Cupcake Wars

Kids in LeeAnne Bot’s FCCLA class at Minneota High School bake their own cupcakes in small groups.

They create the texture, use the ingredients they desire, and must put their cupcakes into a special arrangement that is appealing.

Last week, the class pitted their creations against other members in their class — then invited judges in to taste and see what they’d created.

There was no end to the creative juices that flowed.

One group made their cupcakes into farm animals, like cows and pigs, had a barn and a picket fence to create a farm atmosphere for their cupcake.

Another group had palm trees in their cupcakes, which surrounded a volcano that had lava flowing out the top.

Another group had cupcakes with eyes, created in the shape of a turtle.

LaShad Smith showed the turtle cupcake display to the judges, who waited to taste the creation.

The judges took a taste of each of them, then rated them on taste, how the group worked with the ingredients and a special caramel surprise and how the icing tasted, along with the texture of the cupcake.

In the end, everyone got to hear how the judges felt about the cupcake creations.

By and large, the judges seemed to enjoy the cupcakes and were especially pleased with the special displays each group created.

“It gives the kids a chance to let others taste their cupcakes and they get an opportunity to put their creation up against others,” said Bot.