Finalists named for Free-From Bakery Product of the Year 2024

Gluten-free cake, blondies, sourdough, and pitta bread plus a couple of sweet vegan creations make up the finalists for Free-from Bakery Product of the Year in the Baking Industry Awards 2024.

The category aims to reward any baked goods that have been expertly developed to meet specific dietary requirements and overcome the challenges in removing ingredients typically found in recipes.

Here’s the half-dozen products hand picked by judges for finalist status:

Gluten-Free Chocolate, Orange & Amaretto Fruit Cake, Ginger Bakers

This rich chocolate fruit cake, enriched with orange and amaretto and decorated with glace fruits, is made at a dedicated space within Ginger Baker’s manufacturing facility in Kendal, at the edge of the Lake District.

The supplier noted the importance of its gluten-free products not being powdery, grainy, or an unacceptable texture, with high quality gluten-free flour and xantham gum used to provide good structure. Ginger Bakers said it was also increasing its R&D spend year on year and allocating a high proportion of its marketing budget to target the gluten free sector.

Judges praised the beautiful looking, fruit-forward cake and said the “amaretto really shines through with an orange undertone”.

Gluten Free Seeded Sourdough, Stir Bakery

As another product crafted at a dedicated gluten-free area of a bakery, this sourdough is comprised of gluten-free ingredients including buckwheat, millet, quinoa, sorghum, amaranth, and psyllium husk. Poppyseeds, sunflower seeds, and linseeds are added for extra flavour, with total fermentation lasting 24 hours.

Cambridge-based Stir revealed it had taken six months to find the right gluten-free ingredients and develop the best ratio for desired flavour and texture.

Judges said they loved the use of wholesome ingredients and the “delicious” seeds that were packed throughout the bread.

Gluten-Free White Chocolate & Raspberry Blondie, Baker & Baker and Tesco

These fudgy gluten-free blondies – produced in Baker & Baker’s standalone gluten free factory in Ashington, West Sussex for Tesco – contain white chocolate inclusions with an extra layer of white chocolate finished with freeze-dried raspberry pieces.

The sweet treat manufacturer noted that the desired texture of the blondie was challenging to achieve at scale, with multiple tests needed, while engineers came up with a grid frame to ensure equal sprinkle of the white chocolate and raspberry. ‘Blondies are a huge trend within core bakery right now and there’s no reason why free from customers shouldn’t be included too’, added Baker & Baker.

Judges called the product “pretty” and “indulgent”, while enjoying its good amount of white chocolate and buttery flavour. “Delivered on what you’d want from a blondie,” added one judge.

Vegan Gingernut Loaf Cake, Costa Coffee

Costa’s bakery team has created a vegan version of a gingerbread product by replacing egg with banana puree. It has also developed its own plant-based gingernut biscuits for the crunchy, crumbled topping, which are made using candied ginger pieces, ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of lemon oil.

The coffee chain said it’s gingernut idea builds on the growing trend of using classic biscuit brands and flavours in baking such as Jammy Dodgers, Biscoff, and cookies & cream, while addressing rising consumer demand for plant-based sweet bakery offerings.

Debuted in Costa’s summer 2024 menu, the loaf cake had “impressive texture” and was moist and easy to eat, according to judges, who also gave props to the “lovely aroma”, well-balanced flavours and cake-to-frosting ratio.

Vegan Rhubarb & Custard Cruffin, Docker Bakery

The Kent-based vegan bakery specialist claims its cruffins – which are created by shaping plant-based croissant dough in a muffin tin – have been an ‘unparalleled success’.

This particular variant based on the classic British dessert is filled with a rhubarb & custard crème diplomat, topped with semi dehydrated sugared rhubarb pieces and dusted in vanilla sugar.

Judges said the cruffin “looked incredible” and had excellent lamination, with tasting finding a nice balance of flavours and a light and creamy filling.

Gluten-Free Soft White Pittas, Warburtons

The Bolton-based brand continues to lead the charge in the gluten-free space among bread manufacturing giants. It unveiled its new Gluten Free Soft White Pittas back in April as part of its three-year investment plan to meet consumer demand for versatile and convenient gluten-free bakery.

Produced at Warburtons’ gluten, wheat and milk free bakery site in Newburn, Tyne and Wear, they are said to be high in calcium and a great source of fibre. The company asserted it was ‘really confident’ that its gluten free pittas matched the quality of its core pittas on its range.

Judges remarked that “you wouldn’t know its gluten free” as the pittas were so soft and fluffy, adding they were easy to fill as claimed on the packet. 

Join us for a night of celebration

The winners will be revealed at a black-tie ceremony on Thursday 24 October at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The ceremony, hosted by a yet-to-be-revealed celebrity, will also feature a presentation for the Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry, sponsored by Délifrance.

Tickets for the awards are available now via the Baking Industry Awards website. Individual tickets cost £330+VAT and a table of 10 costs £3,300+VAT.

The event includes a dazzling drinks reception, a three-course dinner with wine and coffee, and an afterparty complete with snacks and entertainment to help you celebrate into the early morning.

Get your tickets here: https://bakeryawards.co.uk/live/en/page/attend