Care home residents become star bakers at Great East Ayrshire Bake Off

Residents across East Ayrshire’s care homes dusted off their aprons to whisk up their showstopper cakes for The Great East Ayrshire Bake Off 2025.

Hosted this year at Sanctuary Care’s Howard House Care Home in Kilmarnock, representatives from 13 care homes participated in the bake off challenges. While the judges sampled the entries and tallied their votes, the bakers tucked into an afternoon tea and enjoyed some musical entertainment.

Torrance Lodge Care Home took home the prize for best small bakes, with Glennie Care Home celebrating a win for best pie, and this year’s title for best showstopper cake went to Thorntoun Estate Care Home.

Councillor Clare Maitland, East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said:

“I had the enviable task of helping judge the entries for this year’s bake off. The bakes were stunning, and I have to say, they were all delicious. The entertainment helped to create a special atmosphere – it was very difficult to choose our winners from the 30 entries and sing along at the same time!

“It was such great fun spending the afternoon with all our star bakers and their friends. It is important that we continue to recognise the creativity, energy and enthusiasm of our older population, and it was lovely to be able to celebrate their knowledge, skills, and love for baking which really shone through.”

Arlene Bunton, the independent sector lead for East Ayrshire at Scottish Care said:

“This is the third year we have hosted The Great East Ayrshire Bake Off and the competition gets better each year. Our older adults living in care homes in East Ayrshire bring all of their feisty competitiveness to the day. They plan for weeks and execute their bakes perfectly. The range of offerings was inspiring.

“A neighbour of the care home told me that she could hear joy, laughter and singing all afternoon which truly warmed her heart. That is what this was all about - the joy that comes with cake, company and music!

“Thanks to Soozi, Care Home Manager of Howard House, and our wonderful judges who had the toughest job in choosing the winners.”

Soozi Orr, Care Home Manager, added:

“Our team and residents at Howard House Care Home were so proud to host this year’s event. It was a magical day filled with so much joy and I’m very proud of how the team pulled together to help create such a fabulous celebration.”