UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Calling all bakers! Penn State University Libraries needs your help to win back the Grand Champion Trophy in the fourth annual Penn State/Monash Great Rare Books Bake-Off.
Penn State’s Eberly Family Special Collections Library is teaming up for a fourth year with Special Collections at Monash University for a unique rare recipe baking challenge and needs participants to help them win The Great Rare Books Bake-Off.
Penn State students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are invited to discover the hidden gems of historical recipes from the special collections of both Monash University and Penn State University Libraries. Each library has combed through their respective rare cookbook collections and found some exceptionally delicious recipes just waiting to be baked and eaten.
The libraries are unveiling new recipes for this year's competition in addition to fan favorites from previous years. Participants can try their hand at specialties from Penn State collections like Kitty’s devil’s food cake from Penn State Shenango and 17th-century almond jumballs, or attempt the intimidating Australian pavlova. There are recipes for bakers of various skill levels and the submission of any “#bakingfail” is encouraged. Historical context for the recipes is provided along the way.
To join the competition, bake any of the recipes and post a photo or video of your baking to Facebook, Instagram, or X, formerly known as Twitter, with the hashtag #TheGreatRareBooksBakeOff (add #BakePennState so your post will be counted in favor of our institution). The university with the most entries will win the Great Rare Books Bake-Off and possession of the Grand Champion Trophy to proudly display in their space. If you are not on social media but would still like to participate, you can submit your entry to the Libraries to be posted for you.
The bake-off will run Sept. 30 to Oct. 8. Recipes and contest details are available on the competition website.