'Kids Baking Championship' returns with entrepreneurial young bakers competing in new challenges designed to test their baking & business skills

New season premieres on Food Network and discovery+ on Monday, Dec. 26

On Monday, Dec. 26 (8 p.m. ET/PT), the Emmy-nominated competition series “Kids Baking Championship” returns for a new season. For the first time, Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman welcome a dozen kid entrepreneurs with burgeoning baking businesses and will not only test the young bakers’ skills in the kitchen, but also their business savvy.

Throughout the 10-week competition, the young contestants must create the latest dessert trends and most popular sweets in difficult challenges, each with an innovative business twist. From logo cakes to market trend cupcakes, and from viral mashup desserts to power lunch dessert imposters, they must showcase their successful business knowledge and impressive baking talents. Only one young baker will rise to the top to earn the sweet grand prize, including a spot in Food Network Magazine and the title of “Kids Baking Champion.”

“The entrepreneurial kid bakers on the new season of ‘Kids Baking Championship’ are the most impressive batch of contestants yet! They might be young, but their abilities and business minds far surpass their age,” said Jane Latman, president, home and food content and streaming, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Viewers will be amazed at their creativity and aptitude as they tackle each challenge.”

The 10-episode season is filled with new challenges that test the bakers’ business brains as well as their baking talents. On the premiere, the kid contestants learn that first impressions are everything, and they must use the psychology of color to enhance the palette of their bestselling desserts by picking colors that reflect the most important aspects of their business – like yellow to reflect happiness, green to relax, or pink for positivity. Throughout the season, the young bakers show off their abilities and creativity as they whip up irresistible sweets, using business techniques far beyond their years.

On Monday, Feb. 20, it’s the final two episodes of the competition. At 8 p.m., Valerie and Duff challenge the four remaining kid contestants to put their own stamp on one of the biggest cookie trends – the loaded cookie, where they must create over-the-top cookies with toppings, fillings and frosting. Three bakers earn spots in the grand finale at 9 p.m., where they face the toughest challenge yet to make championship-worthy, multitiered birthday cakes. Before the kid contestants begin baking, they must first make a commercial pitching why they should be hired to make someone’s birthday cake. The baker with the best commercial will earn a special advantage in the birthday cake baking challenge.

“Kids Baking Championship” competitors include: Logan Brod (New York City; age 12), Jason Chan (Boston; age 12), Naiel Chaudry (Los Altos, California; age 12), Toby Hyun (Dallas; age 11), Sohan Jhaveri (Denver; age 13), Genevieve Kashat (Detroit; age 11), Ozan Kopelman (New York City; age 13), Nash Roe (Clive, Iowa; age 13), Foster Smith (Norfolk, Virginia; age 11), Alissa Telusca (Naples, Florida; age 12), Peyton Waldrep (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; age 10), and Naho Yanagai (Morgan Hill, California; age 13).

Fans can relive the most dramatic, creative and adorable moments with video and photo highlights at FoodNetwork.com/KidsBakingChampionship. Plus, go behind the scenes with Duff and Valerie for an exclusive tour of the set, watch as they react to past seasons, and discover more baking tips and tricks. Follow all the action on social media using #KidsBakingChampionship.