‘We got the one per cent right this year’: Banana Boogie Bakery in Belair boasts best vanilla slice in Australia

First it was recognised for its mouth-watering sausage rolls and now this Adelaide bakery has been triumphant again with its delicious vanilla slice.

The Banana Boogie slice was voter an Advertiser reader favourite last year too! Picture: Keryn Stevens

An Adelaide Hills bakery has been named as the home of Australia’s best vanilla slice.

Banana Boogie Bakery in Belair took out the top gong at the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph competition.

The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph is an annual competition that draws the best bakers from across the nation.

It is the first time a South Australian bakery has won the award.

Banana Boogie owner Jason Spencer said the award was “incredible” after entering the vanilla slice competition six previous times without a win.

“We got the one per cent right this year,” Mr Spencer said.

The secret to the award-winning vanilla slice, Mr Spencer said, is “perfectly baked pastry and a nice cream custard”.

“We’ve been known as the vanilla slice bakery for a long time but to get that recognition from the industry is just amazing,” he said.

Mr Spencer said the win will draw more customers to the bakery which will help him “buy new machinery so it’s easier for the bakers”.

“It was a team effort with all the bakers and apprentices.”

The country’s best Vanilla Slice – YUM! Picture: Keryn Stevens

Banana Boogie Bakery Belair owner Jason Spencer was pretty chuffed their sausage rolls were also named best in the country by the Baking Association of Australia earlier this year. Picture: Kelly Barnes

It comes after, in July the bakery beat out more than 250 other pastries for best sausage roll in the Baking Association of Australia’s state awards night.

It is the second year in a row Banana Boogie was recognised for its pastries and at different times over its nine years in business it has also been recognised for meat pies and hot cross buns.

“We went back to back with the best sausage roll this year so we’ll look to go back to back with the vanilla slice as well,” Mr Spencer said.

After winning best sausage roll, he credited “high-quality meat” with “the right fat content” as key to getting it right, giving credit to his supplier Blackwood Butchers.

The 44-year-old begins work at 1am every day and usually finishes in the early afternoon, but said the award was acknowledgment he and his wife Kelly were “getting it right”.

“It’s hard work but I love what I do,” he said.

“You enjoy seeing customers eating your food, and we’ve gotten so much feedback from judges and customers over the years to get to where we are.”