Host Clinton Kelly poses with contestants for a photo, as seen on Spring Baking Championship, Season 5.
Food Network’s “Spring Baking Championship” is back for its fifth season, and this year it features a Southlake mom. Jessica Colvin will compete against nine other pastry chefs for the chance at $25,000 and the title of Spring Baking Champion starting on Monday, March 18.
The Southlake Carroll graduate moved to town when she was 11 years old, and she always knew she wanted to bake. Jessica started baking at an early age with her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, which is how she learned a few tricks when it came to Southern cooking.
“I was always baking with them, so it was something that I loved to do,” Jessica says. “It was a lot of cobblers, pies and biscuits. So lots of butter and sugar.”
After having kids at a young age, Jessica decided not to go to pastry school like she previously planned. Instead, she started experimenting with different flavors and techniques.
“It just never happened, but I just still wanted to do something with it. So I started teaching myself,” Jessica explains. “It was a lot of trial and error and making mistakes.”
Now, Jessica creates custom celebratory cakes including wedding cakes and shares her creations on Instagram. The majority of her work can be done from her home, which helps her spend more time with her children.
“Being a single mom and being able to do it from home was a big thing for me,” Jessica says. “It’s hard to leave my kids, so if I can do this and still be with them, it’s just the best of both.”
Her children, 8-year-old Ellie and 4-year-old Miles, love cooking alongside Jessica and tasting her beautiful creations. And they can’t wait to see their mom compete on national television.
“They are super excited,” Jessica says. “For the show, I had to send in pictures of my kids so they are like, ‘We’re going to be famous.’”
Jessica had no idea she would be selected for this competition, especially because she didn’t even personally apply for it. One of her friends sent in an application for the show, and six months later, Jessica got a surprising call asking if she was still interested in competing.
After a rigorous interview process, Jessica found out that she made the cut and would be a part of the 2019 season. Jessica is the only self-taught pastry chef on the show, so she went in a little nervous. But after getting over the production value and meeting her competitors, Jessica says she was finally able to relax when she started baking in the first round.
“It was surprising to see what went on to make the TV show,” Jessica says. “I seriously walked in and was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It was like real life, like when the timer stopped, you were done. It was intense.”
The entire series will include seasonal bakes, designs, colors and figures that will get people excited about spring.
You’ll have to tune in at 8 p.m. CT on March 18 to see just how far this former Dragon will go. Each of the contests will be judged by big industry names like Lorraine Pascale, Nancy Fuller and Duff Goldman. To learn more about the show, check out its website.