The All-New Season of ‘Kids Baking Championship’ Has a Special Theme

Animal inspiration abounds in a new season of Kids Baking Championship, which returns to Food Network on Monday, January 6th at 8|7c and streams the next day on Max.

What to Expect From Kids Baking Championship Season 13

Hosts and judges, Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown, welcome a new field of talented kid bakers to the kitchen for challenges inspired by creatures big and small, including a few fluffy, furry and feathery friends who drop in to the kitchen for live appearances over the course of the season. From sea creatures to jungle dwellers to farm animals and more, the 12 kid bakers must craft creative and delicious animal-themed treats for a chance at winning the grand prize.

This season’s Kids Baking Championship competitors include: Noah Azeez (Toronto, Canada), Brooklyn Barrett (Orlando, FL), Ella Hayek (Ann Arbor, MI), Aria Karayil (Danville, CA), Piper Lowe (Kansas City, KS), Micah Parsons (Stephenville, TX), Pierce Sario (Atlanta, GA), Carter Siporin (Perkasie, PA), Ellvie Smith (Attalla, AL), Carly Van Pelt (Lake Geneva, WI), Jack Whalen (West Richland, WA) and Arielle Yang (Sandy, UT).

In the first episode, a gorgeous parrot named Chicken and a loveable cockatoo named Teva make quite the entrance, as Duff and Kardea welcome the bakers to the jungle-themed kitchen and kick off the ten-episode competition. The challenge: bakers must make an animal texture tart with creature-inspired features like scales, feathers, fur or fins, and an edible tail is a late-breaking twist the bakers must solve in a tasty and creative way.

On Monday, March 3, the remaining bakers will create cookie animal houses complete with haystack cookies and an edible water trough. Then, at 9|8c in the season finale, Duff and Kardea challenge the last three bakers to dig deep for their most winningest inspiration and create zoo-inspired cakes. The most successful cake maker will earn the title of Kids Baking Champion, a feature in Food Network Magazine and $25,000.

How to Watch Kids Baking Championship

Catch the premiere of Kids Baking Championship Season 13 Monday January 6th at 8|7c on Food Network. Stream it the next day on Max. Meet the kid bakers and relive fan-favorite moments at FoodNetwork.com/KidsBakingChampionship. Follow all the action on social media using #KidsBakingChampionship.