Local Baker’s Peach Cobbler Waffle Lands on Hampton by Hilton Menus Nationwide
Last summer, East Lansing resident Kaylee Voight was pulling sweet, ripe peaches from their stems, loading up her arms with the perfectly in season fruit. Toting her newfound bounty back home from the cider mill, Voight set out on her next baking venture: peach cobbler. To make her way through her stash, Voight rifled through several vintage recipes she had collected from estate sales and thrift stores to test out a plethora of peach cobbler variations.
Little did she know that those peaches would help crown her the champion of Hampton by Hilton’s inaugural Guest Waffle Boss contest. As the winner, Voight’s peach cobbler waffles are now being served at Hilton hotels across the U.S. and Canada.
While in the midst of her peach cobbler frenzy last August, Voight stumbled across an Instagram post promoting Hampton by Hilton’s inaugural Guest Waffle Boss competition. The competition accepted video submissions from Aug. 22 through Sept. 5, 2025, which were then judged by a panel of “breakfast experts.” Inspired by her latest baked goods, Voight submitted an entry for a peach cobbler waffle.
“When I entered, I wasn’t thinking too much about it,” Voight said. “It sounded like a good little waffle. I wasn’t actually thinking that I was going to win, but [I thought] I’d throw my hat in the ring.”
Her recipe proposed a spiced waffle topped with fresh peaches, an oat crumble and whipped cream to emulate the tastes and textures of a peach cobbler.
A couple months later, Voight was with her local running club when she noticed a missed call on her phone. Upon playing the message left for her, Voight was informed that Hampton by Hilton was attempting to contact her. She called the number back.
“They were like, ‘we really love your idea, and we just wanted to ask you some questions about it because you’re a potential winner for the Guest Waffle Boss competition that we’ve been running,’” Voight said. “My heart dropped and my blood went cold.”
Rushing back home, sweaty and fueled with adrenaline from her run and the call, Voight informed her fiance of the news.
“I couldn’t believe what was happening,” Voight said. “It was so crazy.”
On top of her exclusive title, Voight’s waffle is being served at nearly 2,500 participating Hampton by Hilton hotels across the United States and Canada for a limited time. Since the release of her recipe to these inns across North America, Voight has received overwhelming positive feedback.
“When I was trying it for the first time with the Hilton crew, I got a lot of good praise about it being a tasty waffle,” Voight said. “I’ve made the peach cobbler waffle at home for friends and family as well [who aren’t] as frequent hotel guests. They’ve tried it and they’ve really enjoyed the oat streusel especially — that has been a big hit.”
Voight was also awarded one million Hilton Honors Points and a five night stay at any Hampton by Hilton location – prizes she’s already taken advantage of.
“I went to Italy and Switzerland back in May,” Voight said. “I stayed at a Hampton in Venice, which was just on the water, and it was so cool. For my birthday next month, [my fiance and I] are going to Greece.”
While on vacation, the reality of Voight’s win finally settled in for her.
“I [remember] sitting in that hotel room and looking at my fiance and being like, ‘We’re here because waffles,’” Voight said. “[Those trips] would not have been in the cards for me [otherwise].”
For anyone looking to take part the next time the competition rolls around, Voight suggests staying true to what you love — just as she did with her enjoyment of peach cobbler.
“Draw inspiration from the things that are in your daily life that you really enjoy,” Voight said. “Nothing’s going to scream more unique and [better] than your own desires. Chances are, you could have a real big hit on your hand if you just share it.”