Late last year we organised a big bake-off, inviting home bakers to submit their best efforts to our Christmas Cupcake Challenge. We’ve only just recovered from tasting all the entries, and can finally announce the winner!

Home baker Ann Siau, 37, dropped off three treats for us—a gingerbread cupcake with cinnamon, a rum scented brown sugar cupcake with salted caramel frosting and core (the most challenging to make), and a chocolate cupcake with mint chocolate ganache. Siau tells us how she got started.

Congrats on winning the Cupcake Challenge! How do you feel?
I’m surprised and flattered at the same time, really. I don’t have much luck when it comes to these things. I didn’t dare tell anyone I’d won because I thought you guys had made a mistake!

What started your baking obsession?
Two things: KitchenAid appliances—which my husband got me—and watching celebrity chefs like Nigella Lawson on TV.

Any recipes you want to try?
I’ve been feeling nostalgic these days so I’m toying with the idea of making stuff that reminds me of my childhood, like gula melaka and kaya cupcakes.

Are there mistakes people make too often in the kitchen? Any tips to share?
Over-baking and over-beating. Cupcakes come out too dense and hard if left in the oven too long. Under-baking them isn’t as bad; at least they come out moist. Remove them from the oven two minutes before. Also, if you poke a toothpick through and it comes out completely clean, it’s already too dry.

Do you have plans to set up shop somewhere?
At the moment, no. Opportunity cost, soaring rental prices, competition is just insane—I think it’s just not feasible for me at the moment. I’m going to stick to what I’m doing.

See what Siau’s up to and follow her on her Facebook page for some kitchen inspiration.

Special thanks to our other finalists:
Brennagh Lee, Jade Foo, Corrine Tan, Tan Li Qin, Catherine Chua, Collette Height, Denise Low, Samantha Quek, Melody Harper and Kathleen Wong.