In this high-energy, live cake decorating competition, youth will engage in a creative, hands-on experience that fosters artistic expression, builds confidence, and promotes life skills such as planning, time management, and public presentation. In two competition levels, beginner and intermediate/advanced, youth will compete in timed rounds to transform plain cakes into themed masterpieces.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners!
By random draw, beginner-level competitors in the 2026 Cake It 'Til You Make It State Cake Decorating Competition decorated cakes according to the theme Harvest of Illinois, while intermediate/advanced competitors decorated cakes according to the theme Route 66 Centennial.
Beginner level winners included first place Hayden Baugh of Marshall-Putnam County, second place Cheyenne Schabbing of Cumberland County, and third place Olivia Koch of Champaign County.
Intermediate/advanced winners were first place Alyssa Temple of Whiteside County, second place Alana Hettel of LaSalle County, and third place Vanessa Edler of Will County.
2026 State Cake Decorating Competition Information:
- Who: Youth ages 8 - 18 will compete in categories of Beginner or Intermediate/Advanced
- What: FREE! Timed, judged cake decorating competition with prizes!
- When: May 7, 2026 | Beginner level: 9:45 am - 2:15 pm | Intermediate/Advanced level: 11:00 am - 3:35 pm
- Where: Bevier Hall (Food Science and Human Nutrition Food Labs -third floor of Bevier Hall) | 905 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
- How: Each participant must register via ZSuite and be enrolled in a 4-H club. Promotion from a county event is not required to participate in the state cake decorating competition. Registration opens February 23rd through April 17th at go.illinois.edu/CakeDecoratingCompetition. Event information and required forms are included in registration.
- Disclaimer: Event may be cancelled due to low enrollment at the discretion of the event organizer.
Theme
A single theme will be randomly drawn at the start of the event. All participants will decorate their cake using the theme selected from the following options:
- Route 66 Centennial
- Harvest of Illinois
- Milestones and Memories
Schedule
Beginner
9:45 - 10:00 am Check-in
10:00 - 10:20 am Orientation/Set up
10:20 - 11:50 am Cake decorating competition
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Clean up
12:00 - 12:45 pm Lunch
12:45 - 1:00 pm Presentations
1:00 - 1:10 pm Awards
1:15 - 2:15 pm Tour
Intermetidate/Advanced
11:00 - 11:15 am Check - in
11:15 am - 12:00 pm Lunch
12:00 - 1:00 pm Tour
1:10 - 1:30 pm Orientation/Set up
1:30 - 3:00 pm Cake decorating competition
3:00 - 3:10 pm Clean up
3:10 - 3:25 pm Presentations
3:25 - 3:35 pm Awards
