The Pastry World Cup, held biennially, is the ultimate showcase of dessert craftsmanship, where the world’s best pastry chefs battle for culinary supremacy. The 2025 competition, hosted in Lyon, France, featured teams from around the globe crafting elaborate desserts inspired by their countries' traditions and flavors. Here’s how the top 10 teams ranked, along with highlights of their outstanding creations.
1. Japan – Gold Medal 🏆
Japan secured its second consecutive victory with an innovative menu blending artistry and precision. Their winning creations included:
Restaurant Dessert: A delicate Asanoha (hemp leaf) granita made from lemon, pear, marigold, and chocolate.
Frozen Dessert: An apricot-based confection designed to resemble a traditional spinning top toy.
Chef Masanori Hata, Japan’s chocolate expert, expressed pride in encapsulating Japanese culture in their designs and flavors, cementing their status as a pastry powerhouse.
2. France – Silver Medal 🥈
The host country, known for its rich patisserie tradition, narrowly missed out on gold. Team France wowed with:
Showpiece: A stunning chocolate sculpture of a rooster, France’s national symbol.
Dessert: Chocolate eggs filled with hazelnut soufflé mousse, citrus-vanilla-infused clarified butter, and grilled vanilla ice cream with clementine confit.
Despite not winning, their craftsmanship reaffirmed France’s dominance in the pastry world.
3. Malaysia – Bronze Medal 🥉
Malaysia achieved its highest-ever ranking, taking home the bronze medal with a menu celebrating its multicultural influences. Highlights included:
Frozen Dessert: A citrus-apricot blend with subtle spices, showcasing the country’s diverse flavors.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Southeast Asia in the global pastry scene.
4. China
China impressed judges with a spectacular sugar-crafted dragon, emphasizing both technical mastery and cultural symbolism. The team also donned festive headwear to enhance their presentation.
5. Belgium
A country synonymous with chocolate, Belgium showcased its expertise with intricate cocoa-based desserts, reinforcing its status as a leader in fine chocolates.
6. Italy
Italy brought elegance to the competition with desserts inspired by traditional flavors such as tiramisu and Sicilian citrus, paired with impeccable presentation.
7. South Korea
With its growing reputation in global patisserie, South Korea combined precision and creativity, presenting desserts that fused modern techniques with traditional Korean flavors.
8. Singapore
Singapore’s team delivered a vibrant mix of tropical flavors, using ingredients like pandan and coconut, earning them a respectable eighth-place finish.
9. United Kingdom
The UK team, dressed in newsboy caps and bow ties, infused classic British desserts with innovative twists, showcasing both nostalgia and modern finesse.
10. Argentina
Argentina rounded out the top 10, incorporating regional ingredients such as dulce de leche and Patagonian berries into their creations.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Pastry World Cup was a celebration of technique, tradition, and innovation. Japan’s back-to-back victories solidify its place as a rising pastry powerhouse, while France continues to be a formidable force. Malaysia’s historic bronze medal highlights the growing influence of Southeast Asian flavors in global patisserie.
With each edition, the competition becomes more intense, setting the stage for even more breathtaking desserts in the future.