North End Bakehouse has done it again.
For the second year running, the Shepparton North bakery has been crowned the nation’s best maker of hot cross buns.
Bakery owners Matt and Shekiah Aylett took out the title at the Victorian Baking Show during the weekend of February 26 and 27.
Last year’s win for Mr and Mrs Aylett caused quite the surprise, but this year, with a tried and tested traditional treat, they went in with quiet confidence.
“We felt like we had a little bit of pressure coming into this one, trying to go back to back, but we just stuck to our guns and made sure we did the exact same thing as last year,” Mrs Aylett said.
“So we thought we hopefully couldn’t go wrong.”
Beyond taste, the judging panel once again took into consideration the sweet smell, symmetry and look of the contending sweets.
Along with the traditional fruit hot cross buns, the bakery took out first place in the innovative category for its vanilla slice hot cross buns.
“The vanilla slice buns have been a staple for the last three or four years — they go absolutely wild,” Mrs Aylett said.
In the spirit of trying new things, the couple also proposed a s’mores bun to the judges, which unfortunately did not place but did receive positive feedback.
But the proof is in the pudding, or buns, for the Ayletts.
The two trophies now stand side by side in the bakehouse, with hopes for a third.
“There's been a few bakeries around here that have done it twice, but I think we will be the first if we could go three years in a row,” Mrs Aylett said.
“It’d be nice to get up on that shield for a third time and we’d be three years consecutive.”
The win has kept the bakers on their toes, selling out their star hot cross buns by early afternoons most days.
“We’re opening Saturdays now too, it’s going to be a big few weeks leading up to Easter,” Mrs Aylett said with a laugh.