Meet the Competitors of 'Sweet Empire: Winter Wars'

This holiday season, Food Network is inviting viewers into the ultimate holiday showdown with Sweet Empire, a brand-new baking competition that turns festive cheer into fierce rivalry. Hosted by Wells Adams and judged by confectionery icons Jacques Torres and Yolanda Gampp, Sweet Empire gathers 14 of the country’s most talented dessert makers inside the magical Yuletide Lodge. However, this isn’t your typical holiday bake-off: Competitors start solo and must bake their way onto powerhouse teams — then fight to stay there. Each week, bakers will craft stunning edible creations that blend artistry, precision and pure sugar-fueled strategy. As alliances shift and gingerbread kingdoms rise and fall, only one team will reign supreme. When the frosting settles, who will build the ultimate Sweet Empire?

Judges Jacques and Yolanda bring equal parts expertise and personality to Sweet Empire. Known to Food Network fans as Mr. Chocolate, Jacques is a James Beard pastry icon celebrated for his technical precision, classic craftsmanship and ability to turn the simplest ingredients into showstopping creations. Beside him, cake artist and digital sensation Yolanda brings boundless creativity and humor, drawing on her How to Cake It fame to inspire contestants to think bigger, bolder and sweeter. Together, they balance mastery and imagination, one judging by the science of perfect tempering and the other by the magic of pure artistry.

First up is pro baker and cake artist Yaya. A Food Network alum, she competed on Season 13 of Halloween Wars and on Disney+'s Foodtastic.

Next: New Jersey-based Tatiana appeared on Spring Baking Championship: Easter, as well as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Cake Spectacular and Freak Cake Show. Her business, Skazka Cakes, is known for its realistic-looking creations, from sweet burgers to edible cars and everything in between.

Another champion enters the ring. Sarah is a three-time Food Network winner and also took home a win from Disney+'s Foodtastic. Fun fact about Sarah: Before pursuing a baking career, she quit her corporate job with an “I Quit My Job” cake.

You may recognize Nils from any of the three Halloween Wars competitions he competed in, including one where he finished as runner-up. He’s no stranger to competition, having appeared on Big Time Bake, Cake Wars and more.

A woman of many skills, Renu is a sculptor and a teacher, as well as a champion baker. She was a finalist in Food Network’s Great Chocolate Showdown in 2020 and competed in CBC’s The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down. For ornate, sculptural cakes, Renu is the one to watch.

The talented decorator behind New Jersey’s The Sugar Station, Liu is making her Food Network debut with Sweet Empire. Let’s see what she’s got!

Halloween Baking Championship alum Jonathan returns to the Food Network for a new holiday challenge. He's also appeared on Guy’s Grocery Games.

Three-time Food Network winner Hollie is here to compete. Owner of Punk Rock Pastries, she brings serious edge into the Yuletide Lodge.

New to our screens is Francois, the pastry artist behind Croissant Gourmet in Winter Park, Florida. He brings more than 20 years of baking experience to the Sweet Empire arena.

Winner of Netflix’s Is It Cake? and Food Network’s Cake Wars, Elizabeth is no stranger to the screen. She also competed on Is It Cake? Holiday! and Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking. Elizabeth is known for her hyperrealistic creations.

Dana racked up a slew of awards before winning TLC’s Cake Boss: Next Great Baker. He went on to win Rachael Ray’s Celebrity Cake Off and has appeared on numerous baking competitions across Food Network, TLC and the Cooking Channel. He’s bringing fierce competition into the Yuletide Lodge.

Food Network alum Cory returns for the holidays. He’s known for his large-scale cakes — his biggest creation was a life-size wheelchair cake. Cory’s competed on more than five competition shows, including Wedding Cake Championship, The Big Bake, Holiday Bakeshop and more.

You may recognize Cami from Buddy Valastro’s Cake Toppers. She’s the force behind Cami’s Cake Co. in Kansas and has made cakes for Taylor Swift and Patrick Mahomes. Hey, if it’s good enough for them, it might just win Sweet Empire.