Halloween Baking Championship Season 9: Meet the Competitors

Meet the 12 Halloween bakers competing to survive their haunted trip to the Henson & Sons Carnival.

Christa is the proud home bakery owner of Sweets by Christa. She was once an occupational therapist and a fan of anatomy class — now she’s folding her scientific knowledge into Halloween baking.

Chad is a culinary instructor whose love of learning has pushed him to test his limits. He’s raced cars, played in a death metal band, owned several businesses, and now he’s here to compete. Nothing captivates him like baking and pastry making, so he’s excited to show off in the kitchen, for both himself and his students.

James calls himself the "local sugar daddy" as the co-owner and pastry chef at Sugar Daddy Patisserie. He took a risk in opening his pastry business, and he’s here to take another for the chance to win the Halloween Baking Championship. He loves dressing up as a killer chef, so it’s time for him to put those killer skills to work in the kitchen.

Stacy is an executive pastry chef at a luxury hotel who is no stranger to serving food in style. She’s here to show off her baking skills Halloween-style, in an ode to her goth childhood self, and to her fiancé cheering her on behind the scenes.

Mandi is a home baker who specializes in horror. Having worked as a special effects makeup artist, she knows how to embrace the Halloween spirit. She’s been baking professionally for a year now, and she wants to prove her skill in the Halloween Baking Championship kitchen.

Adesuwa is an accomplished chef and owner of her own bakery and cafe. Her childhood dream of attending culinary school led her to become the first student to receive all four diplomas offered at Le Cordon Bleu. She’s prepared to bring her culinary expertise to Halloween baking.

Hollie is a self-proclaimed "Halloween freak" and the owner of Punk Rock Pastries. She can attest to her freaky baking style with her two knuckle tattoos spelling "dead girl" and "bake cake." She grew up baking in her dad’s shop in Australia, and now she wants to prove her talent for all that is creepy and gory.

Phoebe is the owner and chef of two pastry cafes and a long-time veteran of spooky dessert making. After a recent health journey, she’s excited to take on the competition with a fresh perspective— and an abundance of scary sweets.

Ryan is a senior pastry chef with an immeasurable love for the spooky season. While growing up his Dad would offer him and his sister a Halloween decoration budget— a tradition that has inspired him to make his baking just as decked out and extravagant as his childhood home.

Shefali is used to doing it all, so she doesn’t cave under pressure. She’s a lawyer, Bollywood dance fitness instructor, mother of three, and cake business owner. This season, she’s looking to add the title of Halloween Baking Championship winner to her list.

Dan is a pastry chef who is known for his terrible dad jokes. While he dabbled in the acting business while waiting tables in New York City, he found his true passion is in pastry preparation. He is more than ready to channel his spooky creativity into this competition.