And the winner is ...

Last update: November 4, 2009 - 2:36 PM

This Taste-inspired cake by Jayne Hotaling won grand prize in our birthday-cake contest. Wow! Seasonal (with cranberries and crab apples) and topical! The "pages" on the cake reflect the photo that was on the Taste section the week before this was entered. This was the first time that Hotaling, an art teacher from Minneapolis, had worked with fondant or gum paste, though she does enjoy baking. The Taste staff felt her cake best embodied the spirit of this contest in honor of its 40th birthday.

Hers was one of only two Taste-inspired cakes among the 420 entries. The other one, by Angie Petree, took headlines from the 40th birthday issue and incorporated them into a showstopping cake. To see the finalists, go to startribune.com/contests.

Viewers placed more than 12,000 votes during the week of judging. Thanks for your interest in our first online contest.

LEE SVITAK DEAN