Always looking for more ways to serve those in the community, Womens Food Alliance founder Leigh Cort began to notice that today there is an increasing number of children fulfilling a vital need in their homes by cooking for themselves, their siblings, and sometimes their parents as well. Wanting to celebrate their hard work and encourage their confidence and creativity, the organization held their first annual Kids Can Cook Baking /Dessert Contest more than 10 years ago.
Every summer, they invite children ages 8-13 years old to enter the baking contest. This year, through June 19th, children can submit their dessert recipe – such as cookies, cupcakes, cake, bars, or creative baked goods – that is no more than one page, along with a brief 50–75-word story about the dessert and why they chose it for their entry. The contest finals will be held on July 15th at the Venue in Hastings.
Founded 13 years ago, the Womens Food Alliance is a networking and mentoring organization that supports women working throughout the hospitality industry. Drawing on her experience in entertainment and hospitality along the East Coast, Leigh created the organization to connect professionals ranging from restaurateurs and venue owners to wedding planners, photographers, and specialty food business owners. While food is a central gathering place bringing people together and lies at the heart of many hospitality professions, the organization’s mission extends beyond the kitchen.
The organization is committed to fostering a diverse hospitality community through networking, mentorship, and professional development. While many members are established professionals, the Womens Food Alliance also works to mentor and encourage young women entering the industry, recognizing that the future of hospitality rests with the next generation.
Through these connections, mentors can gain fresh ideas and perspectives from their mentees’ young minds. Children often have a natural inclination to support one another without focusing on their differences, a spirit that reflects the Womens Food Alliance mission to respect and celebrate diverse cultures and careers. By encouraging young people to maintain that openness, kindness, and sense of community, the organization hopes to help nurture a more welcoming future for both the hospitality industry and the community as a whole.
“It’s time to honor our children and allow them to win a prize by turning one of their favorite baked desserts into a family memory,” says Leigh Cort.
From cooking to help feed their families while their parents are busy working or caring for other family members, to working in the kitchen because they enjoy being creative in the kitchen, family relationships thrive through the collaborative work in the kitchen and the nourishing food that comes out of it.
The goal isn’t to foster competitions but rather to emphasize encouragement, inclusivity, and community. Family members, friends, and community members are all invited to gather and cheer on these young bakers as they present their desserts to the judge. Entries will be evaluated on taste, imaginative use of ingredients, presentation, creative dessert name, and the story behind the recipe.
Whether contestants are working from a treasured family recipe or creating something that is entirely their own, the contest offers a chance to showcase their individuality and creativity. At the end of the contest, each finalist will receive a prize, with additional awards given to the first-, second-, and third-place runners-up, and a family vacation for the grand prize winner.
Entry Guidelines
- Submit your recipe that is no more than one page, alongside a brief 50–75-word story about the dessert and why you chose it for your entry.
- Written Entries must be submitted by June 19, 2026, to: Leigh Cort / Womens Food Alliance / 68 Thicket Creek Trail / Ponte Vedra, Fl 32081. Electronic submissions can be sent to leigh@leighcortpublicity.com
- The finalists will be notified by telephone and email on June 20, 2026.
For more information visit the Womens Food Alliance site.
