Rob Pryce
Megan portrait, as seen on Holiday Baking Championship, Season 7.
Legacy Cakes owner Megan Rountree graced TVs across the globe last night when she appeared on Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship.” The Keller local, as well as 11 other bakers, started their journey on November 2 during the seasonal show’s premiere. During the first episode, bakers were challenged to create flavored quick breads, inspired by those who took up bread making during quarantine.
Megan created a chocolate orange quick bread, a chocolate-based bread with mixed in orange zest, candied orange and chocolate chips, in the shape of a Christmas wreath.
“I think it’s the best wreath we have seen thus far, and I’m delighted to know those ornaments are chocolate,” judge Nancy Fuller says during the episode after biting into the bread formation.
After passing through the first round with praise from the judges and earning the second-highest spot on the “nice list,” Megan went on to create a winter hat cake in the competition’s main heat, The five-layer cinnamon-brown sugar swirl white cake cake, inspired by a striped, knit beanie, was complete with snickerdoodle cookie dough, a combination that she is used to making for her family.
“I definitely think it’s a winning flavor,” Megan says.
The bakers were also tasked with embroidering their names on their individual hats. Megan’s final result was again met with positivity.
“My entire mouth is engaged,” judge Carla Hall says during the episode.
That cake landed her the “most captivating” spot, the first place finish on the “nice list,” which secured her a spot on next week’s episode.
This isn’t the first time for Megan to perform well on a Food Network show. She came out victorious on “Winner Cake All” in May 2019 and earned a $10,000 grand prize. While Megan had an official partner during “Winner Cake All,” Megan was not baking alone during “Holiday Baking Championship;” Megan was 7 months pregnant during the taping of the premiere.
“It was a great opportunity that I really didn’t want to miss out on. I figured let’s go ahead and try our best,” Megan says. “I wanted to grab the bulls by the horns.”
Thankfully Megan was able to enjoy the first episode with her entire family, including her new baby, Holland, who was born late last month. Megan says she had a blast watching the show with her kids, who may be as competitive as she is.
“[My daughter] cried when I got second on the first challenge. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness I have created a monster,” Megan says while laughing. “They were so excited to see me. It was very special.”
Now that Megan is back at home in her Grapevine bakery, she says she’s excited to share her holiday treats with the community, who she commends for helping the store make it through the pandemic.
“Our community has really rallied around us,” Megan says. “We have obviously been hit by it, but we have thankfully been able to keep everyone on staff; no one has been furloughed. I am so thankful for the community that we live in.”
To watch Megan back at it, tune into the Food Network next week, November 9, for “Holiday Baking Championship’s” next episode.