A LOCAL baker from Taunton has been awarded an international award in a prestigious awards event.

Sue Higgins, Founder of Susie’s Bakehouse, based in Blackbrook, Taunton is thrilled to announce that she has been named a winner in the prestigious 2024 International Buttercream Bloom Awards.

This global competition attracted talented bakers from around the world, showcasing their incredible buttercream flower creations across four seasonal categories: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

This year, the competition saw an outstanding 37,000 votes cast across 210 entries.

Each voter was allowed only one vote per category, making the competition fiercely competitive and ensuring that each vote truly mattered.

Having scooped the top prize in the Autumn category and securing silver in the other three categories, Sue said: "Winning a Buttercream Bloom Award is such an honour for me.

“It’s a mix of excitement, pride, and even relief, knowing that all my hard work and countless hours spent perfecting my buttercream flowers has paid off.  

“There's a huge sense of fulfilment that comes with knowing that others appreciate and admire my work.

“It’s also a massive confidence booster, especially for me who has seriously lacked this in the past.  

“Thank you to everyone who voted for me, to the sponsors, to Rockpool and of course to Jane for organising these awards and allowing all bakers to gain the recognition they deserve.”

Jane Taylor, the founder of Taylor Made Cake Courses and the host of this competition, expressed her admiration for the participants: "I remain completely impartial and do not vote in this competition because my goal is to provide a fair platform for showcasing talent.

“I am deeply grateful to our incredible sponsors Southeast Sundries, Prop Options, Rainbow Dust & Rockpool Creative, who support this event and help us celebrate the remarkable artistry of bakers worldwide.

“Organising this competition is my way of giving back and highlighting the amazing work being done by bakers everywhere.”

Jane was hugely impressed with Sue’s baking skills and credited her win at this year’s competition.

Jane said: “A huge well done, Sue! Your talent really shone through in this year's competition. It’s fantastic to see your beautiful work celebrated.

“Keep on creating and inspiring with your incredible buttercream artistry!”