Jubilee Queen of Cakes judging day

Finalist! Maxine made this flavoursome battenburg out of strawberry and blueberry sponges and a lemon and coconut marzipan. We love the patriotic decorations!

Judge Victoria Threader turned up with some treats of her own – her raspberry red velvet cupcakes. They made a lovely morning treat with a cuppa!

goodtoknow’s cupcake queen Victoria Threader set up her own cupcake station to show the contestants how to re-create her famous cupcake faces.

Victoria shows Sam and Maxine how to get perfect cupcake faces by demonstrating how to do her design of the Queen’s face – well it was a Jubilee competition!

The finished product! You can’t tell the difference between Victoria’s and the contestant’s finished cupcakes – she must be a very good teacher!

Great British Bake Off winner Ruth showed the contestants how to make her ice lolly biscuits from her new book The Busy Girl’s Guide to Cake Decorating.

Ruth demonstrates how to decorate her ice lolly biscuits.

Sam and Maxine make their own ice lolly biscuits.

Instead of the usual pink, white and brown we used red, white and blue for a more patriotic feel.

The Queen’s face cupcakes and royal ice lolly biscuits certainly made our spread a lot more colourful.

Cakes, cupcakes and some nice sarnies, our lunch spread was a traditional British affair.

Gino D’Acampo joined us just in time for lunch! He spent the time talking food with Ruth, Victoria, Sam and Maxine.

Gino made himself at home right away, joking with Ruth over lunch.

Gino couldn’t resist taking a look at the latest issue of goodtoknow Recipes.

Gino and goodtoknow Recipes editor Matt Davis get stuck into the first entry as they begin their judging process.

Ruth and Victoria take a more ladylike approach as they sample the goods.

Gino can’t get enough of our 2 contestant’s cakes.

Gino has his say on what he thinks the winning cake should be. In the end the judges where unanimous in their decision.

Gino keeps the finalists waiting as he draws out the tension before announcing the winner.

Sam Hoey’s tea and biscuit cupcakes where named the winner by our judges. They said they loved the idea, flavours and simple, yet classy design – and were very impressed by the handmade edible crown!

Naughty Gino had the ladies in stitches as they posed for pictures with the chef.

Both Sam and Maxine left with a goodie bag including a signed book from Ruth Clemens and lots of lovely icing goodies from Renshaw.