Birmingham Historical Society’s Great Chocolate Cake Contest, February 24, 2025 at the 83rd Annual Meeting.
Thank you to all those who participated! Lots of hard choices every year, but lots of fun this year tasting all the chocolate creations! Thank you once again to Trustee Carolanne Roberts for organizing this popular event. And a special thank you to this year’s judges:
- Susan Swagler – Food Writer
- Pam Lolley – Former Southern Living Test Kitchen (and both members of the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier
- 17-year old Robert White – aspiring chef and enthusiastic taste tester!
Award Winners
Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane Franklin
Best Visual Presentation: Aunt Irene’s Devil’s Food Cake by Olivia Allison.
Judges’ comment: “Beautiful presentation: hearts and flowers.”
Best Flavor Profile: Chocolate Ice Box Cake by Susan Haskell
Judges’ comment:“ “Loved the combination of lady fingers with the airy light icing.”
Baker’s comment: “It was served for special occasions when I was growing up. The recipe was my grandmother’s. I do not make it often.“
Most Pleasing Texture: Barefoot Contessa’s Chocolate Cake by Marjorie Lee White
Judges’ comment: “Lovely texture and very professional looking”
Most Chocolatey Cake Creation: Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane Franklin
Judges’ comment: “Very rich with deep chocolate flavor and a hint of orange.”
Baker’s comment: “This elegant flourless chocolate cake is topped with a Grand Marnier whipped cream. Hints of citrus and clove-perfect for the holidays with family and friends! Recipe from Tricia Stuedman. I make it often for the holidays.”
Best Memory Statement: Jolly Roger Rum Cake by Patricia Sprague
Judges’ comment:“ “Loved the mix of pirates and church ladies, made us laugh.”
Baker’s comment: “It is a favorite of Caribbean Pirates and Southern Church Ladies., Just the thing for a little morning nip with tea” The recipe is Ann Best’s. I make it as often as needed.”
Best Overall Cake: Very Good Chocolate Cake by Anne Ledvina
Judges’ comment: “Definitely lived up to its name. wonderful!!!”
Baker’s comment: “This is a recipe from Edna Lewis and James Peacock, two Southern cooks. I make it often.”
Kudos to The Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace White
Baker’s comment: “My grandmother used to make it all the time when I was younger. It has been one of my favorites for years. It is my grandmother’s recipe. I do not make it as much as I would like to.”
Kudos to the German Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth Hester
Baker’s comment: “This cake was made by my mother every year for my birthday as a child. It’s still one of my favorite cakes although I rarely make it. Recipe from the New York Times. I do not make it often; it takes too long to make!’
Other cakes presented:
Czech Kefir Cake by Annie Ledvina.
Baker’s comment: “This is a classic chocolate cake of the Czech people. All Czechs cook it for birthdays and other occasions. It is my father’s recipe. Yes! I make it often.”
Mimi’s Chocolate Cake with Aunt Cam’s Frosting by Carolanne Roberts
Baker’s comment: “We ate it at every function, but I’d never tried making it until yesterday. A challenge! Both women died in the 1960s — hope they’d be proud of me! The recipe is by Eleanor Bishop and Cam Bishop.”
Chocolate Applesauce Cake, Chocolate Apple Cake, and Mint Chocolate Ice Box Cake (made with Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies) , the latter cakes iced with a Ganache by Marjorie White.
Baker’s comment: “Profiled on Instagram, these cakes sounded good and were said to be quick to make and bake. They were neither quick nor easy to make and bake, but three loads of the full dishwasher later, they were quite tasty.”
