Holiday Baking Championship Season 9 premiered on 07 November 2022 on Food Network and concluded on 17 December 2022. There was a tie for the third and fourth place between Aaron and Jessica in the final episode, and Aishia ended up as a runner-up.
Twelve bakers across the USA came together to prove themselves and take $25,00 home after getting challenged by the judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller, and Carla Hall. The bakers competed individually in the Preliminary Heat competition and teams in the Main Heat competition.
The Canadian TV personality Jesse Palmer returned as the host. Apart from that, the 45-year-old is a sports commentator and a former professional football player in the NFL.
Dru Tevis – Winner
Dru Tevis won the Holiday Baking Championship 2022. He won the Main Heat challenge in the second, fifth, sixth, and eighth episodes. He works as the Corporate Pastry Chef for SoDel Concepts in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
Dru’s win was a secret until it aired on TV for everyone, including his husband. He works in the small town community at Rehoboth Beach and loves doing it.
Aishia Martinez – Second
Aishia Martinez is an Executive Pastry Chef at Battello in the New York City Metropolitan Area. She belongs to Hoboken, New Jersey, and is inspired by the vibrant culture of her hometown.
Aishia holds pride in her Latino culture and loyalty toward her Caribbean culture. She claims to use local organic farm-fresh ingredients while working with the Jersey City restaurateurs. She stood second and won the Main Heat competition in the fourth episode.
Aaron Davis – Third/Fourth
Aaron Davis did not win any Main Heat competition in the Holiday Baking Championship 2022. He got a bachelor’s degree in Food And Business Administration from the Culinary Institute of America.
Aaron is influenced by his grandma, who owns a bakery. He likes to grow and prefers difficult questions to answer to learn more. Besides a bachelor’s degree, he got an Associate in Baking And Pastry.
Jessica Wang – Third/Fourth
As of 2021, she was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Food Business Management from The Culinary Institute of America. She won the Main Heat competition only in the first episode of Holiday Baking Championship 2022. She was the last baker to be called safe in the third, fifth, and eighth episodes.
Jessica is a food stylist, photographer, and chef working in Los Angeles. However, she had to experience in the professional kitchen before pursuing her degree.
Bill Makin – Fifth
Bill Makin is a home baker, recipe creator, and more. He won the Main Heat competition in the seventh episode and was the last baker to be called safe in the sixth. However, he was eliminated in the eighth episode.
As mentioned on Bill’s Instagram account, he has various interests besides baking. For instance, he offers remote home and garden renderings, and people can directly message him for a free quote.
Zakiya Newton – Sixth
Zakiya Newton won the Main Heat challenge in the third episode and was eliminated in the seventh. She is a pastry chef, Monteverde Academy Alumna, and a home bakery owner from Gotha, Florida. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2012.
Harshal Naik – Seventh
Harshal Naik made one of the best dishes in the first episode and was eliminated in the sixth. He is a passionate pastry chef who worked at Carnival Cruise Lines and India’s two largest hotels (one is the Taj Hotel). He works at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort as a pastry chef.
Kristen Weidlien – Eighth
Kristen Weidlien won the Main Heat competition in the third episode and was eliminated in the fifth episode. She is a Head Pastry Chef at Cafe Luna NJ. She belongs to Staten Island, NY. She was the last to be called safe in the second and fourth episodes.
Christine Herelle-Lewis – Ninth
Christine Herelle-Lewis was the last to be called safe in the first episode and eliminated in the fourth. She is a French Pastry Chef from New York, NY, who handles her office job and baking and has ten years of experience in professional pastry making.
Sumera Syed – Tenth
Sumera Syed was eliminated in the third episode. She was born in London, England, but resides in Texas as an entrepreneur and home baker. Apart from that, she is a private detective, a singer in a band, and more.
Antoine Hopkins – Eleventh
Antoine Hopkins has been a professional pastry chef for ten years in Greater Philadelphia, PA. Previously, he worked in the Food & Beverages Industry. He graduated from the Arts Institute of Philadelphia and is skilled in catering, desserts, cooking, and cakes.
RaChelle Hubsmith – Twelfth
RaChelle Hubsmith is a self-taught home baker, real estate appraiser, mother of three, and Church’s youth leader.
Previously, she appeared in the Bacon World Championship and won several awards across the country for her intricate designs. Unfortunately, she was eliminated in the first episode of the Holiday Baking Championship 2022.
