It's the time of year for sweet indulgences. Chocolate, cakes, cookies, candy canes, and gingerbread are among the sweet treats awaiting all of us this season. To kick off the month of sugary bliss I headed to Liberty Village's For The Love of Cake as they hosted their Iron Cupcake Christmas challenge.

The Iron Cupcake competition, a franchise that began in Milwaukee, invites cupcake enthusiasts to enter their best baked treats based on a secret ingredient or theme. Today's theme was all things Christmas. The competition featured 14 contestants, with flavours ranging from Caramel Gingerbread Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Candy Cane, Spiced Cranberry Pear, Gingerbread with Eggnog Buttercream, and Chocolate Chestnut Cranberry.

Faux snow, gingerbread houses, glittered Christmas trees, a bird's cage and an elaborate custom built Santa Oven that was lit from behind, were all props used to showcase the entrant's cupcakes.

Non-contestants were given a ballot to pick their choice for best presentation and creativity. Of the 14 entries I found only a few to be visually appealing. For some unknown reason, I had arrived with expectations of cupcake displays worthy of an HBC window.

Many of the displays were closer to school science fair meets church bake sale. We were also given a sampling of five miniature cupcakes to help determine best in taste. In all honesty, there wasn't a single cupcake that stood out clearly among the rest for me. I make no claims to be a cupcake connoisseur but this was clearly an amateur event.

Cupcakes devoured and ballots tallied the winner of the Iron Cupcake Christmas challenge went to the birdcage display Wild White-Tufted Cupcake.

The next Iron Cupcake challenge will be confirmed in the new year but is likely to be just in time for Valentine's day.

Writing and photos by Jazmine Sangalang