Our community enjoyed another fantastic Pocono Cupcake Challenge, with a beautiful and fun day on the Grand Lawn of the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort last month. It its sixth year, the Pocono Cupcake Challenge featured 38 vendors ranging from Home Bakers, Junior Bakers, and Professional Bakers, who came together to show off their delicious cupcakes and creative displays and themes – all in the name of charity!

Every year, the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort generously hosts this event to benefit United Way. With bakers donating their time and delicious goods, and Shawnee providing the incredible venue, all proceeds go right back into the community by supporting United Way’s annual campaign.

This year’s Cupcake Challenge raised $7,800 to support United Way’s annual campaign. These funds will be used to support over twenty non-profits organizations working together to provide critical services for those in need in Monroe County.

Promoting sweets may seem a little out of line with one of United Way’s hallmark initiatives – access to healthy food. But a big part of this event is about recognizing local bakers and food vendors – as well as promoting young and emerging bakers. Access to healthy food requires enhancing our local food system, and local vendors are a critical element of this work. We are thrilled to be a part of such a great event.

With that in mind, we would like to recognize and thank all of the incredible bakers who came out to support this important event. We would also like to congratulate this year’s winners!

Home Baker Winners:

1st place: Carrie Gundling

2nd place: Greg Featherston

3rd place: Jennifer and Mackenzie Degraaf

Junior Baker Winners:

1st place: Patricia Trine

2nd place: Golden Girls Bakery (Faith, Abbie, & Maddie),

3rd place: Gianna Bunelle

Professional Baker Winners:

1st place: Talana Marie’s

2nd place: Joni Confalone (Jonicakes)

3rd place: Christy Kolar from Shoprite

Congratulations to Talana Marie’s who also won the People’s Choice Award and the Best Booth Display (an incredible model of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts)!