Title of world’s best Dairy Queen cake decorator returns to Appleton after 4 years
APPLETON - Candice Gumm reclaimed the title of the world's best Dairy Queen cake decorator.
Gumm, who decorates cakes at the 1813 N. Richmond St., Appleton store, won the company's biennial contest in 2016 and placed second in 2018. Store manager Nicole Foth points out that the 2018 winner was from Canada, making Gumm the best DQ cake decorator in the United States at that time.
Despite previous success, Gumm said she was surprised to win this year's contest because each time it gets more competitive.
Just five finalists were selected from nearly 450 entrants to compete in-person in January in New Orleans at Dairy Queen's 2020 Connect conference.
She knew three of the finalists through past competitions and an Instagram page she runs.
“We share photos of our designs and get inspirations from each other,” said Gumm.
Finalists competed in three timed rounds of cake decorating in front of a crowd of conference attendees.
Contestants were given a design theme and requirements for two rounds (sea life and speed) about one month before the finals. Gumm said she came up with her mermaid design three days before the contest and only practiced it once.
The mystery theme, Mardi Gras this year, was revealed at the competition.
When the frosting settled, Gumm was named DQ's best decorator and took home the top prize of $1,500.
Having decorated nearly 120,000 cakes in her 14 years working for Dairy Queen, Gumm said she enjoys the creativity of decorating. It's especially satisfying to transform a customer's drawing into a frosting work of art.
“It's more fun when they come up with the idea,” said Gumm. “Most (drawings) are coming from a 7- or 8-year-old, so there are a lot of superheroes and monsters.”
What about unicorns and rainbows? Gumm confirms
those are as popular as ever.