Do you make the best scones in Canberra? This is your chance to prove it

Posted on 6 November, 2024

No scone will be left unturned in this sweet, sweet showdown.

After its successful (and delicious) launch in 2023, the Canberra Scone-Off is back for another year to answer the ultimate question: who makes the best scones in Canberra?

Taking place on Saturday 16 November, locals will once again gather to bake their hearts out while raising money for the numerous community projects run by UnitingCare Kippax – because while it might be a salute to the humble scone, the event is really about celebrating food, community, and fun.

“Scones with jam and cream are one of Australia’s most iconic and simple dishes, so it’s great we have a festival to celebrate them!” says ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry, who will award the prizes on the day.

Kicking off at 10 am, the scone baking competition will be judged based on seven categories of scones: plain scones, savoury scones, date scones, pumpkin scones, gluten-free scones, Junior (for school-aged bakers), and “other scones” for all other categories.

If baking scones aren’t your cup of tea but you’re very happy to put some to the (taste) test we have some good news: along with the baking competition, there will also be morning tea (where you’ll be served tea/coffee and a biscuit) and Devonshire Tea (coffee or tea with fresh scones, jam and cream) available at the Kippax Marketplace kitchen until 1 pm.

The brainchild of three well-known Canberra foodies – Serina Bird (The Joyful Frugalista), Elias Hallaj (@CBRfoodie) and Andrea Butler (the genius behind Bakesale) – the Canberra Scone-Off was born out of shared community pride in the Kippax Church scone-baking tradition, which saw the ladies who staffed the kitchen serving Devonshire Tea with freshly baked scones during its famous jumble sales.

Frances Noble, Chief Scone Baker and Devonshire Tea engineer at the Kippax Markets.

Very quickly it was the scones became the star attraction rather than the jumble sales (if you’ve had one with fresh jam and cream, you know why), and the foodie trio was inspired to turn this regular community experience into a Canberra-wide event.

“For many years the Church’s markets and morning tea sales developed a reputation for great scones, hand-made by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by some of the Church’s older and wiser women,” says Serina.

“There are lots of people in Canberra who can make great scones, but this is the first local baking competition that focuses just on scones alone,” adds Andrea.
“There are many local bakers, both professional and amateur, who will keenly participate and observe who makes the best scones in Canberra.”

Once you’ve had your fill of the warm and flaky pastry (is there ever such a thing as too many scones?), the monthly Kippax Marketplace will also be taking place until 1 pm on the day – giving you ample opportunity to digest as you explore stalls packed with Christmas items, cakes, pre-loved goodies and more.

Add ABC radio personality Lish Fejer MCing the day and a performance by much-loved Canberra comedian Sarah Stewart, and you have the perfect recipe for a good time.

Canberra Scone-Off MC Lish Fejer, Kippax Church Scone baker Frances Noble, and ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry.

Free to attend, for those keen to don an apron and get their hands dirty in the kitchen, it only costs $5 to register. And while the competition will be fierce, the rewards will be sweet (especially because they include the honour and glory of knowing they are the best of the best…along with prizes).

Now, to the next important question: does the jam or cream go first?

Photography: Neil Hadley.