Spring Baking Championship

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 first round is for the birds as host Ali Khan challenges the bakers to create spring songbird-themed desserts. Then it's all about celebrating the joys of the garden and the critters within. The bakers must make lush spring garden cakes with a surprise design element inside. Judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman award the best baker the title of Spring Baking Champion and the $25,000 prize.