Oatcake fudge gives Thorntons competition winner taste of success
CHOCOLATE-LOVER Jane Hawkins is tasting sweet success – after combining her favourite treat with oatcakes.
The 39-year-old's recipe for 'Oatcake Fudge' milk chocolate was chosen by confectioner Thorntons as the West Midlands winner.
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WINNER: Jane Hawkins. Picture: Mark Scott
Now the food giant could soon be selling Jane's creation in its shops across the country as part of its Great Chocolate Britain range.
Jane, a rates coordinator for Stone-based Allied Healthcare, was among 10 finalists to be invited to take part in the final at Thorntons' factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire, last month.
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Customers had been asked to submit their ideas for the perfect chocolate to represent their region and then an online public vote was held to whittle the down the entries.
And Jane was announced the winner on Monday on the the first day of National Chocolate Week.
Jane, of Trecastle Grove, Stoke, said: "I've been a chocolate fan for years and years and I entered my idea on the Thorntons website on a whim.
"I had almost forgotten about it, so it was really exciting to receive the email to tell me I was through to the final."
Jane took fiance, Andy Mascy, aged 42, along for the day where the finalists were treated to a tour of the Thorntons factory.
She was then shown the process of making her regional chocolate.
Jane said: "I do like to cook when I can but I had never made chocolate before in my life.
"It was quite a daunting prospect to have to try and actually make my oatcake fudge.
"The chocolatiers helped me through the process and it was much easier than it looks.
"My original idea was to mix the oatcakes with the fudge, but the chocolatiers thought it might not work and advised I make milk chocolate with pieces of oatcake and fudged mixed in.
"It paid off because the end result was absolutely delicious, and it really impressed the judges."
Jane's Oatcake Fudge was judged against 'Praline Pear Drops', and 'Worcester Black Pear and Damson Dream'.
Jane said: "The tour of the factory was prize enough for me and winning the regional competition was just the cherry on top.
"The judges said they would take on the finalists' ideas for their future products and they could go in the shops."
Thorntons' master chocolatier Keith Hurdman said: "The competition was a chance to combine flavours celebrating British heritage with the nation's love of chocolate.
"The search for new flavours really was exciting, not just for those that entered, but for all of us at Thorntons as this is the first time we've put our chocolate development in the hands of the public. We would like to congratulate the winners on their creativity."
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