Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 winner: Screaming to victory

As four bakers entered the Food Network kitchen, only one will be crowned Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 winner. Although the mysterious serial killer lurks around the lake, these tempting treats might tame the terror. Which baker solved all the clues to earn the coveted title?

Going into the Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 finale, the four remaining bakers, Adina, Guerimillo, Megan, Renee, had survived a variety of difficult challenges. To say that this season is not your grandma’s Halloween Baking Championship is an understatement.

Although the 80s Slasher movie theme was quite entertaining, some viewers longed for the sweeter side of Halloween on the Food Network. This season had more emphasis on the tricks than the treats. While the theme might have been bolder, the desserts delivered Halloween deliciousness.

Which baker was lost to the lake before the Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 winner was revealed?

Since the four bakers had to be trimmed to just three before the Killer Challenge, the Thriller Challenge had huge consequences. With the theme being ingredients that the bakers hate, it was clear that everyone had to face their fears. Sorry Alton Brown, but “that ingredient” wasn’t on the list.

Looking at the four ingredients, it was clear that Renee had the hardest ingredient. Has anyone really used sauerkraut in a dessert? Apparently, Renee was going to have to tackle this challenge.

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Overall, her dessert solved that frightening flavor mystery. She was able to eliminate that fermented flavor and find a way to make a very moist brownie. Although no one will really want a sauerkraut crumble/brittle, it fit the challenge. Renee was safe.

Adina had an easy option with rosemary. Even though she might not like that herbaceous ingredient, it is a dessert staple. In some ways, she had the easiest ingredient. Between her use of rosemary everywhere and her creativity, it was clear that Adina was not only safe but also was going to win the Thriller Challenge.

Unfortunately that left Guerimillo and Megan to battle in a sudden death bake-off. They had to make scary pumpkin desserts. While the flavors shouldn’t frighten, the visual needed to be ghoulish. These rotten pumpkins were ones that people wanted to enjoy.

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Overall, Guerimillo captured that visual. From plating on a “trash can lid” to the shape of the pumpkin cream puff, the image had all the creepy factor. More importantly, he picked a challenging dessert and executed well. The pumpkin shaped cream puff proved that he is a good baker.

Megan’s dessert was well done. Her pumpkin shaped whoopie pie delivered a great flavor and texture. Although the color was dark, it didn’t have the creep factor. For that reason, Megan was sent to the lake. Maybe she will find her inner gore while roaming Camp Devil’s Food Lake.

Did the Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 winner make the judges scream?

For the last challenge of Halloween Baking Championship Season 7, the bakers had to create a 2-foot tall cake that featured a brain cake topper. To say that this concept was a tall challenge is an understatement.

Given that Adina had an advantage, she could have played this turn better. Although her filling could not be used by the other bakers, she chose poorly. If she had picked mousse instead of curd, that will have put the other bakers on a scarier path.

Overall, the three finale cakes were impressive. Although Adina’s cake had a lean and Renee’s brain was a little shrunken, the visuals were impressive. Given the five hour timeframe, the finale desserts were worthy of the title.

Looking at the three cakes, Guerimillo was the only one to have a 360 degree visual. Each tier represented a previous theme/visual. That idea was smart, but it might have been executed a little more cleanly.

His cake itself was quite precise. The concentric filling circles had almost a checkboard pattern. That slice was impressive. Overall, Guerimillo earned high praises.

Unfortunately, Adina had some structural issues. Although the cake didn’t fall, there was a clear lean. Mayber her shovel could have anchored that cake.

Overall, her visual was strong. It had creative elements, including a little drip. But, her downfall wasn’t necessarily the visual, but the flavor. Her advantage with the curd wasn’t a stand out. In some ways, that mis-step might have cost her the title.

Renee impressed the judges not only with her graphic novel like visual but also her flavors. Her cake painted a clear scene that represented the Food Network show’s theme. That idea was smart. Given that it was Renee’s second time competing in a finale, she understands how to play the game.

In addition, Renee’s devil’s food cake with sour cherries made sense. It fit the theme and the crumb was quite tasty. She executed both in flavor and appearance.

The Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 winner was Renee. She received redemption in this season. Although all three bakers were fairly even, it was Renee who avoided the final cut.

Given the success of both Adina and Guerimillo, it seems likely that these two bakers might return to another Food Network baking competition. As many Food Network fan appreciate, popular bakers seem to reappear in the kitchen. Maybe that concept will be the theme for Halloween Baking Championship Season 8 – fallen bakers resurrection.

Did you agree with the Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 winner? What was your favorite challenge of the season?