Final answer:
The verb in bold ('prepared') is correct. The future perfect tense ('will have prepared') is used to indicate an action that will be completed at a specific time in the future before another action or event.
Step-by-step explanation:
The verb in bold (“prepared”) is correct. In the given sentence, the verb is in the future perfect tense (“will have prepared”) which is used to indicate an action that will be completed at a specific time in the future before another action or event.
The verb form is appropriate because the young chef is expected to complete the preparation of his prize-winning recipe for fudge before the cooking contest.
For example, the sentence “During the cooking contest yesterday, the young chef will have prepared his prize-winning recipe for fudge” suggests that the young chef will finish preparing the recipe for fudge before the contest takes place.