Spring Baking Championship - General Discussion

[GiandujaPie]

Yes it was pretty arrogant of Julian not to use his immunity for this challenge, especially towards the end when he realized his cheesecake was not going to be baked properly. He was just banking on someone else being worse than him. I think it was manufactured drama though to have him be on the bottom 2. I'm glad he survived though. I'm hoping to be able to go to his bakery in the next couple of weeks as we will be in his area. 😋

Kareem's madeleine tower looked so much better before he stuck the madeleines on top of all the piped flowers. I agree that he seems to not be in the same league as everyone else but I guess he hasn't yet made such an egregious error that couldn't be overlooked. 

In the early rounds, I think taste will always trump decor, which I think is how Kareem has managed to survive so far since the bakers eliminated already had technical issues with their flavors/bakes whereas his tend to taste good but his decor not so great. 

Are all of the contestant bakers professionals and have their own bakery or work as a pastry chef? Usually there is one or two who self-identify as home bakers but I don't remember if there is one for this season. 

[libgirl2]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:44 PM, GiandujaPie said:

Kareem's madeleine tower looked so much better before he stuck the madeleines on top of all the piped flowers. I agree that he seems to not be in the same league as everyone else but I guess he hasn't yet made such an egregious error that couldn't be overlooked. 

 

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I thought it was looking pretty good until he put them on top of them. 

[TVbitch]

I thought Kareem's madeleine tower looked like the Grimmace after he fell down some stairs during a late night bender. But Kareem's a sweet guy, so I'll just go with "..Bless his heart." 😁

 

[RoxiP]

I did think that the tattoo on the eliminated woman's upper arm was one of the coolest I've ever seen.

[libgirl2]

  On 3/26/2025 at 4:37 PM, RoxiP said:

I did think that the tattoo on the eliminated woman's upper arm was one of the coolest I've ever seen.

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i didn't even notice what it was. 

[RoxiP]

  On 3/26/2025 at 4:40 PM, libgirl2 said:

i didn't even notice what it was. 

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It was in the style of a tribal band but was more like lace.  I tried to copy a picture but it said it was too large.  At first I thought it was a shirt that had fringe on it - it was that realistic.

 

[carrps]

  On 3/25/2025 at 11:35 PM, mlp said:

I thought Stacy's cheesecake looked like a stack of kitchen sponges. 

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Exactly what I said when I first saw it. She seemed very low energy. Like she knew she was out of her league.

 

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:39 AM, Maverick said:

I get he's elf taught and his story about his grandfather is sweet, but he's not eve non par with the home bakers. 

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Maybe he should have trained with humans instead of elves. 😁

I'm so over these obvious lesser talents being over-praised on one aspect of the bake when other aspects are worse than most of the kids in the Kids Baking show. It doesn't make me feel better about the kind-hearted judges (ha!); it just makes me think they're mentally challenged. Can't they see how horrible his tower looked? We at home can't taste the desserts to challenge the judges on that, but, dang, we can sure see!

 

[RoxiP]

I also think that sometimes the bakers get away with stuff because its the pre-bake but I think they should automatically be in the bottom if their pre-bake is as bad as Kareen's.  

[tennisgurl]

I really like Corey, he's a great baker and seems like a nice guy, I thought that his madeleine was gorgeous, although I see why Julien won. Very Spring-y and very tasty looking. I also like Jon'nae, Priya, and Kari so far, very talented and fun to watch. Most everyone is kind of blurring together for me now, except for Kareem, who the judges are giving way more grace than the others. Its not the first time that the judges have kept someone around mostly because they like their personality and story more than their baking skills. Kareem did do better this week but I still think his decorating is subpar. 

Oh Julien, he almost flew too close to the sun. He really should have been totally confident if he gave up that immunity, it would be brutal if he went home when immunity was right there. 

I loved Jessie's rainbow shirt. 

Edited Thursday at 03:43 PM by tennisgurl

[carrps]

I personally don't like no-bake cheesecake. It's not cheesecake -- it's a weird jell-o like approximation. I give props to both Julien and Lisa for baking theirs. It's just with their excruciatingly short time limits, they both handicapped themselves. I'm glad they both survived. I like them both.

[AZChristian]

  On 3/26/2025 at 4:37 PM, RoxiP said:

I did think that the tattoo on the eliminated woman's upper arm was one of the coolest I've ever seen.

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This one?  It is pretty cool!

[libgirl2]

  On 3/26/2025 at 7:12 PM, AZChristian said:

This one?  It is pretty cool!

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Now I remember it! It is quite pretty.

[RoxiP]

  On 3/26/2025 at 7:12 PM, AZChristian said:

This one?  It is pretty cool!

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That would be the one!  Thank you.

[jcbrown]

  On 3/26/2025 at 2:39 AM, Maverick said:

 I would ask how Kareem is still here, but the real question is how was he cast in the first place.  I get he's elf taught and his story about his grandfather is sweet, but he's not eve non par with the home bakers. 

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Keebler elves, you think? 😉

  On 3/26/2025 at 4:12 PM, TVbitch said:

I thought Kareem's madeleine tower looked like the Grimmace after he fell down some stairs during a late night bender. But Kareem's a sweet guy, so I'll just go with "..Bless his heart." 😁

 

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Best description ever. That tower was fugly.

  On 3/26/2025 at 5:30 PM, carrps said:

Maybe he should have trained with humans instead of elves. 😁

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You beat me to it. 😂

2.5 hours or whatever it was is a totally insane timeline for a cheesecake challenge.

[Rammchick]

  On 3/26/2025 at 7:05 PM, tennisgurl said:

Its not the first time that the judges have kept someone around mostly because they like their personality and story more than their baking skills. Kareem did do better this week but I still think his decorating is subpar. 

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It's not the judges, it's the producers who tell the judges to do that 😏

[CrazyInAlabama]

  On 3/26/2025 at 7:12 PM, carrps said:

I personally don't like no-bake cheesecake. It's not cheesecake -- it's a weird jell-o like approximation. I give props to both Julien and Lisa for baking theirs. It's just with their excruciatingly short time limits, they both handicapped themselves. I'm glad they both survived. I like them both.

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I think the rules should say if a cheesecake has to be baked, and if the no-bake option is within the rules.    And if you require a baked cheesecake, then give them enough time to bake, cool and decorate it.    2 1/2 hours was too little for a baked cheesecake.    

My complaint with the bakers is that if you're going on a holiday baking championship, you do a few practice sessions with pie, cakes, cheesecakes, and whatever the latest trendy cake design are.   Do a mirror glaze, a multi-tiered cake, several types of pies, that you can expect to have to make.      Saying 'I haven't baked a pie in years' doesn't make you look daring, it makes you look unprepared and as if you aren't a serious competitor. 

Practice mirror glaze, drip icing, and Tsunami cakes.    They've shown up on almost every seasonal baking contest.  

Edited Friday at 09:26 PM by CrazyInAlabama

[KittyMom4]

  On 3/26/2025 at 4:12 PM, TVbitch said:

I thought Kareem's madeleine tower looked like the Grimmace after he fell down some stairs during a late night bender. But Kareem's a sweet guy, so I'll just go with "..Bless his heart.

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Hahaha, so much this! 

  On 3/27/2025 at 1:19 PM, Rammchick said:

It's not the judges, it's the producers who tell the judges to do that 😏

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My thought is they don't want to scare off self-taught or home bakers from trying out of the show so they keep one or two of them around for a few bakes and then they can say "Oh well, we gave him/her advice and they didn't use it." He should have been eliminated on the first episode.

  On 3/27/2025 at 1:27 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

My complaint with the bakers is that if you're going on a holiday baking championship, you do a few practice sessions with pie, cakes, cheesecakes, and whatever the latest trendy cake design are.   Do a mirror glaze, a multi-tiered cake, several types of pies, that you can expect to have to make.      Saying 'I haven't baked a pie in years' doesn't make you look daring, it makes you look unprepared and as if you aren't a serious competitor. 

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YES! And if you know the theme of the show (spring, holiday, Halloween, etc.) then study and practice with colors and shapes that will be used. I forget who the baker was on Halloween Championship but she said "I don't normally do this type of decorating". My eyes rolled so hard I got a headache. 

[Ancaster]

  On 3/14/2025 at 5:33 PM, carrps said:

I don't dislike him, but he leaves me cold. Physically, I find him kind of scary-looking. His teeth and jaw look so carnivorous. And Duff has much better dad jokes on Kids Baking.

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I like Jesse, but between the "carnivorous" (?) teeth and jaw and stubble, he does remind me a bit of Desperate Dan.

 

 

 

[2soon2tell]

  On 3/27/2025 at 1:27 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

My complaint with the bakers is that if you're going on a holiday baking championship, you do a few practice sessions with pie, cakes, cheesecakes, and whatever the latest trendy cake design are. 

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One year there was a baker who claimed she only did cakes. The first elimination challenge was cookies. She was the first person to go. I always wondered if she had ever seen the show. Was she just going to  wing it through pate choux, donuts and pies?

[libgirl2]

  On 3/29/2025 at 5:49 PM, 2soon2tell said:

One year there was a baker who claimed she only did cakes. The first elimination challenge was cookies. She was the first person to go. I always wondered if she had ever seen the show. Was she just going to  wing it through pate choux, donuts and pies?

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I can understand not being as good at something but really? 

[2soon2tell]

  On 3/29/2025 at 10:42 PM, libgirl2 said:

I can understand not being as good at something but really? 

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She claimed she had no idea how to bake cookies, modified a couple of cake recipes, and presented the judges with cake flavored blobs. All the while muttering that she only baked cakes.

[libgirl2]

  On 3/29/2025 at 11:40 PM, 2soon2tell said:

She claimed she had no idea how to bake cookies, modified a couple of cake recipes, and presented the judges with cake flavored blobs. All the while muttering that she only baked cakes.

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I seem to remember that. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

S11.E04: “April Fools’ : Spring Fake Outs” New, 3/31/2025 

In celebration of April Fools' Day, Jesse Palmer greets the 10 remaining bakers with a hilarious surprise. Then, they must make six chocolate eggs that look like real eggs but with a twist. The eggs must feature a baked element inside and hide a surprising "yolk" that will keep judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller guessing. Next, the competitors create deliciously sweet deception as they transform classic dinner party fare, like gnocchi primavera or fish tacos with salsa, into mind-blowing culinary illusions, creating food that tastes as good as it deceives!

10 Bakers:

Jon’nae  "Chef J"- Atlanta. Does catering for life events

Priya -Calgary, Alberta  Her chocolate desserts are beautiful. Chocolatier and pastry chef (Says she looks like Mindy Kaling)

Kareem -Brooklyn  Learned from grandpa and You Tube, has bakery.

Julian - Sacramento  Newlywed and pastry chef, lovely desserts. 

Corey -Washington, D.C. Wants Nancy to be so happy she conducts music. (She did on the first episode)

Raveena Oberol-Vancouver, B.C. (Judge on Wall of Bakers) Made her own wedding cake, opened first storefront at 22. 

Kari -San Diego.  Seven years clean and sober.  

Lisa -Boston. Catering company chef. 

Paul Feybesse-Bay Area (wife Monique was on Top Chef, Season 19, Houston) Co-owns two bakeries. Trained as a savory chef. 

Mary-Frances-Calgary, Alberta.  Culinary instructor. 

Preheat Challenge: they must make six chocolate eggs that look like real eggs but with a twist. The eggs must feature a baked element inside and hide a surprising "yolk" that will keep judges guessing.

Top Two:

Winner:   (Gift Basket )

Elimination Challenge: competitors create deliciously sweet deception as they transform classic dinner party fare, like gnocchi primavera or fish tacos with salsa, into mind-blowing culinary illusions, creating food that tastes as good as it deceives

Top Two:

Winner:

Bottom Two:

Eliminated Baker: