Poutre, who works at the Fort Dodge Fareway Bakery, recently placed first in the single cakes division of the decorated cake competition at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Her purple and gold cake titled “Sagittarius” took the blue ribbon.

What goes into decorating a prize-winning cake?

“I basically just kind of winged it,” Poutre said. “I was looking up cakes online and kind of took different ideas from different things and kind of threw it together.”

Naming the finished cake is the hardest part of the process, Poutre said.

-Submitted photo
"Sagittarius" is the creation that won Alyssa Poutre first place in the single cakes division of the cake decorating competition at the Iowa State Fair this year. Poutre is an employee at the Fort Dodge Fareway Bakery. Her cake will be on display at the Elwell Family Food Center at the Iowa State Fair through Sunday.

“I thought it was kind of celestial,” she said. “Saggitarius’ colors happen to be purple and gold.”

Over the last several years, Poutre has earned multiple ribbons at the state fair, including second place overall in 2021.

“To place in competition at the Iowa State Fair is one of the highest honors,” said Fareway Bakery Sales Specialist Amanda Munson. “We couldn’t be more proud of Alyssa for her success, hard work and commitment to creativity.”

Poutre grew up watching baking competitions and baking with her family. Several years ago, she and another baker opened Sweetest Things Bakery in Humboldt. When the two bakers decided to go their separate ways about five years ago, Poutre joined the kitchen at the Fort Dodge Fareway.

“I like being able to be creative,” she said. “When I just do my own thing is when I come up with my best ideas.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The creative cakes on display at the Fareway Bakery were decorated by Alyssa Poutre, a Fort Dodge Fareway bakery employee.

Though she received the blue ribbon in cake decorating this year, cakes aren’t her favorite confections to decorate.

“Frosting cookies, actually, is more of my speciality,” she said. “Last year, it was my cookies that got first place in their category and second overall.”

Poutre’s cake, “Sagittarius,” will be on display in the Elwell Family Food Center at the Iowa State Fair through Sunday.