Highlights from Season 11 of Spring Baking Championship: A Colorful Cheesecake Challenge

The latest episode of Spring Baking Championship, titled The Magic of Spring Colors, premiered on March 25 and brought an exciting challenge for the contestants. The judges set the task of crafting a vibrant rainbow cheesecake that not only showcased spring colors but also incorporated the flavors of fresh spring fruits. Among the participants, Corey’s orange-hued, mango-flavored cheesecake stood out, earning him the title of winner in this round.

Judges’ Delight Over Corey’s Culinary Creation

During the tasting, judge Nancy Fuller praised Corey’s cheesecake enthusiastically:

“This crust, Corey, I’m in love.”

Both Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown were equally impressed, admiring the dessert’s striking presentation and the enticing ombre effect that revealed itself with each spoonful, alongside the delightful mango flavor.

A Journey to the Top

Corey, one of the fourteen talented pastry chefs vying for the title of Spring Baking Champion and a grand prize of $25,000, has an inspiring background. Through scholarships and grants, he pursued culinary education and honed his skills at prestigious restaurants and bakeries. The Washington D.C. resident confidently expressed his capabilities to compete against the other talented bakers.

Duff Goldman’s Enthusiastic Approval

Within the main heat challenge, the bakers were tasked with creating a cheesecake inspired by rainbows, with a visually stunning ombre effect. They had just two and a half hours to complete their creations, and time was of the essence as one contestant would unfortunately face elimination. Julian, who had won the pre-heat round, had the advantage of an immunity pass, leaving the others focused and competitive to avoid the bottom two.

Corey’s Inspired Flavor Choice

As the challenge began, each baker selected a mini card that determined the color and flavor of their cheesecake. Corey drew orange for color and mango for flavor, a combination he found appealing.

“I love mango on a cheesecake. It’s really creamy. It’s delicious,”he stated.

Explaining the creation of his no-bake cheesecake, Corey elaborated on his design:

“My cheesecake is going to be ombre by setting my layers in variant gradient colors.”

Hoping the ombre design would shine through when sliced, he planned to adorn his cheesecake with a mango gelée, pipe an orange-ombre rainbow on top, add fresh mango pieces, and finish with candied macadamia nuts and coconut for the crust.

A Stunning Presentation

Corey was the first to present his dish to the judges. Nancy complimented its appearance:

“I think it looks like spring and sunshine and actually, it could be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,”she remarked.

Host Jesse Palmer prompted Corey to slice into the cheesecake to reveal the rainbow inside. As he cut a slice, the judges gasped, visually captivated by the orange ombre effect.

Duff Goldman commented on the cheesecake’s subtle yet stunning color palette:

“You know when a mango’s like really ripe and it’s like creamy and yummy and perfect, that’s what this tastes like. I’m absolutely loving this. It’s great,”he added.

He encouraged Corey to warn his fellow competitors that they had their work cut out for them, given the high standard he had set.

A Winning Streak

After sampling all the cheesecakes, the judges unanimously declared Corey the winner, marking his second consecutive victory in the main heat challenges.