Exemplar Health Care holds rainbow cake bake-off

There was just one way to find out which Exemplar Health Care home could bake the best rainbow cake. And that was to hold a bake-off competition!

In April, each home was sent a rainbow cake kit - complete with seven cake tins and dyes.

Then, the residents, the Catering Team and Care Team got to work to mix, bake, ice and decorate their colourful creations.

The judging panel, made up of Operations Directors across Exemplar Health Care, was stunned by the variety of cakes made.

Rachel Calladine, Senior Director of Operations of Exemplar Health Care’s core homes, said:

“All of the entries looked amazing – and were extremely creative.

“Our fantastic care homes never stop surprising us. Our only disappointment was that we were unable to taste any of these cakes – but we know our residents and colleagues enjoyed eating them!”

Selina Wall, Senior Director of Operations of Exemplar Health Care’s commissioning homes, said:

“I am blown away by each home’s achievements. The wider commissioning team and I are delighted with the incredible effort each home put into planning and creating such magnificent cakes.

“There was not one cake that would have looked out of place as a show-stopper on the Great British Bake Off TV show.  Everyone involved should feel justifiably proud.”

Out of 31 homes, the six winners were:

• Eastlands, in Sutton-in-Ashfield

• Greenside Court, in Rotherham

• Longley Park View, in Sheffield

• Maypole Grove, in Birmingham

• Ribble View, in Preston

• Willowbeck, in Sheffield

Eastlands and Longley Park View came up with the idea of using Skittles to keep the rainbow theme going on the outside of the cake.

Greenside Court had a similar idea, but used Smarties, and even wrote a poem alongside the cake.

Maypole Grove modelled Support Worker figurines on top of its cake, standing by a key worker rainbow and Exemplar Health Care’s logo.

Ribble View got its residents mixing the coloured batter, and its Chef topped the cakes with pick ‘n mix sweets and buttercream.

Willowbeck covered the whole cake with rainbow coloured icing, complete with a rainbow on top that sat in marshmallow clouds.

Each winning home received a cash prize and a hamper of activity supplies delivered to its door.

Each home also received a designed poster to show off its cakes.