Spring Baking Championship Season 11 Kicks Off with Culinary Talent
The much-anticipated Season 11 of the Spring Baking Championship premiered on March 10, 2025, captivating audiences on Food Network. This season features 13 talented pastry chefs from diverse backgrounds, all competing in a variety of spring-themed baking challenges for a grand prize of $25,000 and the prestigious opportunity to be featured in Food Network Magazine. Among these competitors is Stacy Flores, an executive pastry chef at Battello in Jersey City, renowned for her seasonal tiramisu, panna cotta, and pudding cakes.
In a recent interview with North Jersey on March 7, 2025, Flores recounted her initial approach by the show’s producers. She was taken aback when she received a message inviting her to connect, leading her to double-check its authenticity:
“I thought they were pranking me, I’m not gonna lie. I was asking all my chefs, ‘Did you write this?'”
While Flores refrained from disclosing how far she progressed in the competition, she characterized the experience as truly “once-in-a-lifetime.” Excited for the show’s premiere, she has plans to gather with friends and family to watch it unfold.
Facing Nerves: Stacy’s Journey within the Competition
Originating from Woodbridge, this marks Flores’s first venture into television. Her interest began when she received a handwritten note at her workplace, inviting her to participate in the competition.
Once assured the invitation was genuine, Flores seized the opportunity, drawing from her childhood fascination with baking shows—particularly those featuring intricately sculpted cakes. She reminisced:
“That’s what I fell in love with. About two years ago, I was talking to an old chef of mine, I was like, Spring Baking Championship is so cool.”
Adjusting to the filming process proved challenging, as Flores struggled at first with the constant presence of cameras. Nevertheless, she persisted, stating:
“I was very nervous just having the cameras watching you like a hawk.”
Ultimately, she plans to host a watch party at her home with family and friends, humorously dubbing it “Super Bowl party number two.”
Highlights from the Premiere Challenge and Future Episodes
During the season opener, contestants faced the challenge of creating a flower-themed dessert that showcased their unique personalities, subsequently preparing a complex honey pie as a showstopper. Expect a series of inventive challenges as the season progresses, with creative themes reflecting the vibrancy of spring.
Food Network has teased exciting future episodes featuring inventive desserts such as butterfly-shaped napoleons, fruit entremets inspired by A Minecraft Movie, glow-in-the-dark ice cream cake bombs, and three-layer cakes inspired by Marie Antoinette’s hairstyle. Each week builds suspense, with bakers racing against the clock and one contestant being sent home.
In her interview, Flores notes that, regardless of her outcome, the competition has contributed significantly to her professional growth. On the challenges of adjusting to the high-pressure environment, she remarked:
“You’ve got to get used to this and figure it out.”
Throughout the season, Flores and her fellow contestants will showcase their culinary artistry before esteemed judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller, and Kardea Brown.
Don’t miss the excitement—tune in for new episodes of Spring Baking Championship every Monday on Food Network.