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October 30. 2012 11:44PM
The Skybar Cupcake shown here, was the winner of the People's Choice Award in the professional division at the Clash. It was created by Cupcakes 101 of Bedford. In the student division, the People's Choice went to the Cupcake Queen team of Cassandra Nickerson and Molly Stone for their Apple Cider Caramel Cupcake entry. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)
The Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcake is the winner in the professional category, during the Clash of the Cupcakes, which is the first-ever cupcake challenge to be held at SNHU Hospitality Center, on Friday In Manchester. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)
A box of the professional cupcakes that were entered in last week's Clash of the Cupcakes, a first-ever cupcake challenge benefitting Southern New Hampshire Services' Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)
Students', pros' treats compete for a good cause
The Skybar Cupcake shown here, was the winner of the People's Choice Award in the professional division at the Clash. It was created by Cupcakes 101 of Bedford. In the student division, the People's Choice went to the Cupcake Queen team of Cassandra Nickerson and Molly Stone for their Apple Cider Caramel Cupcake entry. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)
The Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcake is the winner in the professional category, during the Clash of the Cupcakes, which is the first-ever cupcake challenge to be held at SNHU Hospitality Center, on Friday In Manchester. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)
A box of the professional cupcakes that were entered in last week's Clash of the Cupcakes, a first-ever cupcake challenge benefitting Southern New Hampshire Services' Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)
M'elia Moulton of Manchester watched anxiously with two of her classmates in the culinary program at Southern New Hampshire University as cupcakes they prepared were sampled by three women sitting on a small stage.
They didn't just eat. They poked, prodded and disassembled. Then they tasted, all the while keeping a straight face that would make a professional poker player nervous.
"It's a little bit intimidating, watching them as they eat," said Moulton, part of a team of student cupcake bakers with fellow sophomores Courtney Schadt of New York and Ashley O'Connell of Massachusetts.
The team had conceived, baked and decorated a batch they called Mochia Chica Hazelnut Cupcakes.
Each of the three women sampling the creation was an accomplished baker in her own right. And this wasn't just a snack; they were judges for the first Clash of the Cupcakes, a fundraising event for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Southern New Hampshire Services.
On the panel were Nicole Barreira, head chef with the T-Bones/Cactus Jack chain; Robin Fuestel of Frederick's Bakery in Amherst and Vicki Connell, a co-chair of the culinary department at SNHU.
As they watched the judges go through the nibble and note routine, the team members said it was impossible to know what the panel thought of their cupcakes.
But their optimism outweighed their anxiety, buoyed by a bit of elementary market research and their own instincts.
"People like coffee and people like chocolate, so we thought it would go well together," O'Connell said.
Indeed, it went well enough together that the team was selected the student winners of the Best Cupcake of 2012 award.
Queen City Cupcakes of Manchester won the professional division for its Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcake.
More than 100 dinner guests selected People's Choice award winners among both professionals and students.
SNHU students Cassandra Nickerson and Molly Stone won the "People's Choice" award for their Apple Cider Caramel Cupcake.
A Skybar Cupcake created by Cupcakes 101 of Bedford won the People's Choice Award among the professional bakers.
Clash of the Cupcakes was the brainchild of Dee Martin of Southern New Hampshire Services.
"It was sold out within three weeks," said Martin, who got the idea while watching the Cupcake Wars reality television program on the Food Network. "If I didn't know these were done by students I never would have believed it."
Not only was the event successful in raising money for Southern New Hampshire Services, the student bakers were energized by the experience.
They got the chance to have their creations judged by a professional panel . They also watched the reactions as their creations were served to a public audience also sampling the work of professionals.
"It's so much fun," said O'Connell. "I just love the competition."
Bill Smith may be reached at wsmith@unionleader.com.
They didn't just eat. They poked, prodded and disassembled. Then they tasted, all the while keeping a straight face that would make a professional poker player nervous.
"It's a little bit intimidating, watching them as they eat," said Moulton, part of a team of student cupcake bakers with fellow sophomores Courtney Schadt of New York and Ashley O'Connell of Massachusetts.
The team had conceived, baked and decorated a batch they called Mochia Chica Hazelnut Cupcakes.
Each of the three women sampling the creation was an accomplished baker in her own right. And this wasn't just a snack; they were judges for the first Clash of the Cupcakes, a fundraising event for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Southern New Hampshire Services.
On the panel were Nicole Barreira, head chef with the T-Bones/Cactus Jack chain; Robin Fuestel of Frederick's Bakery in Amherst and Vicki Connell, a co-chair of the culinary department at SNHU.
As they watched the judges go through the nibble and note routine, the team members said it was impossible to know what the panel thought of their cupcakes.
But their optimism outweighed their anxiety, buoyed by a bit of elementary market research and their own instincts.
"People like coffee and people like chocolate, so we thought it would go well together," O'Connell said.
Indeed, it went well enough together that the team was selected the student winners of the Best Cupcake of 2012 award.
Queen City Cupcakes of Manchester won the professional division for its Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcake.
More than 100 dinner guests selected People's Choice award winners among both professionals and students.
SNHU students Cassandra Nickerson and Molly Stone won the "People's Choice" award for their Apple Cider Caramel Cupcake.
A Skybar Cupcake created by Cupcakes 101 of Bedford won the People's Choice Award among the professional bakers.
Clash of the Cupcakes was the brainchild of Dee Martin of Southern New Hampshire Services.
"It was sold out within three weeks," said Martin, who got the idea while watching the Cupcake Wars reality television program on the Food Network. "If I didn't know these were done by students I never would have believed it."
Not only was the event successful in raising money for Southern New Hampshire Services, the student bakers were energized by the experience.
They got the chance to have their creations judged by a professional panel . They also watched the reactions as their creations were served to a public audience also sampling the work of professionals.
"It's so much fun," said O'Connell. "I just love the competition."
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Bill Smith may be reached at wsmith@unionleader.com.
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