took our breath away; beautifully decorated to look like the most magical place on earth, and a delicious Victoria sponge filling. We are so grateful to Bethan Ayres, our competition winner, for her amazing creation and for bringing it down with her. The prize for first place is an afternoon tea voucher for two, valid at various locations across the UK, and a YJ drawstring bag!

Thank you so much to everyone who went to the effort to bake something for our coffee mornings/ afternoons, and of course to those who enjoyed eating and donated some money to Macmillan. We are over the moon to say that £436.00 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support by our generous cake-eaters. By supporting Macmillan, we can help them provide medical, emotional, practical and financial support for those suffering with cancer, as well as campaigning for better cancer care. For more information, please visit: coffee.macmillan.org.uk