The Heritage Center was overflowing in ‘sugar and spice and everything nice’ at the 2018 Jeane Graves Charity Cupcake Challenge to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation and its efforts to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Three categories of culinarians – Junior Bakers ages 10 and under, Junior Bakers ages 11 to 14, and Home Bakers – each brought dozens of creatively decorated cupcakes, hoping to entice winning votes from judges and attendees for their deliciously sweet concoctions.

Sisters Julia Graves, Jeane Graves Bartlett and Janie Graves Hoover created the fundraiser nine years ago in memory of their mother Jeane Graves, who loved cooking and who passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s, as did their father Hubert Graves a few years later.

Cupcakes ran the full gamut, from deliciously traditional to ooey-gooey chocolaty goodness and over-the-top creative. With a nod to autumn, there were several scrumptious pumpkin spice variations, and even a S’Mores Campcake – no campfire required.

For those with a sophisticated palate, Asasia Benjamin offered up Coconut Champagne Cupcakes with an Italian meringue, champagne buttercream frosting. Breakfast became desert with the bacon-topped Breakfast Pancake Cupcakes made by Kristen Perez. And Harry Potter fans enjoyed Natalie Bohanon’s Butterbeer cupcakes. “It’s like butterscotch,” she explained.

“The Harry Potter one is excellent,” said Susan Chenault Hahn, adding with a smile, “they have a lot of icing, which is how I judge most things in life.”

Among the more unusual was Ivy Muthart’s Garden Cupcake, made from ube essence, a purple yam popular in the Philippines, topped with a buttercream frosting. “The purple yam is not sweet, so when you combine it with buttercream the flavors balance,” Muthart explained.

Faith Mueller showed off her creativity with an East meets West presentation, offering up Cherry Filled and Frosted Cupcakes alongside colorful ‘sushi rolls’ made from Rice Krispies, Fruit Rollups and other yummy candies.

The judges, Chef Michael Glatz, Leasa Nanney and Mellisa Toperzer, had their work cut out for them, as did attendees who decided the Voters Choice Award.

“The cupcakes were fabulous, and quite a range,” said Glatz, adding that many of the bakers were already talking about what they were going to do next year. “There isn’t a cupcake in this room I wouldn’t go back and eat another one of. It’s exciting.”

“Every single one of them was delicious in its own way,” said Nanney in agreement. “There was not one bad cupcake there.”

For more information on Team Fox, visit TeamFox.org.

Voters Choice:

Jazmyn Morris, Baker 11-14, Pumpkin Spice Jr.

Judges Choices:

Jr. Bakers 8-10

Best Decoration: Jacquelin Anding, S’Mores Campcakes
Best Taste: Audrey Gold, Reese’s Honey Bears
Best Overall: Isabella Barsano and Grace Graley, Magical Quest Cupcakes

Jr. Bakers 11-14

Best Decoration: Faith Rose Mueller, Cherry Frosted Cupcakes
Best Taste: Anastasia Ciechonowski, Dole Whip Pineapple Cupcakes
Best Overall: Isabelle Ann Burgener, Autumn Dream Pumpkin Spice withSalted Caramel Buttercream

Home Bakers: