Milestones Made Sweeter: Smart Parenting Food Awards 2025 Celebrations Winners

To make party planning easier for parents, here are the winners of the Smart Parenting Food Awards: Celebrations category. These top party picks come from Smart Parenting editors and writers, and Filipino parents from the Smart Parenting Village. From cakes and desserts to drinks, these crowd favorites have everything you need to throw a fun and delicious celebration for any age.

A well-loved brand for creamy desserts, Nestlé All-Purpose Cream has made it to Smart Parenting Food Awards winners list for two years in a row. It’s a staple for hit desserts like fruit or buko salad, buko pandan, and graham cakes. It’s also a necessary ingredient for savory dishes, soups, dips, and sauces.

Smart Parenting Village member Bernadette Tan said that it is one of her celebrations and even business must-haves, saying, “I use it whenever I bake or make desserts, lalo na 'yung Mango Graham Refrigerator Cake na ginagawa ko every Christmas for my family and gifts for my friends. I’ve been using it for almost 20 years. I also use it when I baked and sold Basque Burnt Cheesecake during the pandemic, gustong-gusto ng customers ko.”

No celebration is complete without cake. Whether it’s a birthday, binyag, Christmas, New Year, or even a simple family gathering—cake is a must. For over 50 years, Goldilocks has been part of Filipino family milestones. Most of us have blown out birthday candles on a Goldilocks cake at least once, and this tradition continues strong, earning it the approval of Smart Parenting parents.

Moreover, Goldilocks has a cake for every taste and celebration. Chocolate lovers will enjoy the All About Chocolate Cake, Black Forest, Chocolate Mousse, Luscious Chocolate, Luscious Mocha, Royal Fudge Cake, or Coffee Layered Crunch. Those who like fruity flavors can go for Mango Dream and Mango Empress. There’s also the trendy yet timeless Dulce De Leche, Ube Dream and Ube Overload, as well as classic dedication and roll cakes in chocolate, mocha, and caramel.

“I love Goldilocks cakes kasi hindi super tamis, tamang-tama lang sa panglasa. Affordable din ang prices nila compared sa iba. Kaya every time na nag-crave kami ng matamis, number one sa list namin ang Goldilocks cakes,” shared Smart Parenting Village member Apple Gutierrez.

Just like cake, noodles are a must in every Filipino celebration, thanks to the belief that they bring long life and good fortune. And for most kids, the ultimate party pasta is none other than spaghetti!

Del Monte Pasta Sauces make party prep easier for parents. Whether your family prefers the sweet-style Filipino classic, Italian tomato-based, or a rich cheesy variant—there’s a sauce for every taste.

“A great go-to dish using Del Monte Pasta Sauces is a One-Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta. It’s quick, delicious, and uses pantry staples,” shared Smart Parenting Village member Jerry Simangan. She also raved about its versatility, saying, “I also use it not just for pasta, but also for meatballs, and pizzas.”

As for the pasta itself, Smart Parenting parents turn to Royal Pasta. Available in Spaghetti, Linguine, and Elbow Macaroni, Royal Pasta is perfect for favorite dishes like spaghetti, carbonara, and chicken macaroni soup.

“Royal Pasta is tradition for me, basta birthday and special occasions, Royal Pasta lang ang gamit namin, simula sa nanay ko, hanggang sa akin ngayon,” shared Cecile Balais from the Smart Parenting Village. “The pasta is firm and masarap, no worries kahit ma-overcook. Bakit pa pipili ng mas mura kung sa quality at taste palang ng Royal, hindi na nakakahinayang.”

Magnolia Gold Label Vanilla Ice Cream claims the top spot for the second year in a row. It’s a party essential—well-loved by both kids and adults.

Editor-in-Chief and mom of three, Ronna Capili Bonifacio, shared: "Its versatility is unmatched—we put this on top of chocolate cake, serve with a shot of espresso for momma, and enjoy alone for our family's sweet treat. Just one tub of ice cream, plus whatever is in the pantry, can become a special treat. Our family loves its creamy taste, and it's the same flavor we, the parents, have loved since we were young kids."

Aside from cakes, baked goodies are also always a great option for celebrations—and even everyday meryenda. The top pick among parents? Red Ribbon pastries.

Their ready-to-eat offerings include Butter, Cheesy, Ube, and Mocha Mamon; Taisan; Banana Crunch; Cheesy and Ube Cheesy Ensaimada; and individually packed cake slices like Red Velvet, Mocha Marble, Ube Marble, Moist Choco, Choco Cake, Chiffon Cake, and Double Dutch. They even offer Fried Chicken Empanadas for a savory option.

I personally love Red Ribbon pastries for my daughters’ birthdays. We serve Butter Mamon and Cheesy Ensaimada as pica-pica or takeaways. They’re also my go-to for when they need to bring food-to-share for school activities. The best part? They’re available in packs of 5 or 10, making them convenient and budget-friendly.

One of the best things about parties and celebrations is being surrounded by friends and loved ones, each bringing their own stories and unique brand of fun to the table. As hosts, it’s just as important for parents to make sure the food and drinks cater to everyone’s tastes. And for many, no party spread is complete without Coca-Cola.

Smart Parenting contributing writer and mom of one, Riya Pasimio, shared, “Can you even call it a celebration without Coca-Cola? We grew up having Coke in all our special events: birthdays, fiestas, graduations, and family gatherings. Just hearing its sizzle takes me back to those times! Over the years, Coke has remained a special drink for special occasions.”