Winter in Dubai this year is coming with some icing on the cake, and a whole lotta cakes. A food festival celebrating baking and pastry, the Festival of Cake, is rising to the challenge of satisfying Dubai’s dessert cravings. Taking place at Expo City’s Al Wasl Plaza, from November 28 to December 2, it coincides with the National Day holidays. Which means your long weekend can be dedicated to unique dining experiences, hobnobbing with celebrity chefs, and attending baking and cake-themed workshops. And the cherry on top of this cakey delight — a Bake-Off competition.
The Great Dubai Bake-Off at Festival of Cake
Fans of baking competition shows, like Great British Bake-Off and Is It Cake?, hang on to your aprons. The Festival of Cake Bake-Off boasts a celebrity judging panel that will whip you into a frenzy. Canadian TV host and pastry chef Anna Olson, master pâtissier Claire Clark MBE, Middle Eastern pastry maestro Karim Bourgi, and a mystery judge will test if you can stand the heat of the ovens.
Styled on the framework of traditional bake-offs, there are categories for professionals, amateur bakers, and a junior bake-off for kids. Participants can create cookies, brownies, chocolate cakes, themed character cupcakes, and single-layer fondant. Additionally, special occasion/novelty cakes, plant-based or vegan cakes and gluten-free cookies are also included. Register here for AED 150 per person.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, celeb showcase & workshops
The breadcrumb trail of spectacular events doesn’t end there. On the cards are technical masterclasses for aspiring pastry chefs, markets and pop-up stalls by international and local bakehouses. Dessert parlours and cafes will serve decadent combos of cake and coffee to entertain your tastebuds. Meanwhile, live performances, DJ sets and roaming entertainers will treat other senses.
Another delicious slice of this three-day festival is the Celebrity Chef Showcase, where 50 world-class chefs and food influencers host live cooking demos, Q&As, cookbook signings and meet-and-greets. Jermaine Cunningham, head pastry chef at Heston Blumenthal and Markus Bohr, executive pastry chef of Harrods, are part of the lineup. Time to have our cake and eat it too!
🎟️: Early bird tickets for the event of AED 50 per adult and AED 25 per child. Get them here