The Big Bake: Meet the Talented Teams of Bakers

Updated on October 29, 2019 by Food Network Editors

The Big Bake is an over-the-top baking competition series in which teams of three talented bakers compete to create the most spectacularly spooky cake displays.

Meet the bakers who will be competing for the $10,000 prize and bragging rights each week on The Big Bake: Holiday and The Big Bake: Halloween. Good luck, bakers!

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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Blue Grass Sugarbells from Richmond, KY

 Pam Hembree started baking as a stay-at-home mom and taught classes at a local store. Her cake career blew up and teaching classes and designing custom cakes became a full-time job and has been running for more than 15 years. Pam likes to have fun in the kitchen and is not afraid of a little smack talk with her competitors. She participates yearly in Icing Smiles, a charity that gives cakes to children with illnesses. Pam’s teammates are Ellen White, fellow cake business owner, and Lauren Luxon, a very artistic co-worker who is skilled with fondant.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Midwest Magic from Gary, IN

 Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Maurice Shelton, aka “Chef Blāque”, always had a passion for food and an eye for creativity. Maurice began exploring his culinary passion in 2006 when he enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu School. The following year he decided to take his passion to the next level and started his bakery, Black Rose Pastries. A skilled baker and sugar artist, Chef Blāque has traveled the world teaching and training, showcasing his award-winning signature style in over 42 states and four countries. Maurice’s teammates are Eddie Vasquez, an incredible baker and painter who will lead the decorating and Jessica Cruz, a former Marine and a champion in the kitchen, who will be the engineer and sculptor.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Sweet Wheat from Saskatoon, SK

Annissa Cheyne works full-time with the Children’s Wish Foundation and uses her baking expertise in fundraisers to fulfill the wishes for children’s “dream cakes”. Outside of her 9-5 job, her side hustle is her cake business, Sweet Wheat. Her specialty as a baker is her attention to detail and proportions – she makes things life-size whenever she can! Her teammates are Janelle Mulhall, a trained pastry chef, and Trisha Skalicky, a fellow baker who does incredibly clean work and loves working with fondant.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Cake Stars from Toronto, ON

 Monja Chiara started decorating cakes at the age of 14 in her parents’ Italian bakery. Everything she knows she learned from her father. Ten years ago, she opened her own bakery, Cake Stars, known as the go-to for custom cakes in their part of town. Monja lives for her career and shop and cake decorating competitions give her a rush of adrenaline! Monja’s teammates are Becky Cummings, her go-to girl for prep and buttercream, and Ashna Monga, who brings great ideas thinking outside of the “cake box” approach.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Whimsy from Richmond, KY

Becky Holman started decorating cakes in 2008 for her son’s birthday party. Within a month, Bit of Whimsy Cakes was born. She rented a commercial kitchen and her business took off! Last year, Becky converted her detached garage into her personal cake studio. It was also her most successful year yet with 40 weddings and 100+ special event cakes. Becky’s teammates are Chris Holman, her husband who will build structures and ice cakes, and Jan McNeal, who is an amazing baker, sculpter, and painter.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Youngblood from Tyler, TX

 Dylan Humphrey began baking with his grandmother, started decorating cakes at 12 and took culinary classes in high school all while making custom cakes out of his home. After his business became popular (and he finished college!), he opened up a storefront in 2014 at the mere age of 20. Dylan is a local celebrity in his little-big town of Tyler, Texas and is known for his custom work and creativity. Dylan’s teammates are Kayla Roman, a decorator at Dylan’s shop, who has a steady hand for painting and fine details, and Adam Kopfman, a good friend who owns his own cake shop in Iowa.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team 3,2,1 Bake! from Toronto, ON

Natalie Nguyen is a CrossFit owner and trainer, but outside that business, she has been creating custom cakes for nine years and is completely self-taught. She learned by trial and error, but also has a natural gift for baking that gives her an edge in the cake world. Known for creating whimsical and realistic cakes, she loves tricking the eye. Realism is always her goal, whether creating "food" cakes or objects; she wants people to ask…is that a cake? Natalie’s teammates are Danielle Thomas, who works well under pressure and can create a quality project no matter what, and Cindy Iamundo, who owns her own custom cake business.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Don't La' Crosse Us from La Crosse, WI

Jen Barney’s culinary career started in 2007. After graduation from Le Cordon Bleu with a degree in baking and patisserie, she worked as a pastry chef in some of the best restaurants in La Crosse. In 2015, she branched off on her own and started Meringue Bakery. Jen has been working out of her home, but recently expanded to a storefront. She knows people will underestimate her, but her secret weapon is the time she puts into preparation. Jen’s teammates are Jessica Miller, lead cake decorator whose strengths are fine artistic detailing and sculpting, and Tracy Justynski, a talented pastry chef.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Swirl Stars from Calgary, AB

Lynnette MacDonald runs SWIRL Custom Cakes & Desserts and is a practicing nurse. Sometimes her day starts in the trauma bay and ends with a decadent four-tier cake. Lynnette’s speciality is 3D cakes, which have landed her big-ticket clients. Lynnette’s long-term plans include having a consumer line of products and a TV show. Lynnette’s teammates are Arin Hiebert, a pastry chef, and Tanya Kayaniotes, a pastry assistant at SWIRL cakes.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Diplomatic Cakes from Silver Springs, MD

Team Diplomatic Cakes is led by Lauren Reynolds, a trained artist, Master Certified Decorator, manager and head cake artist of Creative Cakes, just outside of Washington, D.C. The company is known for making cakes for politicians, NBA players, Real Housewives, and foreign embassies. Lauren is always up for anything that is hard to replicate, helping customers create things that nobody has done before and the weirder and wilder, the better! Lauren’s teammates are Sarah McAleer, her deliciousness expert and lead baker, and Carmela Bocchino, an expert sculptor and sugar artist.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Serious Cakes from West Linn, OR

 Seri Lopez has been baking since childhood. She learned the basics of baking and cooking in high school and from her mother and grandmother. Seri currently owns Serious Cakes, a successful by appointment only bakery she operates out of her home. Serious Cakes are known for their larger-than-life creations. Seri’s teammates are Angela Barry, an award-winning sugar and cake artist, and Joanne Wieneke, a cake designer whose flowers are truly spectacular.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Sweet Badlands from Penhold, AB

 Tracy Irwin is known for custom cakes that are crazy, edgy, elaborate and dark. She started baking in 2013 and opened her storefront bakery only two years ago. Tracy loves a good challenge and she has experimented with many structural and gravity-defying cakes. Tracy’s the only decorator at her business and when orders come rolling in she knows how to handle the pressure. Tracy’s teammates are Darci Weil, an expert in buttercream, and Bo Hons, a culinary master from Calgary who is a fantastic cake artist with amazing airbrushing and sculpting skills.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Gumbo from Metairie, LA

 Nicole Hernandez is known for her highly customized cakes with her specialty fondant made from scratch. The people of New Orleans love their cakes big and fancy, so she’s made realistic sculptures, massive wedding cakes and even cakes that light up. Her biggest build was one of her “replicakes” where she replicated a bride’s wedding dress onto her wedding cake. Nicole’s teammates are Sherri Bourgeous, whose skills are small details, and Mandy Rouchon, who has all the technical expertise from her culinary training.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Pastry Pixies from Toronto, ON

 After attending the Bonnie Gordon College for cake design, Shannon Murphy immediately fell in love with cake artistry. Once she graduated, she began working at the college alongside cake artists she had admired for years and later worked as Head Cake Designer at several bakeries in Toronto. Shannon branched off on her own, openong Shannon Murphy Custom Cakes in 2018. Shannon’s teammates are Amanda Robinson, who has a great sense of colour theory and specializes in fondant and sugar flowers, and Jillian McCahon, who loves the challenge of sculpting cakes and always brings creativity to the table.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Thunder Bake from Thunder Bay, ON

 Jennifer Riley is known for her large and whimsical designs. After she completed a six-week program at a confectionary arts school, she opened CAKE!, which she has been running for five years. Jennifer has been featured in American Cake Decorating Magazine, taught cake classes in the Thunder Bay area and now she’s made it to The Big Bake! Jennifer’s teammates are Julie Einarson, a fellow owner/baker of her own cake shop, and Nicole Dawson, who has strong fondant and painting skills.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Rolling Pin from Toronto, ON

 Isabelle Loiacono has nearly 12 years of experience in the field and long list of accolades include graduating from Le Cordon Bleu pastry program, teaching at Bonnie Gordon School of Cake Design and co-owning and operating her bakery, The Rolling Pin. Her biggest culinary achievement winning first place in a Food Network Challenge. Isabelle is a fierce competitor and will commit to crazy ideas! Isabelle’s teammates are Fatima Castillo, her first employee and a skilled baker, and Kelly Kim, her head decorator.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Smokey Mountains from Rogersville, TN

 Shona House calls herself a mix of Carol Burnett and Picasso in the kitchen. With more than 46 years of cake making and cake decorating experience, she is skilled in everything from chocolate to cake carving...all paired with a southern personality! She has been baking cakes since the age of seven and is constantly looking to upgrade her skills. Shona’s teammates are Mikey Robbins, an amazingly creative baker, and Patty Pieper, a cake architect and chocolatier.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Sugar Coated from Dracut, MA

 Jennifer Gryckiewicz started working as a pastry chef after high school and enrolled in a baking and pastry program at Johnson and Wales University. At the age of 25, she opened her own bakery and has been in business for nearly 10 years. She is known for whimsical cakes and is a fan of making adorable, silly looking creatures. She lives for cake creations that are oversized and over-the-top ridiculous! Jennifer’s teammates are Rebecca Zimmermann, an employee of six years who has amazing fondant skills, and Lizzy Anthony, who started off as Jennifer’s intern and has evolved into a painting expert.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Stacey Cakes from Mississauga, ON

 Stacey MacIntyre is known for creating over-the-top, one-of-a kind cakes. If a client dreams it, Stacey can create it! Although she has no formal training, she has been in the food and hospitality industry her whole life and now owns her own business. Don’t be fooled by Stacey’s sunny disposition because she is extremely competitive and can’t wait for a chance to blow away the competition! Stacey’s teammates are her sisters, Jacky Long, a star baker in her own right, and Christy Fraser, an extremely talented decorator.
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The Big Bake: Holiday - Team Queens Of Cake from Orleans, ON

 Melissa Pushman’s personality is just like her business – colourful and over the top. Her baking career started by making an Xbox cake for her ex-husband and now she has been operating her business, Delightfully Delicious Desserts, for more than five years. Since she discovered baking, she’s been a huge fan of baking competition shows! Stacey’s teammates are her sisters, Jacky Long, a star baker in her own right, and Christy Fraser, an extremely talented decorator.
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The Big Bake: Holiday – Team Sweet Magnifique from Calgary, AB

 Carey Kuresh’s passion for fancy cakes all started with her mom. In 2012, she took a cake decorating classes that gave her a glimpse into the world of sugar flowers. Carey was hooked and devoted her spare time to learning new techniques. What started as a hobby has transformed into a love for her bakery and a goal of becoming Calgary’s #1 cake hot spot! Carey’s teammates are Jennifer Valeroso, who makes amazing buttercream cakes, and Heather Marston, Carey’s sister who has great knowledge of flavour pairing and baking.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Family Matters from Moncton, NB

Team Family Matters is led by Gonzuela Bastarache, owner of KupKake Tree. Gonzuela started making cakes for her son, Josh because she was not able to afford them. She started her cake business, KupKake Tree in 2009 where it flourished for six years. Gonzuela is known for her larger-than-life cakes with unique sculpting. The tallest cake she has made was six feet tall and required six people to carry it! Gonzuela’s teammates are Jessie Arsenault, her sister-in-law, baker and flavour master, and Josh Bastarache, her son, who adds structural support and electronics.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Cake Power from New York, NY

Kate Sullivan is known for her hyper-real conceptual art projects that are super delicious. She began to bake for fun, around 26 years ago creating cakes for friends and family and loved being able to express herself and her affection for others, often in chocolate. She officially launched a cake business as LovinSullivanCakes in 2004, developing customized, sculptural cakes. Today her business is called Cake Power and she collaborates with clients to create bold, unique works of cake art by hand. Kate also teaches a cake course at the International Culinary Institute. Kate’s teammates are Sara Porter, who runs her own cakery and is an expert at baking and decorative flowers, and Cynthia Hsu whose carving, sculpting, baking and filling skills are out of this world!
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Baking Brits from Cornwall, UK

Team leader Christine Jensen is the top tier cake designer in the UK. She and her husband Phil operate a custom cake studio known for using structural flair with a touch of mechanics. Whether it is a levitating Yoda cake or a Thunderbird cake that stood on four legs, they love to push their creativity in every aspect of their work. Christine has made cakes for some of the biggest events in the UK, including one where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were guests of honour. Christine’s teammates are Phil Jensen, her husband and cake engineer, and Natalie Porter, renowned cake-maker, sugar flower machine, and author.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Sweet Chaos from Aroma, CA

Julie Conrad’s baking journey began after her kids went off to college. She and her husband Mike own a custom cakery that they operate out of their home. Julie started with basic Wilton cake classes and now travels all over the U.S. to take classes from world-renowned instructors to upgrade her skills. She has also been chosen to teach at the California Cake Camp 2019. She may be a late-bloomer in the cake world, but with 10 years of professional baking experience under her belt, she is a strong competitor and has the skills to prove it. Julie’s teammates are Mandy Popejoy, who makes wedding cakes and her husband Michael, who handles structural, electrical, and movement.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Just Cakes from Abbotsford, BC

Team leader Raveena Oberoi started her cake business as a side-hustle in university. After graduating, she attended a three-month pastry arts program at Ecole Bellouet Conseil in Paris and a year later she opened her storefront, Just Cakes, at the young age of 23. They are known for their clean custom cakes, incredible pastry work and “Cake in a Jar” which is rolling out in grocery stores in British Columbia. For Raveena, having fun in the workplace is key so you can catch her cracking lame dad jokes while she’s working. Raveena’s teammates are Madison Clarke, her baking wizard with a strong design aesthetic, and Whitney Shellenberg, her right-hand woman and head cake decorator.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Taste Buds’ from Conception Bay South, NL

Aaron McInnis was taught to bake at a young age by his mother. Team leader Aaron used his baking skills to support himself through University by selling cakes. Eight years ago he opened a bakery, however he decided to close the doors and bring the bakery into his home to be more present with his family. Aaron is the only person known in the St. John’s, N.L. area for making 3D cakes and is becoming well-known through appearances on the Food Network U.S., as well as contributing features in American Cake Decorating magazine. Aaron’s teammates are Juanita Tobin and Catherine Sansome, who are both cake bakers and decorators.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Cake Force from Haverhill, MA

Team Cake Force is headed by Erin Erler. Erin is well known in Massachusetts for her baking and decorating skills. She began baking when she found out her son had a severe nut allergy and she now owns a nut-free bakery that she’s been running for nine years. Erin has an impressive client list, including many Boston sports teams and celebrities like Adam Sandler and Conan O’Brien. She is not afraid to add extra elements to her cakes like moving parts, dry ice, or a giant tank cake that can shoot confetti! Erin’s teammates are Christine Barton, her right hand woman who specializes in strong intricate details and sculpting and Cindy Ngar, owner of her own cakery.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Artsy Rebels from Aurora, ON

Antonella Cellini is a self-taught baker who got her start in 2002 after she created her niece’s birthday cake. Over the next two years, she closed her furniture business, became a stay-at-home mom and continued to make cakes for family and friends. In 2011, Antonella opened a custom cake studio called Artsy Baker. Antonella’s company is the first in Canada to sell its own brand of fondant in grocery stores. Her self-described baking style is innovative, sassy and gutsy. She aspires to grow her company to become the largest cake company in Canada...then the world! Antonella’s teammates are Maddy Amar and Elena Risteska, both cake decorators.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Tres Amigos from Seattle, WA

Team leader Kevin Moulder started from the bottom and now he’s here! Working at a grocery store, Kevin’s big break came when his bakery manager was desperate for a cake decorator and Kevin was thrown in, having zero experience. He fell in love with the craft and put himself through culinary school. Now he owns Cubes Baking Co. where he is known for being artistic, creative and able to translate familiar flavours into refined and beautiful cakes. Kevin’s biggest cake was a golf course the size of 25 sheet cakes that included a golf ball that rolled down the course to make a hole in one! Kevin’s teammates are Brett Siebern, an amazing cake sculptor and fondant worker, and Mayra Sibrian, who specializes in baking.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Epic Confections from Orillia, ON

Mark Robillard is a self-taught cake designer who also hosts his own YouTube channel, Epic Confections, where he teaches people to make “epic” cakes every week, such as an epic rainbow mountains spewing chocolate ganache and a Dr. Pimple Popper cake that has over seven million views. He has incorporated LED lights into his cakes as well as bubbles, dry ice and sparklers. Mark is a big personality and makes everyone he’s around feel good, whether it’s in the kitchen or not! Mark’s teammates are Mandy Bourgouin, a cake decorator and Mark’s former boss, and Elenor Roxas, a cake decorator and Mark’s current boss.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Texas Trio from Lubbock, TX

Right out of high school Tasha Teel started working as a personal chef, but like most people, she hated having to wait until the end of a meal for the best part – dessert! She fell in love with the pastry side of life and opened her bakery in 2010. Since then she’s created massive cakes over five-feet tall that include many different intricate details and fun elements. She’s even made a local mascot cake that involved smoking guns! Tasha’s teammates are Ben Teel, her husband, and Mackenzie Townsend, her co-worker.
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The Big Bake: Halloween - Team Pastry Punks from Port Coquitlam, BC

Hollie was born in Australia has been baking all of her life. Her father was a baker and she remembers eating fondant at his bakery when she was a child. She is trained in both culinary arts and patisserie. Her bakery, Punk Rock Pastries, is known for their crazy 3D sculpted cakes and airbrushing techniques that bring realistic texture and depth. Hollie may look intimidating, but under all the ink and hair dye, she’s a baker at heart. In the kitchen, she’s the boss and likes things done her way! Hollie’s teammates are Alicia Banbury, who is a human recipe book and one of the best bakers Hollie knows, and Elise Allen, a fellow Aussie and an amazing chef in her own right.
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