Lynbrook HS Students Wage Cupcake War Against Hunger

Story by Rosemary Leonetti:

Lynbrook High School students, staff and community members competed in the Culinary Arts Club’s Cupcake War to Fight Hunger. Each of the 16 contestants baked 24 cupcakes representing a “Countries of the World” theme.

Contestants sold their cupcake creations to raise money for Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, a national campaign that mobilizes Americans to help end childhood hunger by holding bake sales in their communities.

Among the entries were a French crème brulee cupcake, an Argentine dulce de leche cupcake, a guacamole-topped delicacy dubbed “Spanish Inquisition,” a cappuccino-flavored cupcake shaped like a coffee cup and an Australian Pavlova cake named after the Russian ballerina, as well as cupcakes created after American apple crumb cake and hamburger sliders.

Entries were judged on overall taste, frosting, cake, presentation and interpretation of the “Countries of the World” theme.

The first-place prize went to art teacher Michael Kunz for his All-American Cheeseburger cupcakes. The second-place prize went to Giovanni Napolitano and Quentin Herrmann for their Spicy De Juan Mango and Chile Cupcake. Two entries tied for third place: the Coqui Cupcake by Jessica Khattab, Kathleen Lecce, Taylor Schmidt, Camryn Walsh and Jordan Walsh, and the German Apple Streusel Cupcake by Samantha Laskin and Sarah Schwerdtfeger.

“We raised over $900 for Share Our Strength's fight against childhood hunger,” club adviser Lauren Reganato said. “Every dollar donated connects a hungry child with 10 nutritious meals, which means we provided more than 90 meals through the Cupcake War bake sale!”