A (vanilla) slice of paradise: Australia’s best vanilla slice revealed

There are many out there who’ll make the claim that they make the best vanilla slice in Australia.

As a dessert that has a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many Australians, it’s no surprise that there is fierce competition amongst contenders for the title of Australia’s Best Vanilla Slice.

In this case, however, there are two competitions in fact, and a small family-owned bakery from regional Victoria has managed to win both.

The North End Bakery Shepparton won the Great Vanilla Slice Triumph 2023, which was held in Merebin, Victoria recently.

This win came as a second victory for the bakery and its vanilla slice after they won first place in the vanilla slice division at the Baking Association of Australia’s (BAA) Victorian Baking Show earlier this year.

With two industry awards to its name, it’s safe to say that the North End Bakehouse may indeed have the best vanilla slice in the country having bested some seriously heavy competition to secure first prize at this year’s competition.

The bakery was ecstatic about its second win, proudly announcing their achievement on their Facebook page.

“We now hold the title for 2023 Australia’s Best Vanilla Slice and Winner of The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph Merbein!” the bakery owners announced.

Sharps Bakery from Birchip, Victoria came second place, while third place went to Banana Boogie Bakery in Belair, Adelaide.

North End Bakehouse made sure to thank event organisers Anne and Syd Nash as well as the judges, sponsors, and other entrants.

Their three apprentices, Shian, Kade, and Brittney also entered into the competition under the apprentice division.

Kade managed to take 3rd place for the Apprentice Vanilla Slice, which the bakery proudly announced to their customers in the same post. Overall, it appears that the Shepparton region is the place to be for lovers of the cherished dessert.

Event organiser Anne Nash told 7 News that bakery owner Matt Aylett had been working “very, very hard” to perfect the popular treat. She said that he was able to “define the difference between the pastry, the custard, making sure the custard is a vanilla custard, not a cream custard.”

After their earlier win in March, the vanilla slice quickly became North End’s most popular menu item. The bakery posted on its Facebook that many people had traveled from across the state for a taste.

With another win for vanilla slice under their belts, bakers at North End Bakehouse are now keeping their ovens full with puff pastry in order to meet customer demand.

If the North End Bakery award-winning creation has inspired you to create your own culinary delights then check out Starts at 60’s recipe for an easy and scrumptious vanilla slice.

Ingredients

• 2 sheets puff pastry
• 300ml thickened cream
• 2 x 100g packets instant vanilla pudding mix
• 500ml milk
• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 1 tbsp soft butter
• 2 tbsp boiling water

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Prepare two pastry trays by greasing them with butter.
3. Place the pastry on the trays and prick them with a fork all over.
4. Bake the pastry for 20 minutes until golden, then remove from the oven and set aside.
5. Next whip up the cream, stopping when it forms peaks and place it in the fridge.
6. Mix together the vanilla pudding mix and milk in another bowl until combined.
7. Take the whipped cream out of the fridge an fold the mixture into the pudding mixture.
8. Spread the mixture over the top side of one of the pastry sheets and put the other sheet on top.
9. Sift some icing sugar into a bowl and add in the butter and water.
10. Mix the ingredients to form an icing and then spread over the top of the slice.