Welcome to the Chicago’s Best Baker Contest, where the best amateur bakers in Chicago compete for the title of Chicago’s Best Baker!

Holiday Cookie Swap

You're invited to the Chicago's Best Baker Cookie Swap on Saturday, December 7, from 1-3 p.m. in the Wilson Abbey!

Holiday Cookie Swap Holiday Cookie Swap

The Contest

Join us on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 2 p.m., in the Auditorium at the Wilson Abbey to discover whose bakes have won! The event will be free and open to the public.

Attendance at the event is free, and passes for tastings after the winners are announced are available for a donation to Cornerstone Community Outreach, one of the largest shelters in Chicago.

There are seven categories in the competition and the winners of each category will be awarded first, second, and third prizes in their category. Any baker who enters five or more categories will be entered in the Chicago’s Best Baker Contest and the winner will be chosen based on their overall scores.

As an added treat, attendees can sign up to taste the entries in each category.

New this year - we're switching out our International Category for a new category, called the Heirloom Recipe Category! The Heirloom Recipe Category is where you can enter your grandma's scones, or the chocolate cake that has helped your family celebrate every milestone in your family since 1956. It could also be the turnovers that you hope to pass down in your family someday - your own heirloom recipe. We're especially hoping to hear the stories behind these recipes, and maybe even to meet your grandma at the contest!

The Categories

  • Cake
  • Pie - Sweet or Savory
  • Cookies
  • Pastry - Sweet or Savory
  • Bread - Sweet or Savory
  • Heirloom Recipe Category
  • Gluten Free

Rules and Registration

Register As A Baker Here Register As A Baker Here

For rules, view registration and rules. Questions? Comments? Email us at chicagosbestbaker@gmail.com

The Chicago's Best Baker Contest was launched as a way to gather people from all over the city to celebrate the diverse and exacting bakers who call Chicago their home. Since there is no county fair for Cook County, amateur bakers in the city haven't had a chance to compete with and learn from each other on a local stage ... until now. Come see why we think Chicago's bakers are the best!

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