Monica Iverson from Cakes by Monica in Vermillian, SD, won the top prize in both categories of the Ultimate Cake Decorating Competition sponsored by the Upper Midwest Bakers Association (UMBA) on Sunday, November 14. The contest took place in the east rotunda of the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.

The contest featured nine competitors in the birthday cake competition with its theme of "Animals Gone Wild" and 9 teams of decorators in the wedding cake competition with "Your Destination Wedding" theme. Decorators from 5 states competed and Monica Iverson took home the $1000 top prize in both categories.

In conjunction with the competition, the UMBA held a children’s cupcake decorating event where children could decorate a cupcake for $1. The event raised almost $600 for the UMBA’s scholarship fund.

The event was emceed by WCCO / Minnesota Monthly Food Editor Sue Zelickson.

The event was sponsored by BakeMark, Bakery Crafts, Best Brands, Brill, DecoPac, Dawn Foods, General Mills and Lindar. Coborn’s and Cold Spring Bakery provided the cakes for the competition.


Complete list of winners:

Birthday Cake Competition-"Animals Gone Wild"
1st place and winner of $1000 - Monica Iverson, Cakes by Monica – Vermillion, SD
2nd place and winner of $500- Robyn Hanisch , Hanisch Bakery and Coffeeshop, Red Wing, MN
3rd place and winner of $250 - Pamela Martinez, Coborn's- Big Lake., MN

Wedding Cake Competition- "Your Destination Wedding"
1st place and winner of $1000 - Monica Iverson and Allison Hoyne, Cakes by Monica, Vermillion, SD
2nd place and winner of $500- Laura Englerth and Teara Myers, Lunds/ Byerlys, Bloomington, MN
3rd place and winner of $250 - Tamara Mugerauer and Brittany Wilms, Tamara’s The Cake Guru, Oshkosh, WI