A trainee doctor swapped her stethoscope for a spatula and became the UK’s amateur National Cupcake Champion.

Ilford Recorder: Shalini's winning cupcakeShalini's winning cupcake (Image: Images: Copyright Rob Lawson Photography Limited 2010)

Shalini Sriskandarasa was not enjoying her medicine course at the University of Leicester so returned home to Redbridge to think again.

Ilford Recorder: Cupcake champion Shalini Sriskandarasa with TV baker Mary BerryCupcake champion Shalini Sriskandarasa with TV baker Mary Berry (Image: Archant)

The 25-year-old of St Mary’s Road, Ilford, felt she wanted to use her creative talents and turned to baking as a hobby while she worked out her next move.

Ilford Recorder: Shalini Sriskandarasa with her selection of cupcakesShalini Sriskandarasa with her selection of cupcakes (Image: Archant)

But a chocolate cake made for friends and family to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2011 changed everything.

The cake was a hit and convinced Shalini to take her baking more seriously.

She entered a national cupcake-making competition for fun and didn’t dream of winning.

But earlier this month, Shalini scooped the prize of amateur National Cupcake Champion with her Chocolate Box cupcake and was presented with a trophy by Mary Berry, TV presenter, food writer and judge on The Great British Bake Off.

And now she hopes to set up her own cake-making business.

“I only started making cakes recently, but now it is a passion of mine,” Shalini said.

“I found the recipe a while ago and everyone loves it. It’s my brother’s favourite and now everyone wants me to make their birthday cake.

“I really can’t believe that I have won, but this is probably the confirmation I needed to set up my own cake business.”

The talented young baker beat stiff competition from 36 other amateur finalists to take the title in the competition, staged by the magazine British Baker in Birmingham, as part of National Cupcake Week.

Impressed

The judges were impressed by her rich and fudgy chocolate cupcake.

Georgi Gyton, deputy editor of the magazine, congratulated Shalini on her prize

“Shalini’s cupcake was an outstanding winner,” she said.

“We sincerely hope that this win puts her business on the path to great success.”