The wait is over and we can reveal the best cupcake makers in the UK today - the first day of National Cupcake Week. 

Following a rigorous judging process we have whittled the entrants to the National Cupcake Championships down to a maximum of 15 in each category.

That makes more than 100 cupcakes left to judge at the final showdown at Cake International at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday 8 November to determine our cupcake champions.

Eight winners will be named on the day; one in each of four categories for each home baker and professionals: Classic; Themed; Free-from; and made with Alcohol. Two overall winners - one home baker and one professional - will also be crowned and all winners will receive their prizes from TV host and cake-maker extraordinaire Mich Turner, who will present the awards.

Our prestigious judging panel includes big names in the industry such as chocolatier Will Torrent, luxury cake-maker Fiona Cairns, and Gemma Pickup of Bettys and Taylors in Harrogate.

See our list of professional finalists below and click here for those in the home bakers final.

Professional Classic Cupcake
Mr Mom’s - Key Lime Pie Cupcake
House of Cuckoo - Leaving on a Cour-jet Plane Cupcake
Cakes by Louise Lang - Apple Crumble Cupcake
Bettys Craft Bakery - Mango and Coconut Cupcake
Kate’s Sweet Heaven - Carrot Cake Cupcake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
Cherry Tree Bakery - Blackcurrant & Liquorice Cupcake
Buttercup Cake Shop - Cookie Dough Cupcake
Stephanie Almeida - Passion Fruit Cupcake
Yumcious Cakes - Raspberry and White Chocolate Rainbow Cupcake
Cinnamon Square - Ginger Polenta & Lime Cupcake
Mad Hatters Tearoom & Bakery - Apple & Cinnamon Crumble Cupcake
The Cupcake Factory - Almond and Raspberry Delight Cupcake
Haze Cakes - Chocomel Cupcake
Cupkakery - Mayan Chocolate Cupcake
Volette - Volette Caramel01 Cupcake

Professional Free-From Cupcake
Fighting Cancer with Cakes - Brandy Passion Truffle (Dairy and Gluten-Free) Cupcake
Yippee Foods - Gluten-Free Cupcake
ABO Artisan Bread Organic - Miracle Cupcake
Crumbs Bakery - Vintage Rose Cupcake
Cupcakes à la carte - Blueberry Cupcake
Stephanie Almeida - Gluten-Free Persian Cupcake
Cinnamon Square - Chocolate & Raspberry Symphony Cupcake
Sister Bakes - Sister Bakes Tropical Dream Vegan Cupcake
Mad Hatters Tearoom & Bakery - Lemon Cheesecake
The Great British Bakehouse - Rhubarb Orange and Custard Cupcake
Paisley Immy Cakes - Gluten-Free Chocolate and Lime Cupcake
Euthymia Cakes - Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcake with Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Sugar and Sunshine - Oh So Passion (Gluten-Free) Cupcake
Volette - Volette Caramel Gluten-Free Cupcake
Rachel’s Cupcakes - Chocolate Raspberry Teacake Cupcake

Professional Made with Alcohol Cupcake
Mr Mom’s - Pretzels & Beer Cupcake
The Dandelion Bakery - Desperados Cupcake
My Sweet Passion Cakes - Forbidden Rose Cupcake
Fab Fairies & Wicked Tarts - Chocolate Orange Daiquiri Cupcake
Chef Dan’s Cakes - Chocolate & Amaretto Cupcake
Stephanie Almeida - Black Forest Cupcake
Mrs B’s Cakes - Chambord Bramble Berry Cupcake
Jen’s Cupcakery - Caramelised Apple and Pear Cider Cupcake
Funky Food - Spanish Fiesta Cupcake
Johannah’s Patisserie - Tequila Sunrise Cupcake
Paisley Immy Cakes - Orange Blossom, Honeycomb and Grand Marnier Cupcake
The Apple Pie - Limoncello Fun Cupcake
The Happy Little Cake Company - ChocoCocoNutty Malibu Cupcake
Josefine’s Cakery - Jaffalicious Cupcake
VivaCake & Chocolate Studio - Liquid Gold Cupcake

Professional Themed Cupcake
Brown’s Handcrafted Cakes -‘Jack in the Box’ Surprise Cupcake
Beanie’s Bakery Nina Green Wimbledon - Strawberries ‘n’ Cream Cupcake
Victoria Sponge - Lest We Forget Cupcake
Cupcakes à la carte - Winter Wonder Cupcake
Mrs B’s Cakes - Autumn Apple & Blackberry Crumble Cupcake
Sweet Sonya’s Cupcakes & Teatime Delights - Bananas in Pyjamas Banoffee Cupcake
Jen’s Cupcakery - Beach Days Raspberry Ripple Cupcake Cones
Naginski Cupcakes - An Afternoon at a Café Cupcake
Mad Hatters Tearoom & Bakery - mAD sA a hAtTeR Cupcake
Antonia’s Bakery - Cheeky Sheep Cupcake
My Sweet Cupcakery - Frank’in’minion Cupcake
The Cupcake Bakery - Harry’s Buttersnitch Cupcake
Cosy Cakes Yummy Bakes - Cakes on a Cupcake
The Yellow Bee Cake Company - Beach Party Cupcake
Rachel’s Cupcakes - Who Baby Baby Cupcake