Banana bread takes crown at Daily Herald Baking Challenge

Honey Butter Pecan Banana Bread won Best in Show at the Daily Herald's Home Baking Challenge Thursday and earned Rose Patenaude of Cary a spot in the finals at America's Baking and Sweet Show in Schaumburg later this month.

Patenaude was among the 15 bakers selected as semifinalists in the paper's third annual baking contest.

Judges included Daily Herald Baking Secrets columnist Annie Overboe; Daily Herald Food Editor Susan Stark; Tina Selga, owner of My Sweet KAKE; and Cindy Adams, owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Two winners in each of the five categories will represent the suburbs at the national baking show Nov. 11 to 13 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.

Categories this year were lemon bars, banana bread, frosted cupcakes, gingerbread cookies and fruit-topped cheesecake.

The complete list of winners will be revealed Nov. 2 in the Food section.

For more about the America's Baking and Sweet Show, visit www.americasbakingandsweetsshow.com.