Like many baking shows this spring, the San Diego Cake Show was forced to cancel this year’s edition due to the coronavirus pandemic. A highlight of this show is a cake design competition open to everyone, with multiple levels including the Spectacular Cake Competition. In this event (which has both Individual and Group Divisions), entrants create a cake that features the event’s theme.

To keep the show going in some form this year, the San Diego Cake Show is launching a virtual cake competition inspired by what would have been this year’s theme, “Around the World in 80 Cakes.”

Participants can celebrate travel, adventure and wanderlust without leaving their homes, all while raising funds for a good cause.  Junior and adult competitions have three categories which include cake, cookies and cupcakes. Professional competition categories are cake, cookies and non-cake, which includes sugar flowers, chocolate/sugar show pieces and modeling.

To enter, participants can click the “Enter Now” button on the show’s website, then select the “Register” button to sign up for a category of interest. Once an entry is finished, participants can email a picture along with their name, division and category to Diana Witte at dwitte@rmhcsd.org by April 20 and it will be uploaded to the website.

Winners from each division and category will be chosen by a lineup of judges from around the world. The general public is also encouraged to vote on each creation for $2 a vote. One winner will be announced in each category along with a People’s Choice winner and a Best Effort winner for the kids and adult divisions. Prizes will be awarded in each category.

A percentage of the proceeds from the competition will be donated to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego.

“Knowing that baking reduces stress and families are in need of fun activities while they stay at home, it was an easy decision to change the San Diego Cake Show to a virtual platform,” says Monika Stout, co-chair of the 2020 San Diego Cake Show. “The show not only allows us to celebrate sugar art from a variety of skill levels, but also donate a percentage of the event’s proceeds to Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, an organization close to our members’ hearts.”