The vanilla slice is anything but vanilla. Nicknamed the “snot block” by Aussies, this decades-old dessert is a staple at any old-school bakery. Its beauty is in its simplicity: a thick, glossy slab of custard sandwiched between two crisp, flaky sheets of pastry. If you grew up in an age of Instagram-famous baked goods – like cruffins and brookies – and have never tried a proper vanilla slice, then here’s where you need to go.
Last week, bakeries from across the country headed to regional Victoria to face off in The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph. This nationwide bakery battle has been running since 1998, when Victorian premier Jeff Kennett discovered what he claimed was the best vanilla slice. To settle the score, he launched a competition to crown Australia’s finest snot block – and the battle has been hotly contested ever since.
So, what makes a winning vanilla slice? According to the judges, “when tasted, the slice should reveal custard with a creamy, smooth texture and a balance of vanilla taste with a crisp, crunchy pastry topped with a smooth and shiny glaze/fondant”.
In 2025, Sharp’s Bakery in regional Victoria took the title of Australia’s best vanilla slice for the seventh time. Family-owned since 1977, the Birchip institution – just 3.5 hours from Melbourne – has previously won the title in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2024, and was runner-up in 2024.
Owner and baker Brad Sharp told Time Out, "We made around 1,800 vanilla slices last week, and it looks like it will be around 1,500 this week. That is double what we would usually sell, so it's been fantastic."
Last year’s champion, Banana Boogie Bakery from the Adelaide Hills, once again impressed, taking out the runner-up spot in 2025. Managing director Tom Shaw says the key to Banana Boogie's award-winning vanilla slice is balance: “crisp, flaky pastry on top and bottom, a custard full of real vanilla that’s silky, but with enough body to hold its structure, and just the right touch of sweetness.”
Since opening its first bakery in Belair a decade ago, Banana Boogie has fine-tuned its recipe and, in 2021, expanded with a second location in North Plympton. These days, the bakery sells between 2,000 and 2,500 classic vanilla slices every week, and has become famous for its deep-fried and Biscoff vanilla slices, plus special weekly flavours like tiramisu or lemon and raspberry.
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Third place was awarded to another regional Victorian gem, Sunraysia Bread and Butter Bakery, with locations in Mildura and Irymple. Their Dubai-inspired vanilla slice also won first place in the Innovation category. You can check out the full list of winners here.
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