Mapped: South Australia’s best vanilla slices, chosen by you
Whether you prefer old-school vanilla slices or ones with a twist (Iced VoVo slice anyone?), there’s something for everyone on this sweet SA list. Tick some off this long weekend!
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Australia’s great vanilla slice is far from vanilla, readers say.
The ubiquitous bakery treat, traditionally made with custard powder and icing, is a firm favourite among road trippers and pastry lovers alike.
In a recent Advertiser Facebook poll, around 1000 readers suggested their favourite vanilla slices, from traditional recipes to contemporary takes.
Leading the pack was popular Belair bakery Banana Boogie, where owner Jason Spencer says the secret to a great vanilla slice is in the pastry. “Ours is baked out so it’s not chewy,” he says.
Banana Boogie is also the only SA bakery to have placed in The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph in Merbein – a competition started in 1998 by then-Victorian premier Jeff Kennett (he really liked vanilla slice).
What might Kennett think of some of the contemporary versions? Take the daily changing specials at Seacliff Park’s Bake Bakery, where flavours have included Snickers, Pina Colada and Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee.
“The bakers here are so creative and they love moving with the times,” says co-owner Trina Bell. “We’ll all just come up with the ideas and the bakers give it a shot.
“They (customers) love it. We like to blow people’s minds and when they come in, they go, ‘wow, look at that’,”.
Want to know what made the cream of the crop? Here are our top 11 vanilla slices as voted by you – and for the full slew of recommendations, check our interactive map below:
BANANA BOOGIE
4/10 Main Rd, Belair; $5 slice
It’s the pastry that makes Banana Boogie’s vanilla slice a South Australian favourite, says owner Jason Spencer. “It’s nice and thin and crisp,” he says. “It’s baked out so that it’s not chewy. The custard is nice and creamy, not that rubbery stuff that was known in the 80s and 90s, and it has just the right amount of icing that doesn’t take away from the vanilla custard.”
The vanilla slice, which is baked daily, is also the only SA bakery to place in The Great Vanilla Slice Triumph, in Merbein.
CJ’S BAKERY
39C Beach Rd, Christies Beach; $4.80 slice
Bakery owners Andrew and Kerrie Sutton have refined their vanilla slice recipe over the 13 years they’ve owned popular CJ’s Bakery at Christies Beach. “We have adjusted and refined it along the way to get the pastry as thin and light and flaky as we can, then worked on the custard to get it as creamy as we can,” Mr Sutton says. “Some eight years ago, we switched from a fudge icing to fondant, and we are constantly working to get that nice, shiny, clean finish, so that we have something great to give to our customers.”
CJ’s vanilla slice has repeatedly been recognised at the Royal Adelaide Show. “We’ve won many awards,” Mr Sutton says.
BARMERA BAKERY
6 Barwell Ave, Barmera
We couldn’t reach the vanilla slice kings and queens at Barmera Bakery in time for deadline, but many of you voted the Riverland bakery as among the very best. “The pastry, custard and icing are all amazing,” one reader commented on our Facebook call-out. “You won’t find a better one,” wrote another.
THE VILLAGE BAKER
Shop 61, Burnside Village, Port Rush Rd, Glenside;
Shop 4, 715 South Rd, Black Forest; $6.50 slice
Vanilla slice lovers can choose from two different kinds at The Village Baker’s Glenside and Black Forest stores. “Many traditionalists love the feathered fondant topping but of those who like something different and bit of tang they love it with the passion fruit fudge icing,” says head chef and proprietor, Ben Sachse. “We like to think so many people love it because of the fresh creamy custard filling between the two layers of crisp flaky pastry.”
WINDARA BAKERY
32 Church St, Penola; $4.60 slice
“Fresh is key”, says Windara Bakery owners Geoff and Mardi Currie. Having started his baking apprenticeship at the age of 15, Geoff has worked in kitchens around the world, and back in SA, has perfected the vanilla slice recipe. “It’s a beautiful, fresh vanilla slice, with crispy pastry, a beautiful filling and white fondant on top – made fresh,” they say.
FIVE LOAVES BAKERY
54 Bruce Terrace, Cummins; $5.50 slice
The bakers at Eyre Peninsula bakery, Five Loaves, top their vanilla slice with pink icing and a dusting of coconut. “That’s one product we try not to run out of,” says Evan Siviour, who bought the bakery 12 months ago with his wife, Amanda. The pair credit the slice’s popularity to decent pastry, creamy custard and the right amount of icing.
HOME GRAIN BAKERY
13 Old Coach Rd, Aldinga; $6.50 slice
Home Grain Bakery’s vanilla slice was one of the very first recipes Toff and Cara West created when they founded the Home Grain brand in 2011. “It has stood the test of time as a customer favourite year in, year out,” Mr West says. “As a local family-owned bakery we pride ourselves on the quality local ingredients we use. With a perfect pastry base, baked with Laucke Flour, and filled to the brim with real custard, made with 100 per cent Fleurieu Milk Co milk and cream and our secret ingredient – authentic vanilla bean paste.”
While most vanilla slices are topped with fondant, Home Grain have opted for handmade buttercream frosting. “We’re super proud of the product we’ve created.”
PICK AVE BAKERY
34 Pick Ave, Mount Gambier; $4.60 slice
73-year-old bakery, Pick Ave Bakery, whips out a great vanilla slice, readers say. Owner Darren Murrell, who has run the bakery for the past 23 years, says, “the most important ingredient when making the Pick Ave Bakery vanilla slice is, care”. Their vanilla slice is topped with fondant.
BAKE BAKERY
246 Seacombe Road, Seacliff Park; $5 slice (original); $5.60 flavour of day
Fancy a Farmer’s Union iced coffee-flavoured vanilla slice? How about Snickers, iced VoVo or pina colada? The clever bakers at Seacliff Park’s Bake Bakery pimp their vanilla slices, offering a changing flavour daily (traditional is also available). “The bakers here are so creative and they love moving with the times and … coming up with something new,” says co-owner Trina Bell. “We’ll all just come up with the ideas and the bakers give it a shot.
“They (customers) love it. We like to blow people’s minds and when they come in, they go, ‘wow, look at that’,”.
Don’t like change? The bakery’s traditional slice is topped with fondant and chocolate flakes.
OTTO’S BAKERY
9 Main St, Hahndorf; $5.50
Otto’s Bakery owners Mark and Amanda Obst credit a traditional recipe for the success of their vanilla slice. “It’s been around for a long time, 20-25 years,” Mr Obst said. Bakers use fresh cream and custard powder for their filling, and top the pastry with fondant decorated with chocolate piping.
TWO WELLS BAKERY
76 Old Port Wakefield Rd, Two Wells
There are two kinds of vanilla slices coming out of the kitchen at Two Wells Bakery. “The most popular is the Queen Vanilla slice,” says Haydn Routley. “It is made with fresh cream and fresh milk and dusted in icing sugar.” The bakery also produces an old-school vanilla slice, made with custard powder and water, topped in pink fondant and dusted with coconut.
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