2025 Winners
Theme: Traditional Chelsea Buns 'with a Modern Twist'
The winners of the 2025 World Chelsea Bun Awards are...
Instagram Competition - Amateur Baker
WINNER - @foodietweaker76
Chelsea Buns with Hojicha filled with Earl Grey infused Apricots & Homemade Marzipan.
Her Instagram page is @foodietweaker76
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CONGRATULATIONS GRACE! These Chelsea Buns were highly rated by the judges at the live tasting in Chelsea on Saturday 27th September and they look so appetising. ​
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PRIZE: £100
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Instagram Competition - Professional Baker
WINNER - The Chalk Freehouse, Chelsea
Chelsea Bun with Boozy Fruits, Praline & Cold Vanilla Custard.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHALK FREEHOUSE! This is an exciting twist on a traditional Chelsea Bun, made with milk bread and topped with apple caramel and praline. The cold custard has Cointreau soaked fruits running through it and it is served as a pudding at The Chalk Freehouse in Tryon Street, Chelsea in London.
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PRIZE: £100
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INSTAGRAM - @thechalkfreehouse​​
​https://thechalkfreehouse.co.uk/​​​​​
Professional - Live Tasting Competition
WINNER - FITZBILLIES, CAMBRIDGE
Hot Honey, Feta & Spring Onion Chelsea Buns, made with a Japanese Tangzhong* dough.
The incredible smell of these Chelsea Buns got everyone talking and the little hint of chilli that came through at the end of each bite thrilled the judges. *Tangzhong, also called yokone in Japan, is an Asian technique for making dough and calls for pre-cooking a portion of the raw flour in a recipe which uses a liquid (eg water or milk) until it forms a paste. This paste can be added to dough, resulting in bread that's more tender, more fluffy and lasts longer than most.
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CONGRATULATIONS FITZBILLIES!
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PRIZE: Bespoke Partridges Sharing Hamper including Partridges Champagne and Partridges Chelsea Bun or Flower Gin (or a non-alcoholic alternative) and a World Chelsea Bun Awards 2025 Embroidered Apron, kindly donated by Initially London.
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Adult - Live Tasting Competition
WINNER - Clare Levy
Apple, Ginger & Calvados Chelsea Buns.
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All the judges unanimously voted to award these Chelsea Buns first prize in the adult category. They were delicious with their Calvados soaked sultanas and crystallised ginger, grated apple, spiced dough and sticky glaze... certainly displaying a modern twist on a traditional Chelsea Bun.
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CONGRATULATIONS CLARE!
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PRIZE: Bespoke Partridges Hamper including Partridges Chelsea Bun or Flower Gin (or a non-alcoholic alternative) and a World Chelsea Bun Awards 2025 Embroidered Apron, kindly donated by Initially London.
Under 18s - Live Tasting Competition
WINNER - SABINA R. Aged 11
Neopolitan Chelsea Buns with Mortadella, Burrata and Pistachio.
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The judges loved Sabrina's inventive Italian twist on a traditional Chelsea Bun.
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CONGRATULATIONS SABRINA!
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PRIZE: Bespoke Partridges Hamper filled with delicious treats and a World Chelsea Bun Awards 2025 Embroidered Apron, kindly donated by Initially London.
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Special Award - Live Tasting Competition
WINNER - MARILYN BENYAMINE
Tahini, Date & Caramel Chelsea Buns.
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These Chelsea Buns slightly divided the judges with their unusual flavours of a mahlab* and orange blossom enriched dough filled with tahini, date, caramel, pistachios and walnuts... and glazed with homemade apricot jam... but they all agreed that they were very exciting and deliciously inventive.
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*Mahlab is a spice made from the ground seed kernel of the St. Lucie cherry (a type of wild cherry).
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CONGRATULATIONS MARILYN!
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A World Chelsea Bun Awards 2025 Embroidered Apron, kindly donated by Initially London.
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The Overall Supreme Champion & Best Chelsea Bun Baker 2025.... goes to...
WINNER - FITZBILLIES of Cambridge
Hot Honey, Feta & Spring Onion Chelsea Buns, made with a Japanese *Tangzhong dough.
The incredible smell of these Chelsea Buns got everyone talking and a little hint of chilli that came through at the end of each bite thrilled the judges. *Tangzhong, also called yokone in Japan, is an Asian technique for making dough and calls for pre-cooking a portion of the raw flour in a recipe with a liquid (usually water or milk) until it forms a paste. This paste can be added to dough, resulting in bread that's more tender, more fluffy and lasts longer than most.
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CONGRATULATIONS FITZBILLIES!
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PRIZE: £250
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