CAUTION: SPOILERS for this episode of BCNG!

“Big and little” desserts: the big sibling had to create a big dessert, and the younger sibling twelve small, single-serving desserts. A cute theme for our five teams of big & little siblings.

Speaking of that, though – I only just realized this week: we haven’t had any big brother/little sister teams this season! We started off with:

• Big sister/little sister: 7

• Big brother/little brother: 1 (my favs, eliminated week one; typical.)

• Big sister/little brother: 4

• Big brother/little sister: 0

And now, going into the semifinal, the final four teams are:

• Big sister/little sister: 1

• Big sister/little brother: 3

No big brothers. What’s that about?

If I had to guess, it’s probably because baking is such a female-dominated field; it makes sense that we’d have more girls in general, and that most of the boy contestants would be “assistants” to their big sisters, who are the decision-makers. Still, if they do another season of this show, which I kinda hope they do, it’d be nice to see some big brother/little sister teams.

This was a good challenge though, didn’t you think? What would you have made if it were you? If I were on this show with my big sister, she would surely be the one to decide what we were baking, because she is the one who is good at baking, and is always the one who comes up with ideas and activities. Maybe she’d decide to do her coconut cake, in which case I’d do coconut macaroons to go along with it. I’ve never made coconut macaroons, but historically they are one of my favorite sweet treats, so that might be fun. My sister also makes a really delicious apple tart. So maybe she would do that, and I could do little apple tartlets to go along. But, I’d have to ask her. And get her guidance through every step of the way.

Like Leia and Kiera. Did you see the way Leia was giving Kiera instructions one by one, and Kiera was repeating them verbatim? As a little sister myself, who’s always looked up to and tried to copycat my big sister (even subconsciously!), this felt so real and relatable to me. As little sisters, we really do look to our big sisters to show us what steps to take, what to do when, and just how to exist in the world.

I didn’t see it happening at the time, but when I step back and look at the story objectively, it’s actually pretty funny to me: all through middle and high school, I tried to copy my big sister: her style and taste in music (but never made it look as cool as she did, and was always the “weird little sister”). As adults: I got engaged less than a year after my sister did, and my wedding was exactly eight months after hers. She went on to become a stay-at-home mom and a novelist. I did the same thing (minus the getting published part). She had two girls and a boy. I also had two girls and a boy… and then another boy, lol, so I guess that’s one original thing that I’ve done in my life. It’s funny how I copy her without even meaning to. Big sisters are trailblazers. What would we do without them? I don’t even know.

Anyway, this was an exciting week; loved seeing the little siblings work independently. Kiera and Lenore had the advantage of previous experience, but for the boys – Akbar, Emmett, and Kenneth – it was a new challenge (further evidence to support my theory about girls being the leaders in this competition).

But the boys all did really well! Really, the only team that did poorly at all was Jovie & Lenore. Sadly, the cookie was too try, and the peppermint blondie cake (which was an awesome idea, and could have been so delicious!) was messy, and too pepperminty. Peppermint is a really strong flavor. Alas, I saw their vision and really wanted it to work out for them. IMO it was a win in itself that Duff loved the texture of the blondie, because Duff is a blondie snob and very particular about his blondies.

Leia and Kiera absolutely crushed it this week; any tiny shadow of a doubt that I might have had that they are going to win this whole thing, was certainly wiped out. That macaron?! Duff said it was in a league with any of the macarons made by any adult competitor on Baking Championship, and Kardea said it was straight up the best macaron she’d ever had. That’s insane. These girls are fourteen and eleven. I’d bet good money that these two will be crowned the champions in two weeks. Do you agree or do you agree? It almost seems unfair to all the other teams.

Not that they didn’t do great as well. Maci and Emmett played the Dead Grandma Card to their great advantage this week – Duff was thoroughly “chocolated” and didn’t think he’d need to eat chocolate again for another week, lol. That custard tart looked incredible!

Genesis and Akbar went with a chocolate-strawberry theme. Akbar nailed the walnut brownie, but the tart that Genesis made had a crust that was literally thicker than the filling layer. Like “just butter held together with a little bit of flour,” Duff said. Still sounds pretty good though!

Abigail and Kenneth did a cherry theme: a family recipe for cherry cake (actually, more of a spice cake with cherries inside, and a cream cheese frosting; interesting), and cherry tartlets. Little Kenneth’s tartlets actually received better feedback than Abigail’s cake! Big cherry flavor. I see you, Mr. “I agree and understand” Kenneth! Stepping into the spotlight!

So next week’s the semifinal, and then I guess the final will be the first week of March… and then, apparently there’s another new Baking Championship starting less than a week later, on March 9^th?! Have y’all heard about this Ultimate Baking Championship? Jesse will be hosting, and Duff will be there, and the prize will be not 25k but 50k!

I’m kind of excited, because it sounds exciting and all, but also kind of bummed because I guess this means they’re not doing Spring Baking this year?! And that was one of my favorites!! I’m still mad that they cancelled Summer Baking in ‘25, and now they’re cancelling Spring too… not too happy about this, Food Network. Please. Keep the seasonal championships coming. I need them. Do you think there’ll be a Summer Baking in 2026?! Surely they wouldn’t get rid of Holiday… would they?! What do you think? Leave me your comments!

Superlatives from the judges: 2; Kardea told Kiera that this was the “best macaron” she’d ever had, and then she told Maci and Emmett that they had produced the “best example of cohesiveness” out of everyone this week. (Running Total: 6)

Kid who most deserved a hug: Kiera, when she was piping macarons and had a moment of struggle and her big sis kinda snapped at her. Leia is clearly a wonderful big sis and quickly corrected herself and said something encouraging. But even though she didn’t say anything, you could really see little Kiera fighting a battle there. But she certainly won that battle!

Kid who most deserved a high five: Emmett. In the beginning when he found out he’d have to bake independently, his exact words were “I’m dead meat” (a phrase I haven’t heard uttered since I was about his age!). But wow, those fudgy brownies he produced? Duff said you could frost a cake with them. “You just showed them to the oven,” lol. Sounded amazing.

The dessert that I would most have liked to eat: Maci and Emmett’s chocolate custard tart + fudgy brownies. It was a tough call between them and Leia/Kiera, who did that “decadent” chocolate-coffee-caramel cake and macarons – but Maci and Emmett did some really next-level all-out chocolate indulgence here. Thanks, Maci and Emmett’s Mamaw.