Fan Favorite Contestant Returns To ‘Holiday Baking Championship’
The Food Network is gearing up for another holiday season with fifty hours of new programming. The network’s popular Holiday Baking Championship is one of several returning shows. Keep reading for all the details on Season 12, including which fan favorite is returning for another chance.
Huge Change Angers Holiday Baking Championship Fans
Holiday Baking Championship premiered in 2014. The popular baking show became a yearly tradition for the network. The host is familiar to reality TV fans. Jesse Palmer hosts the Bachelor Nation shows on ABC and took over as host of the Food Network show in Season 4.
He’s not the only one from the franchise to host a holiday show on Food Network this year. Among the 2025 holiday programming shared by Variety is a new show hosted by Wells Adams. Sweet Empire challenges contestants to create edible works of art.
The Holiday Baking Championship returns for a new season but without one of its most popular judges. Kardea Brown replaces Top Chef alum Carla Brown for the new season. She joins returning judges Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman.
Season 12 of Holiday Baking Competition kicks off on Monday, November 3, at 8 PM Eastern. Regular Food Network viewers might recognize a familiar face.
Fan Favorite Contestant Returns For Second Chance
A new judge isn’t the only change viewers can expect on Holiday Baking Championship. The description for Season 12 hints that the competitors will work in teams, at least at first.
“The 12 bakers in this competition will be split into teams of Naughty vs. Nice to take on sweet challenges,” the description for the reason reads. One of those twelve bakers previously competed on Kids Baking Championship when he was just 13.
Tarek Husseini was a contestant on Season 7 of the Food Network show. The St. Louis, Missouri, native was the runner-up. He’s back on Holiday Baking Championship for redemption.
“I was a hot mess. But now I am better, I promise. Hindsight is 20/20 and I really refined those techniques,” the 19-year-old said.
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Holiday baking fans took to social media to share their reaction to a new season of the Food Network competition.
- “Praying this makes up for the disaster that is the current season of Halloween Baking Championship”
- “Wonder if it will be like the random Santa’s List thing they teased in a prior season…then we never saw it again.”
- “I’m really looking forward to this. It always adds to the holiday spirit.”
- “Can’t wait! I don’t mind the teams format. And nothing can be worse that this year’s Halloween Baking Championship”
- “Wait, is this the Junior edition? Why do these contestants look so extremely young?”
- “Ah! I’ve been waiting for a Kid’s Baking Championship contestant to show up on a Baking Championship!”
Tell us in the comments your favorite treat to bake during the holidays. Don’t forget the recipe!
