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Culinary arts students compete in fifth CFISD Cupcake Battle

Jersey Village junior Ananda Stephens was among the many winners at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle.
Jersey Village High School junior Ananda Stephens, left, was among the many winners at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle, held Jan. 21 at the Berry Center. Stephens won first place in the Advanced Culinary division, while cupcakes were also judged on best frosting, most unique flavor, most advanced technique and best presentation.

Jan. 24, 2022—Jersey Village High School junior Ananda Stephens and Cypress Ranch High School junior Kiersten Vincenti won first place in their respective competition divisions at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle, held Jan. 21 at the Berry Center.

The competition featured more than 70 entries from all 12 CFISD high schools. Industry professionals, CFISD culinary arts alumni and local bakers joined CFISD staff members in judging this year’s competition. The judges graded the cupcakes for multiple categories, including overall taste and design, Best Cake, Best Frosting, Most Unique Flavor, Most Advanced Technique and Best Presentation.

“This was a really good test of their skills,” said Catherine Piotrowski, a Jersey Village graduate and former CFISD culinary student currently studying at the University of Houston’s Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. “Seeing all these amazing cupcakes here can hopefully spark more creativity and give them more interest in baking, cooking and the industry as a whole. They can see that this does have a pathway to their future and it is applicable.”

Former CFISD culinary student Wilson Nguyen judges cupcakes for at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle.
Former CFISD culinary student Wilson Nguyen judges cupcakes for at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle on Jan. 21 at the Berry Center. Industry professionals, CFISD culinary arts alumni and local bakers joined CFISD staff members in judging the competition. Judges chose the top three overall cupcakes in the Culinary I and Advanced Culinary divisions, in addition to Best Cake, Best Frosting, Most Unique Flavor, Most Advanced Technique and Best Presentation. 

During judging, participating culinary students participated in a Meringue Challenge in addition to a breakout session featuring guest speaker Lisa Barcelona, owner of Barcelona Cakes. The relay-style challenge featured students carrying eggs in spoons and answering food safety questions before ultimately creating a meringue. Teams from Cypress Creek (Session A) and Cypress Springs (Session B) high schools won their respective challenges.

Culinary students prepared cupcakes and presentations the week before the competition at their local campuses and set them up at the Berry Center on the day of the competition. The top three places were awarded in both Advanced Culinary Arts (second-year students) and Culinary I. Winners in both divisions received prizes including KitchenAid mixers, decorating kits, baking accessories and gift cards.

In addition to baking cupcakes, CFISD culinary students were tasked with presenting their cupcakes in unique ways.
In addition to baking cupcakes, CFISD culinary students were tasked with presenting their cupcakes in unique ways at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle on Jan. 21 at the Berry Center.

Vincenti placed first in the Culinary I division, Cypress Creek High School junior Miranda Gray finished second and Cypress Woods High School junior Olivia Cecchini placed third.

Stephens placed first in the Advanced Culinary, Jersey Village High School junior Mikayla Kirkland finished second and Cypress Springs High School senior Ofelia Valle placed third.

“This was really fun,” Stephens said. “I really like to bake so I enjoyed looking at everyone else’s cupcakes and seeing their ideas. It was really creative and I like to be around like-minded people as me who like to back, decorate and show other people what we can do.”

A Meringue Challenge was introduced for the first time at the event. The relay-style race included students carrying eggs.
A Meringue Challenge was introduced for the first time at the event. The relay-style race included students carrying eggs in spoons and answering food safety questions before ultimately creating a meringue. Teams from Cypress Creek and Cypress Springs high schools won their respective challenges.

The following Culinary I students won specialty awards:

  • Best Cake – Tyrese Gordon, Cypress Lakes;
  • Best Frosting – Amalie Biehl, Cypress Ranch;
  • Most Unique Cupcake – Shelby Reynolds, Cypress Ridge;
  • Most Advanced Technique – Emily Rose, Langham Creek; and
  • Best Presentation – Iliyah Booker, Cypress Ranch.

“We love bringing our kids here every year because they love to come and show off the skills they’ve learned throughout the year,” said Blair Roy, Jersey Village culinary arts teacher. “We really missed not having it last year so it was a great treat to be able to come out here and see all the special guests, judges and people from the community come out and support us. Not only are they making cupcakes to bring here and present, they’re also meeting with people in the community that have businesses and work here.”

Cypress Ranch junior Amalie Biehl’s lemon meringue pie cupcakes won Best Frosting at the fifth annual CFISD Cupcake Battle.
Cypress Ranch High School junior Amalie Biehl’s lemon meringue pie cupcakes won Best Frosting at the fifth annual CFISD High School Cupcake Battle on Jan. 21 at the Berry Center.