CAUTION: SPOILERS for season 11 of Spring Baking Championship.

That’s a wrap for this season! What did we think of the finale? I’m eager to hear your thoughts. Here are mine:

Well; one of my predictions ended up being right, but the other did not. It was hard to see Mary-Frances go, but Raveena’s bake-off cake did seem a bit more special. So that wasn’t so surprising. It would have been great to see Mary-Frances win. But, she certainly did seem to gain some needed self-confidence, during the show. Everyone always talks about how much they’ve “grown” during the competition, but Mary-Frances really became noticeably more lighthearted, cheerful, expressive, and bold as the season went on!

So onto the final Main Heat. I feel conflicted about how this one went.

The challenge was Marie Antoinette hairstyle cakes. Lisa’s and Raveena’s both looked very Marie Antoinette, with the towering cakes covered in piped whitish gray frosting decorated with bows and adornments. Priya’s did not look Marie Antoinette at all. It was cool, but no one is going to look at that and think of the Queen of France. It was all chocolate! I know Priya’s a chocolatier, and was playing to her strengths really well. I feel like she should have at least done white chocolate. Her topiary concept was cool, but it was very contemporary and dark. When I saw it, I really didn’t think the judges were going to be happy with her interpretation. But – they loved it? I guess the whole “Marie Antoinette” theme was just a suggestion?

To be fair, though, it did sound like Priya’s tasted the best. Hers was the only cake that elicited genuinely amazed, delighted reactions. Raveena’s earl gray tea dried her cake out a bit, and her ganache was a bit too thick. And Lisa’s was, apparently, a little tough in texture and a little “too safe” in flavor. The judges disagreed about her fresh raspberries.

I was actually kind of annoyed by their judgment of Lisa. They told her that her piping didn’t look like hair. Which was simply not true! It looked at least as hair-like as Raveena’s piping, which they complimented! And Priya’s didn’t look like hair at all – didn’t even try to – so, what the heck?

But, I’m also glad it ended up being Priya. The fact that she started off as a hairstylist, then made the decision to switch up her career after that wildfire evacuation upended her life? It definitely made for good TV. Kardea is always the most sensitive and warm as a judge, which I love about her; hearing the little speech she gave Priya about destiny and all, was really touching.

I guess I’m slightly bummed that my prediction ended up being wrong, lol. I would have loved to be right about Lisa. But, on the other hand, Lisa did mention in this episode that, when she was first dating her husband, they took a vacation to the Dominican Republic together (!!), which tells me that she probably does not have a pressing need for 25k in her life, hahaha, she’s got money, she’ll be fine.

Honestly, I thought Raveena’s was the prettiest, and the most interesting, flavor-wise, so I kind of felt like she should have won. But, when I saw the judge’s reactions, I knew it was going to be Priya. The enjoyability of the cake as food is, after all, the most important thing, isn’t it? And Priya is, I believe, the oldest contestant (although she doesn’t look it; married twenty years? I was like, what, did you get married at ten?!), and a mom of three, and her family seems positively lovely. So, I’m genuinely happy for her. She was very humble about her victory – commenting the whole episode long on how beautiful her competitors’ cakes were, and, at the end, turning the focus back to them as she mentioned that she was “among the best” – and she did really deserve it. Congratulations, Priya!

My high point: Raveena’s husband, during the “video clips from the family back home” section. The other two family videos were all emotional and tearful and sentimental, as they typically are, but Raveena’s husband was hilarious and so chill. They seem like such a cool couple.

My low point: Not within the episode, but, after the episode: I looked up when Summer Baking Championship starts this year, and apparently it has not been renewed for this year?! What the actual F?!! You’re telling me I have to wait until winter (because I do not watch the Halloween championship)???! UGH! No summer baking 2025! I’m honestly crushed. I hope they don’t discontinue it permanently.

The dessert that I would most have liked to eat: Obviously Priya’s chocolate-orange blossom cake. Chocolate orange is an unbeatable flavor combo! It sounded phenomenal. Duff complained that there was “a bit too much filling,” hello, that’s the best part! I’ll take it.

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