Fine-Tuning the Art of Baking and Decorating — David's Journey on Holiday Baking Championship
Jessica Brooks, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Yule logs, which the French call " buche de Noel", are very impressive for the holidays. They're sure to stop every family member in their tracks. But they're not the easiest things to make, as we saw on last Sunday's Holiday Baking Championship. The five remaining bakers tried their luck at making their own yule logs in the main challenge, but not everyone could roll with the punches. Two bakers didn't create traditional rolled yule logs — Erin on purpose and Terra had no choice. David, however, made two yule logs, going out of his way to set a stage for his Sugar Plum Fairies, right out of The Nutcracker. But going out of his way didn't do him any good, as the judges pointed out, ending up in his elimination. Relive this decorator and professional baker's time on the show.
When it came to incorporating fresh orange, chocolate and toffee bits into their holiday cookies in the first episode's main challenge, David wasn't too thrilled about toffee bits.
David called himself a cupcake expert, but making eggnog cupcakes in Episode 2? That was a first. Unfortunately frosting them turned out to be an exercise in frustration. The frosting did stick eventually, after he chilled the cupcakes.
In Episode 3, David presented a cranberry meringue pie that the judges adored, earning him the win in the main challenge. His reaction was priceless!
Challenged with making a yule log in Episode 4, David decided to make one inspired by The Nutcracker's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. The judges mostly liked the flavors in the cake, Duff finding "one moment where it gets a little bitter."
David had not one but two yule logs serving as a stage for his seven fairy ballerina cookies. The judges didn’t go for his theatrics, thinking he could have spent more time perfecting the cake.
Ultimately, David spent more attention on the ballerina cookies, time he could have spent on making the cake more presentable.
Visit the Holiday Baking Championship page to go behind the scenes with photos and videos of the competition, and get to know the expert judges and the talented bakers. Connect with fellow fans on twitter using the hashtag #BakingChampionship.