Meet Jack Whalen, a 13-year-old baker from West Richland. He’s a contestant on the latest season of Food Network’s “Kid’s Baking Championship.” Jack shares that he’s been baking with his mom since he was just two years old.
Jack is one of twelve talented young bakers competing for the title of Kid’s Baking Champion and a prize of $25,000. Like many competition shows, bakers face elimination after each round.
The new season premiered on January 6, and the exciting theme is “Amazing Animals.” Each challenge revolves around animals, and viewers can even expect some surprise animal guests throughout the season!
In the kickoff challenge, bakers were tasked with creating an animal texture tart. They needed to decorate their tarts with features inspired by various creatures—think scales, feathers, or fins.
You might wonder how Jack landed this opportunity. He explained, “My mom was scrolling on Instagram while I was baking. She thought I was pretty good and decided to look for competitions. After a quick video interview, things just took off from there!”
Jack has previous experience too—he once made a wedding cake for his cousin, a moment he won’t forget. In the first challenge, Jack impressed the judges with a lemon curd and pineapple jam tart, inspired by the vibrant yellow tang fish. Kardea Brown called it “genius,” and Duff Goldman gave it an “A+.”
Jack loves baking and finds it a way to express himself. His mom, Dawn, shared, “Baking allows kids to relax, get creative, and share their joy with others. It’s a wonderful part of growing up.” She recognizes the challenges kids face today—from school to friendships—and appreciates how baking can be a constructive outlet.
The second episode, titled “Amazing Animals: Macaronimals,” airs tonight, January 13, at 8 p.m. on Food Network. The competition runs until March 3, so make sure to watch and see who will take home the crown!
Source link
Baking,Food Network,Kid's Baking Championship,Jack Whalen,Competition,Judges,Animal,Tart
