2026 Baking Contest/Dessert Exchange Rules
Baking Contest Q4 2026
As part of our focus on engaging our members and building up the UAEA community, UAEA is hosting our fourth competition of the year, an opportunity for members to show off their baking and cooking skills.
UAEA will host a baked goods exchange on Tuesday, November 17th, from 10AM to 2PM. This exchange will take place in the Desert Willow Conference Room on the Bottom Level of the Tempe Public Library. The UAEA Board will provide an initial selection of treats for members to choose from, a limited number of serving utensils, and to-go containers for members to place their selections in. Members and non-members may participate in this event if they bring a baked good (the equivalent of at least 8 servings) or another treat like candy (the equivalent of at least 20 servings).
UAEA members may request up to 2 hours of UB time to attend this event if they sign up in advance and receive permission from their supervisor. Non-members may participate but are not eligible for UB hours.
Employees may bring either baked goods and desserts they have made themselves or store-bought candy and treats. UAEA Members who bring a dessert or baked good they have made themselves will be eligible to participate in the Quarter 4 Baking Contest, as long as they officially confirm their entry with a member of the UAEA Board when entering the event. Members may bring a pre-made baked good (such as store-bought cookies) but will not be eligible to enter into the competition.
Participants will receive one togo container to fill with desserts per entry. In order to ensure that as many people as possible can try each dessert, participants are limited to a total of 3 to-go containers regardless of the number of entries they bring.
If members leave before the end of the event UAEA cannot guarantee any leftovers, serving utensils, or storage containers they brought will be returned to them. UAEA suggests that members do not bring anything they are not fine with losing, that they take their storage containers with them when they leave the contest, and/or that their entries be on disposable materials such as paper plates.
Desserts or Baked Goods that are part of the Baking Contest will be marked so that participants are aware they are eligible for consideration and prizes. Store-bought entries will not be marked.
Entries in the Baking Contest must be desserts or baked goods that a UAEA member has made themselves or was made for the competition by a member of their family. Due to the nature of this competition, UAEA suggests members bring in cookies, brownies, breads, dessert bars, and other solid items that can be easily transported without compromising their appearance or integrity, but members are free to submit any sort of dessert or baked good they would like. The competition will have 4 categories for members to enter into.
“Sweet” - Any sort of baked good which is sweet, such as cookies, cupcakes, brownies, cakes, pies, and tarts. Homemade candy, toffee, or similar items are also eligible
“Savory” - Any sort of baked good which is not sweet, such as breads, rolls, crackers, quiches, and/or scones.
“Non-traditional” - Any sort of baked good or dessert which is not a traditional or common flavor or type of dessert in America. Participants may decide for themselves whether a dessert or flavor is “non-traditional.”
“Allergen Friendly” - Any sort of baked good or dessert which is allergen-friendly or supports multiple dietary preferences. This includes items which are explicitly dairy-free, gluten-free, keto, or vegan. UAEA will do our best to keep these items separated from other desserts, but there will always be some risk of cross-contamination.
Each submission should contain a minimum of 8 servings of the item. Since judging will be based on the number of members who liked the item, members should consider bringing in more than 8 servings to maximize the chance that many participants will try their entry.
Baked goods will be accepted and left out for consumption in an air-conditioned room for a period of as long as four hours. Submissions should not include any components which may spoil or melt during that period.
All current UAEA members are eligible to enter desserts into the competition. Non-members will not be eligible. The vice-president and president of the UAEA board may enter the contest but are not eligible for prizes.
Participants may enter up to 5 different desserts into the competition. Participants must speak to a UAEA Representative when delivering their baked goods to ensure that their information is recorded and properly labeled.
Desserts may be submitted into multiple different categories as long as they are not entered into both “Sweet” and “Savory” at the same time. Bakers cannot win more than one prize in each category, but may receive recognition for all top-scoring desserts.
Participants in the dessert exchange will be sent a survey after the event where they will be able to rank their favorite desserts. Participants will be able to rank multiple desserts - the exact number will depend on the number of entries. Participants may choose their favorites based on flavor, uniqueness, aesthetics, or other qualities - entries should thus try to appeal in more than a few ways. The UAEA Board will do our best to document the name of each entry and snap at least one photo to include with the survey. If there are any ties, the UAEA Board will be able to place a tie-breaking vote.
Bakers may choose to incorporate the word “uaea” into their entry but this will not give greater or lesser consideration to their entry. Submissions may not be considered if they contain copyrighted materials, profanity, gore, or sexual content.
Entrants will allow UAEA to reproduce photos and details about their entries in emails, on our website, in newsletters, on UAEA merch, or on stickers, in perpetuity. UAEA agrees that it will not use any entry for profit.
Entrants agree that UAEA may use their name in emails, on social media, or on our website when discussing entries or announcing results.
Entrants agree that UAEA may modify depictions of their original submission for purposes of printing or rendition in publications.
Entrants agree that the baked goods they submit are their own creation (or that of their family).
UAEA would appreciate, but will not require, if winners could provide a copy of the recipe they used for their dessert.
Employees participating in the contest acknowledge that UAEA cannot control the contents of each entry, and that entries may have hidden allergens or ingredients that were not disclosed in advance.
The winners of each category will receive a Visa gift card (or giftcard of their choice), a certificate of accomplishment, and recognition in future UAEA publications. The 1st place winner of each category will receive a $50 giftcard. If there are more than 20 entries from unique individuals in any category, the second place winner of that category will receive a $25 giftcard. If there are more than 30 entries from unique individuals in any category, the third place winner of that category will receive a $15 giftcard. Additional prizes may be awarded if there are more than 30 entries from different participants.