Hoylake baker’s wedding cake takes top prize for taste and texture at prestigious competition
HOYLAKE, WIRRAL — A wedding cake crafted by a Colombian-born baker for her own nuptials has been crowned the best in Britain, beating more than 100 competitors at this year’s British Baker magazine awards held at the NEC Birmingham.
Laura Johnson, the owner of Abba Cakes in Hoylake, took home the top accolade for her signature chocolate creation—a luxurious combination of British baking tradition and Latin American flair.
The award-winning cake features a double chocolate ganache, dark chocolate sponge, and a rich layer of dulce de leche, a creamy caramel confection popular across Latin America.
The cake was originally baked for her wedding in November 2019. “When I went to try it after the pictures, there was none left, so I knew that people liked it,” Laura recalled with a smile. That early success inspired her to include it on her bakery’s menu once she opened her shop, where it quickly became a customer favourite.
Judges were especially impressed by the cake’s contrasting flavours, rich texture, and visual appeal. Entries were evaluated based on external appearance, internal structure, aroma, and taste by a panel of baking experts.
Laura, born in Colombia and originally named Alejandra, studied catering in Spain before moving to the UK five years ago. She said the recognition was a dream come true. “Chocolate cake is not a big thing in Colombia, and when I was studying there was nothing like ‘cake’ done. I absolutely love everything about British cakes,” she said.
Her unique fusion approach—mixing British ingredients with Colombian flavours—proved to be a winning formula. “That’s why it has dulce de leche—it’s a little bit Latin,” she explained.
Since opening Abba Cakes, Laura has become known for her innovative flavour pairings and attention to detail. But this particular cake has remained close to her heart, as it was the centrepiece of her own wedding celebration. “I said at that time, ‘If I ever have a cake shop, I’ll put it on the menu,’ and since then, it’s been the favourite in the shop.”
Laura’s victory highlights the growing popularity of multicultural influence in British baking. Event organisers praised her cake as a standout among a wide field of creative entries from across the country.
Other winners included a Middle Eastern kunafa pistachio brownie, a gluten-free chocolate cake with pistachio and berries, and a wheat-free brownie.
Laura, beaming with pride, said the award “meant the world” to her and her team. Her story of cultural fusion and culinary passion now stands as a sweet inspiration for aspiring bakers across Britain.
As the news of her win spreads, Laura hopes her signature cake continues to bring joy to others just as it did on her wedding day—when she didn’t even get to taste it herself.
