‘Kids Baking Championship’ Returns on Food Network

Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman will welcome a dozen new young bakers into the ninth season the “Kids Baking Championship” on Monday, December 28 at 9 p.m. ET to see whose skills will measure up in difficult baking challenges. For the first time, the bakers’ parents will be backstage watching and reacting to the ups and downs of the 10-week competition. Only one will take the cake and the grand prize of $25,000, a spot in Food Network Magazine, and the title of Kids Baking Champion!

The logline: The new season of “Kids Baking Championship” will feature new challenges, the latest dessert trends, and lots of irresistible sweets. One challenge, celebrating Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, has each baker paired up with an adorable, adoptable puppy and they must create a birthday cake that envisions their four-legged friend’s life after adoption. In another challenge the kid competitors must make a giant cookie face with 3D features that communicate an assigned expression. Each week one baker will be surprised to land at the bottom of the bunch. On Monday, February 15th it’s the final two episodes of the competition. At 9pm ET, Valerie and Duff task the bakers with creating a sheet pan pie, with two delicious pie fillings, a tasty crust, and great decorations. Three bakers earn spots in the grand finale at 10pm ET/PT and must bake their most impressive desserts yet in order to rise to the top and be crowned the winner.

The Kids Baking Championship competitors include: Keaton Ashton (Sugar City, ID; age 13), Haylin Adams (Glasgow, KY; age 11), Jonah Anderson (Harrisburg, PA ; age 12), Cydney Cain (Prospect Park, PA; age 10), Andrew Clark (Madison, MS; age 10), Trey Gordon (Davenport, IA; age 12), Bella Luu (San Jose, CA; age 12), D’Von Mills (Lithonia, GA; age 12), Namiah Phillips (Long Beach, CA; age 12), Miabella Ramirez (Katy, TX; age 11), McKenzly Sandefer (Conway, AR: age 11), and Nemo Tsai (Ann Arbor, MI; age 10).