The series begins with back-to-back challenges: flower-inspired cupcakes and upside-down cakes using fresh fruit.
Seven bakers remain to compete in back-to-back challenges that take sweet and tart to a whole new territory as they vie to make the best honey dessert, plus they have to create citrus treats using lemons and limes.
Spring means it's time to get fruity, so for the pre-heat challenge, eight of America's best bakers undertake a shortcake makeover using any fruit but berries. Then, the main heat is berry, berry challenging as the bakers create berry naked cakes to stay in the competition.
The seven remaining bakers take on outdoor activities with a pre-heat ballpark snack dessert made from classic ballpark treats like popcorn and soft pretzels. For the main heat, it's time for grilling as the bakers attempt to create barbecue imposter desserts. Baby back rib brownies, anyone?
Spring showers bring May flowers ... and rainbows! In the pre-heat, the six remaining bakers must make yummy dippers and create a sweet fondue to fill the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Then, for the main heat, bakers must produce glorious rainbow desserts to stay in the game.
Spring is high season down on the farm, so for the pre-heat, the five remaining bakers turn farm-fresh vegetables into delicious veggie desserts. In the main heat, the bakers pay homage to a traditional farmhouse breakfast with bacon and egg desserts.
This one's for you, mom! In the pre-heat, the four remaining bakers take inspiration from typical Mother's Day gifts for their stunning desserts. Then, in the main heat, the bakers take on the most classic Mother's Day gift of all -- chocolates.
It's time to hop on a plane to a destination wedding! For the last pre-heat, the final three bakers must create an array of hospitable snacks for a groom's welcome basket. Then, for the final main heat, the bakers battle for the title of Spring Baking Champion with their best destination wedding cakes inspired by Mexico, Hawaii and Italy.
The competition kicks off in the pre-heat, when the 10 bakers celebrate the bountiful fruits and bright colors of the season by making fruity, tie-dye mini cheesecakes. In the main heat, the theme -- and the competition -- intensifies when the bakers are asked to incorporate fresh herbs and produce color gradients in their naked ombre cakes.
Spring abounds with gardens and flowers, so for this pre-heat, the nine bakers must create cupcake flower arrangements and amp up the flower power with flower essences. In the main heat, the competitors are challenged to make and decorate mirror-glazed gazing balls and plate them in edible gardens.
In the pre-heat, the eight bakers work in teams to create springtime mini pies perfect for an outdoor gathering. In the main heat, the competitors make desserts using three items from a picnic basket -- but they can't make the same thing as their picnic partners.
Eggs represent spring and new beginnings better than anything else, and because eclairs use a lot of eggs, the seven bakers take on springtime eclairs in this pre-heat challenge. Then host Ali Khan asks the bakers to create edible spring goodie baskets filled with two types of baked treats -- one of which must use a hard-boiled egg.
Tiny desserts are a big trend, especially in the Spring Baking Championship's Berry Tiny Bake Shop. For this pre-heat, the six bakers have to create berry tiny desserts that pack a big punch. In the main heat, it's an explosion of color and design as the bakers take on spring-patterned roll cakes.
What makes desserts sweet? Usually it's sugar, but in the desert, it's agave. For this pre-heat, the five bakers must use only agave as the sweetener in an assigned dessert -- a tart, a flourless cake, an ice cream sandwich, a doughnut or a cupcake. For the main heat, the bakers make succulent cakes that rival the real thing.
Which fruit comes into season in the spring but is often overlooked in baking? The avocado! In the pre-heat, the four bakers must pair avocado with chocolate, lime, orange or ginger in a dessert. In the main heat, the bakers "springify" a winter dessert like pumpkin pie, pecan pie, bread pudding or peppermint bark.
There's hidden beauty inside many things, even ugly ingredients. In this pre-heat, the remaining three bakers have to use so-called ugly ingredients to make beautiful desserts. In the main heat, the focus is on geodes, which look like rocks on the outside but have beautiful mineral formations inside. The bakers are tasked with creating vibrant and colorful geode cakes using handmade rock candy to win the title of Spring Baking Champion and the $50,000 prize.
Ten bakers celebrate spring by combining all things cute and delicious in their spring animal-themed doughnuts for the first challenge. In the main heat, the competitors get in touch with their inner artists as they create watercolor cakes featuring iconic spring fruits and vegetables.
Spring is a time for fun at the fair, so the nine bakers are tasked with creating blue ribbon-worthy rhubarb pies with decorative crusts. The competition gets wild and wacky in the main heat when the competitors have to make larger-than-life, wild and wacky versions of favorite fairground treats.
In the spirit of spring romance, the eight bakers are paired up in teams to create harmonious mashups of two different desserts. In the main heat, the pressure is on at the Spring Baking Championship Spelling Bee when the teams have to make colorful cream tart words that evoke spring -- and need to be spelled correctly!
The seven bakers put a spring spin on Southern classics, starting with the challenge of turning a can of biscuits into a spring dessert flavored with lemonade, bourbon or sweet tea. In the main heat, host Clinton Kelly asks each baker not only to give a classic Southern cake a spring makeover but also to include a Southern pantry ingredient like pickled peaches or pepper jelly. Also featured is a surprise appearance by Southern baking expert Jason Smith.
Easter is a time for colorful desserts and marshmallow treats, so the six remaining bakers have to create an ooey-gooey marshmallow dessert in a bright Easter color. For the main heat, it's off to the Easter parade for some fun with fashion as the competitors must bake and decorate a tropical fruit-flavored dessert that looks just like an Easter bonnet.
For Earth Day, the five bakers are celebrating the bounty of Mother Nature, starting with wondrous walnut desserts featuring an assortment of flower honeys. Then the competitors find themselves in a forest grove filled with wild berries, which they must use to flavor an enchanted forest cake with edible moss.
Pink is the color of spring, and rose is the perfect party wine, so the four remaining bakers are charged with making mini desserts featuring rose and cheese. Then it's off to the races in the spirit of the Kentucky Derby as the bakers make all-pink party desserts using pink ingredients.
Remaining bakers celebrate Mother's Day; competitors make baked items inspired by mai tais, mojitos or mimosas; they then use flavors inspired by Mom's favorite coffee drinks to create cakes featuring their Mother's Day gifts; the winner is chosen.
Eleven bakers celebrate the natural beauty of spring by making perfectly patterned spring fruit geometric tarts. Then they show off their skills by making trendy fault line cakes that feature spring transformations such as caterpillar to butterfly, rain showers into sunshine and bare trees bursting into bloom.
The ten competing bakers celebrate the spring equinox by first making colorful and delicious doughnuts themed to either sunrise or sunset. Then the theme is stargazing at night, and each baker is assigned a celestial event to bring to life in dessert form. There are shooting stars, the Milky Way, the Northern Lights, meteor showers and more.
It's raining cats and dogs as the nine competing bakers make "kittyclairs" -- eclairs with an orange kitty theme. Then they play puppy games, making desserts with sporty themes like a kayaking poodle and a tennis-loving Labrador.
It's team challenge week, and the eight bakers grab a buddy to spring into the outdoors. First, they bake tasty hand-held treats for a hike. Then it's time for a bike ride as each baker must make a Paris-Brest wheel and work with their teammate to create a complete two-wheeled dessert, decorated for a ride through a vineyard, canyon, city park or country lane.
In celebration of the upcoming movie, the seven remaining bakers join the Trolls World Tour and are challenged to make colorful tiny Troll treats. Then the competitors have VIP all-access passes to a Troll rock concert and must create cakes with a musical Troll tribe theme.
Spring is the time to clean and streamline, so the six remaining competitors make minimalist creations that are both flourless and flower-less. Then the bakers choose a crafted item from a funky yard sale and use it as inspiration for a gorgeous dessert.
It's all things spring and flower-centric when the five remaining bakers are assigned cherries, cherry blossom decor and a crumble dessert to combine into a fabulous floral fusion. Then the competitors work with an ever-popular trend to create flower-crown cakes.
It's Mother's Day, and Mom takes a spring vacation to celebrate. Inspired by Mom's favorite cocktail, the four remaining bakers create sweet, spicy margarita madness desserts. Then the competitors make look-alike baked goods based on Mom's pool float, choosing between flamingo, swan, seahorse or peacock.
The pressure mounts in the Spring Baking Championship finale as the three remaining bakers celebrate graduation day by making an honor roll dessert and a diploma dessert with a dipping sauce. Then the competitors create prom-night cakes themed to the '50s, '60s or '80s. One baker wins the title of Spring Baking Champion and the $25,000 prize.
Eleven bakers begin the competition by making farm stand breakfast treats, and then they try to impress the judges with a cake and dessert tribute to happy, dancing cows; a look back at seasons past and sneak peeks of spring bakes to come.
The bakers celebrate the vibrant colors of spring as host Ali Khan challenges them to make colorful and spicy sweets for Holi, an ancient Hindu festival known as "the festival of spring." Then the competitors hope to impress judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman and have some fun with cheeky leprechauns as they use a spring green ingredient to create a leaping leprechaun dessert for St. Patrick's Day.
Spring is the season of bunnies and chicks! Host Ali Khan challenges the bakers to contemplate the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, as they create beautiful edible eggs with a surprise flavor and decorative spring chick. Then the bakers face Spring Baking Championship's first ever bread challenge as they try to impress judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman with their spectacular hot cross bunnies -- giant bread bunnies inspired by the traditional hot cross bun.
It's team challenge week and love is in the air as host Ali Khan pairs up the bakers for some romantic challenges. First, the teams must create a beautiful proposal dessert plate for a spring couple ready to pop the question. Then it's all about baking a spring wedding cake, but each baker must make half the cake without seeing their teammate's work because love is blind! Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman decide if the halves come together for a perfect match and a winning cake.
It's a spring baby bonanza for the bakers when host Ali Khan challenges them to make desserts that look like gorgeous baby gifts and have spring flavor pairings like lemon and thyme, rhubarb and ginger, and kumquat and mint. After the gifts are baked, it's time for the party! The bakers must create baby shower dessert towers to impress judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman.
Spring bursts into bloom as host Ali Khan challenges the bakers to use pressed and dried flowers in their party desserts. Then they get to pull out all the spring stops in a flower fantasy cake that features a flower flavor such as hibiscus, rose, jasmine and elderflower. Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman choose the winner.
Inspired by the famous Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich, host Ali Khan challenges the bakers to invent their own spring delight featuring cookies, ice cream and fruit. Then they're assigned classic and beloved cookies to turn into a fabulous and tasty spring dessert for judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman.
Emerging from winter hibernation into spring, there are so many fun things to do! Host Ali Khan challenges the remaining bakers to make a fruity spring dessert in a skillet to enjoy around the campfire. Then each baker is assigned a wintry, indoor craft and tasked with creating a look-alike, spring-themed cake for judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman.
Fun spring getaways are the name of the game as host Ali Khan challenges the remaining bakers to combine destination desserts with classic snacks. The Spring Break fun continues as the bakers create a two-dessert landscape resembling a vacation in a national forest, amusement park, city or tropical beach. Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman decide which bakers make it into the finale.
The final three had 5 hours to bake a two-tier spring garden cake, including two garden bugs, plus a surprise design element inside one of the tiers.
Twelve bakers enter the Spring Baking Barn to create delicious desserts featuring the freshest fruit and flowers the farm has to offer! In the first round, host Molly Yeh challenges the bakers to make fruit tarts that showcase their distinct personalities. Then, the bakers must fight to remain in the game with a floral bonanza cake that wows judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman.
Host Molly Yeh brings a taste of New Orleans to the farm with challenges inspired by Mardi Gras. The party starts as the competing bakers put their own spin on the classic king cake. Then, judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman ask them to step up their game with a fantastic Mardi Gras parade float.
Host Molly Yeh brings her love of coffee and tea to the competition with oversized stuffed coffee cookies in the preheat! Then, it's tea for two as the bakers must team up and work together to win over judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman with a delicious dessert platter.
Spring on the farm brings many beautiful surprises, so host Molly Yeh challenges the bakers to bring the unexpected to their upside-down citrus cakes. In the main heat, judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman are impressed with the bakers' out-of-the-box thinking and unique takes on pies.
Cherry blossom festivals are an iconic celebration of spring, so host Molly Yeh asks the bakers to take the beauty of the blooms and turn them into inspired cherry blossom desserts. Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman marvel at the beauty of the season and the beauty of the bakers' creations.
Spring is the perfect time to get outside, and whether it's a baseball game or a potluck picnic, delicious food is never far away! Host Molly Yeh asks the bakers to make desserts that evoke outdoor spring traditions, and judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman decide which bakers have what it takes to knock the challenge out of the park.
Host Molly Yeh tasks the remaining bakers with using a few of her farm favorites to make delightful breakfast treats that wake up the palates of judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman. Then, the bakers must make a cake that looks like a painting as they continue their journey to $25,000.
Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman surprise the competitors by giving an eliminated baker a sweet second chance. Host Molly Yeh challenges the bakers to make desserts that feature candy, and then it's back to the barn with cute baby farm animals.
There's no shortage of celebrations on the farm, and host Molly Yeh keeps the party going by challenging the bakers to make desserts that feature cocktails, wine and cheese. Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman raise a glass to the desserts that raise the bar.
The remaining four bakers are part of the Spring Baking Championship family now, so host Molly Yeh delves into family history in the final challenges, requesting a cherished family recipe and an heirloom wedding cake. Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman crown one baker the Spring Baking Champion and award the sweet $25,000 prize!
Host Jesse Palmer welcomes 12 bakers to the Spring Baking kitchen, where they are challenged to prove their passion by using their unique skills to recreate the dessert that sparked their initial love for baking. Then, the bakers must impress judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller with "berry" good cakes that illustrate everything they love to do in spring with a special loved one.
Things get heated when host Jesse Palmer challenges the bakers to spice up bento box cakes using ingredients that are also aphrodisiacs. To avoid elimination, they use passionfruit and chiles to perfectly balance passion and heat for judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller.
The ten remaining bakers face the darker side of love with challenges dedicated to ill-fated romances. Host Jesse Palmer requests they create flaky Spring Fling Napoleons and pair up in their first team challenge to create break-up cakes that help judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller get over the one that got away.
It's April Fool's Day in the kitchen! Host Jesse Palmer tasks the remaining bakers with creating "fool for love" tarts and embracing the holiday of pranks by serving judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller cakes that look like pies.
Host Jesse Palmer instructs the bakers to look to the stars and create celestial mousse cakes. Then, the bakers pair up in a team challenge to make romantic croquembouche arbors and floral macarons that are fit for judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller's spring garden party.
The Spring Baking kitchen looks soooo groovy with its retro makeover! Host Jesse Palmer celebrates the '50s and '60s as he challenges the bakers to make soda shop cupcakes and extra shaggy cakes that are dedicated to those groovy judges, Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller.
There's no better way to show you're in love than with delicious desserts baked from the heart. Host Jesse Palmer has the bakers pull out all the stops to create breakfast-in-bed muffin towers and decadent chocolate pies in hopes of wooing judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller.
Spring Baking goes global as host Jesse Palmer tasks the bakers with celebrating their love for the flavors of the world. They create blind date mashup desserts and get really cheesy with cheesecakes that feature exotic and international flavors for judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller.
Host Jesse Palmer springs into the season with a Mother's Day celebration! For the bakers to show Mom how much she means to them, they create bouquets of tulips and rosé-infused desserts, two things any mom would love on their special day, before judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller decide who moves on to the finale!
To culminate the season of love, host Jesse Palmer is throwing a Spring Baking wedding! Before the wedding can take place, the bottom two bakers each create a dozen doughnut wedding shower favors for a place in the final bake. Then, the final three create proposal desserts and dream wedding cakes for three real couples. The baker who wins the hearts of the happy pair along with judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Kardea Brown will be crowned Spring Baking Champion and win $25,000!
Host Jesse Palmer welcomes 12 bakers to the kitchen, and he gets the celebration started with desserts inspired by a tropical spring break. After grabbing an ingredient and flower that's familiar to spring breakers, the competitors have two hours to incorporate them into a baked dessert. Then, the bakers take judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller on a spring break adventure with cakes that showcase one of their favorite spring experiences.
Jesse Palmer is ready to kick off the spring equinox by challenging the bakers with one of the trendiest ingredients around -- ube! The competitors continue the equinox party by surprising judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller with flower-covered dome cakes that feature floral flavors.
It's awards season, so host Jesse Palmer askes the bakers to whip up "And the winner is" berry-filled pie envelopes. Then, the bakers team up to present judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller with a social media phenomenon: two-tiered "bubble" cakes inspired by an awards night cocktail.
Host Jesse Palmer wants to pay homage to planet Earth and all of its creatures, so he asks the bakers to create an elevated plated dessert inspired by an insect. Then, the bakers celebrate Earth Day with judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller by making a baked Alaska that resembles different geographical locations and is filled with a globally inspired ice cream.
Host Jesse Palmer gets ready for the Indian festival of Holi, the most colorful celebration in the world, by challenging the bakers to make doughnuts featuring an explosion of color and Indian flavors. Then, the bakers design elephant cakes that transport judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller to Thailand's Songkran Water Festival.
Host Jesse Palmer is throwing a Spring Baking Championship prom, and he tasks the bakers with making floral macaron corsages. Then, the bakers blend fashion with baking to create tsunami prom dress cakes in hopes that judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller will name them prom king or queen!
When April showers come, it's time to head indoors for host Jesse Palmer's spring tea party, where the bakers make beautifully decorate petit fours. Then, the competitors join judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller around the maypole as they create May Day shortcake wreaths.
Host Jesse Palmer is off to the races to celebrate one of the most famous horse races of all time, the Kentucky Derby. He challenges the bakers to use the jockeys' colorful jerseys as inspiration for cocktail-flavored eclairs. Then, the bakers take a victory lap with judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller with carrot desserts that honor the real Derby stars -- the horses.
Surrounded by the music of spring, host Jesse Palmer takes inspiration from a Southern California music festival to challenge the bakers with designing cupcake floral crowns featuring desert succulents. Then, the competitors get jazzy with judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller as they craft entremets inspired by New Orleans snowball flavors.
The remaining bakers get ready to walk down the aisle for the biggest spring celebration of all -- the finale! Host Jesse Palmer puts two bakers head-to-head in a wedding-inspired challenge based on "something borrowed" recipes from the other competitors. Then, the finalists take on "something old" recipes provided by judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller.
Host Jesse Palmer prepares the top three bakers of the season for their big day! He challenges them to create ornate wedding cakes inspired by stained glass windows, and judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller decide which over-the-top baker is worthy of $25,000 and the title of Spring Baking Champion.
