High rising baking competition

The smells of baking delights filled the BakeShake today as keen bakers went head to head in the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Young Baker of the Year.

Carmen Philbrick-Cruse, 17, beat four student bakers to be named the Young Baker of the Year.


Carmen Philbrick-Crus from Otumoetai College, Kane Hansen from Aquinas College, Mansha Kalia from Papamoa College, Madeline Johnson from Otumoetai College and Harmony Pukeroa from Papamoa College. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

'Today is really good. I'm learning lots and it's just a great opportunity. I have done a lot of baking at home with mum and stuff and I have been doing a food tech class this year.

'I won best tasting for the SPCA Cupcake day this year, other than that, this is fairly new.”

Carmen is expanding her horizon and is learning new baking tips through competition.

'Today, I've learnt a lot about how to make bread and the whole process there. I don't make much bread.

'It's very interesting to learn about how and why you do things a certain way. It's really good to be able to learn from people who do this for a living as opposed to just googling online.”

Carmen's specialty is cupcakes and muffins but she is branching out into pastries.

'I really want to do baking as a career. It's been my dream since I was a kid. I would like to start up my own bakery one day.”

Not only does Carmen ger the title of BOP Secondary Schools Young Baker of the year and but she gets a free baking apprenticeship.


Winner Carmen Philbrick-Crus from Otumoetai College.


Second place: Harmony Pukeroa from Papamoa College.
Madeline Johnson from Otumoetai College.

Kane Hansen from Aquinas College.


Mansha Kalia from Papamoa College.

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