What Judges Look For
At the Simcoe County Gingerbread Contest, we believe that every creation tells
a story.
As you prepare your entry, consider how each element reflects your unique
vision and creativity.
From the intricate details of your gingerbread house to the whimsical
characters that populate your scene, let your imagination run wild.
Remember, the judges are looking for not just skill, but also the heart and soul
you pour into your work.
Embrace the challenge and showcase your passion for gingerbread artistry.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a newcomer, this is your opportunity to
shine and share your love for this delightful tradition.
Overall Appearance:
Cleanliness of individual cookie elements and 3-D construction. Scale, balance, and
viewability of 3-D construction (from all angles).
Technique and Skills:
Number and difficulty of decorating techniques used.
Decorating techniques include, but are not limited to, outlining/flooding, dipping,
dimensional pressure piping, wet-on-wet/marbling, stenciling, airbrushing,
painting, stamping, fondant work, edible paperwork, isomalt, etc.
Construction techniques include, but are not limited to, contouring dough,
embossing or molding dough, stacked or sandwiched 3-D constructions, 3-D
mitered corner constructions, etc.
Creativity and Originality:
Tell a story through the relationship of cookies in the piece.
Copies of copyrighted material of any kind – characters, logos, others’ original art,
etc. – are not allowed.
Overall Appeal:
Decorated board/base,
Use of colour.
When viewing the entry as a whole, there should be continuity of the theme
throughout the entire piece
For Child Bakers:
Higher marks will be awarded to entries using homemade gingerbread compared
to gingerbread purchased in premade kits.
JUDGES
Beatriz Muller is a Certified Master Sugar artist and a gingerbread architect and engineer. From her workshop in Ontario, Canada, she has been running Cakes by Beatriz for almost 20 years. During the holiday season, Beatriz and her staff called “Gingerneers” are dedicated to creating custom-order cookie art and intricate gingerbread buildings and structures.
Beatriz’s style is very clean and precise, with delicate and intricate embroidery and royal icing details. It is inspired by the visual arts, architecture, and beautiful ornamental designs that are created around the world.
Her work has won multiple awards including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the National Gingerbread House Competition in North Carolina. She’s also the winner of Food Network’s Holiday Gingerbread Showdown and The Big Bake. Beatriz won 1st prize at Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition in 2021 and was nominated as a cookie finalist for the American Cake Awards in 2020. Her work has been featured in multiple blogs and magazines and she’s had many appearances on TV networks throughout the years. In 2022, Beatriz’s work debuted on the big screen when she was commissioned by Discovery+ to make six gingerbread pieces for the movie ‘A Gingerbread Christmas’.
I am Teresa Araujo, I own and operate The Sugar Bowl in Bradford.
I am fascinated by anything Sugar since I can remember. I started making cakes and sweet tables professionally about 15 years ago, and entering Cake Competitions 10 years ago, nationally and internationally. I won first place 4 times at The Baking and Sweets Show in Toronto, first place at The Big Gateau in New Orleans, first place at The Cake Fair in Orlando, Florida. Also in 2020, I decided to start competing virtually, due to the restrictions in traveling. I won to represent Canada 2 years in a row The International Star Competition and won Silver at the prestigious Cake International in England. I Brazil I was placed among the 6 best Sugar Sculptor at The Cake Awards. Last year won first place at the Big Bake Competition, a TV show on Food Network, being part of a talented team. I love to create new textures and techniques to enhance my work. Resuming, Sugar is the medium to express my art.
Sydney Hardie
Chair, Innisfil Arts Council
A 21 year resident of Innisfil, Sydney has been a board member of the Innisfil Arts Culture and Heritage Council for 10 years, and an organizer with the Innisfil Studio Tour/Autumn Art Show for 10 years. Sydney has worked as a Graphic Designer for over 25 years, both in the magazine industry and as a local business owner.
JANET MOROZUK
Janet, President of the Rotary Club of Innisfil (2025-2026) has been a resident of Innisfil for 33 years. The Rotary Club of Innisfil was chartered in 2010 with Janet being the Charter Secretary and then, in 2012-2013, President, followed by holding other Board positions. For over 30 years, Janet was a Graphic Designer, specializing in Direct Mail as well as owning her own Graphic Design business. Recently, she retired after 23 years of teaching the Graphic Design curriculum at Georgian College. Currently, Janet continues to own her own local computer training company.