There is a new season of the “Kids Baking Championship” appearing this holiday season on the Food Network, and an eight-year old from Hillsborough Township will be at the center of all the action.
His name is Ben Steinhauser and the Woodfern Elementary School student is among the 12 kids competing in Season 10 of the 10-part series that premiers on Dec. 27 at 8 p.m.
Actress Valerie Bertinelli and world renowned pastry chef Duff Goldman host the 10-week competition that will test 12 contestants, ages 8-11, in difficult themed challenges.
From kitchen sink sweets, to cream puffs, and to dessert imposters, children must showcase their impressive baking skills and techniques. Only one incredible young baker will rise to the top to earn the sweet grand prize, including a spot in Food Network Magazine and the title of Kids Baking Champion.
Since he was two-and-a-half years old, Ben has enjoyed baking delicious desserts in his home in Hillsborough and was excited to have the chance to bake alongside other kids for the TV series.
“I was really excited to go on the show and meet all the kids and Valerie and Duff,” Ben said in an interview with centraljersey.com. “It was awesome to be on the show.”
Ben is excited for his friends, teachers and everyone else in the Hillsborough community to see him put his baking skills to work on the show.
From chocolate cake to cupcakes to whoopie pie to his “famous” lemon cool cake, Ben loves the art of baking and was overwhelmed with joy when he found out he made it on the show.
“I didn’t expect to get on, so I was really happy when I found out,” he said.
Along with his dynamite baking skills, Ben participates in taekwondo and loves playing baseball, football and soccer in his spare time. He’s also trying out wrestling this winter.
The extra excitement around the holiday season has the whole Ben household looking forward to watching the season premier.
Ben will be joined by his parents Mandi and Brandt, and his sister, Madelyn, when the season begins next week. He’ll also have a couple of his friends joining him to watch the season debut.
Once the Food Network started showing commercials of the show last month, Ben was happy to tell all his friends and family members about it.
He said his friends didn’t believe him at first, but once they all saw the commercials, they’ve been nothing but supportive and can’t wait to watch him participate in the show.
Ben himself can’t wait to watch the show either. He’s looking forward to showing all his friends and family the creative desserts he got to make, while having a blast baking alongside the rest of the talented young bakers he got to meet on the show.
Being able to be a part of the “Kids Baking Championship” show was a dream come true for Steinhauser.
He didn’t think he would have a chance to experience something like this and is so excited to have all of Hillsborough join him in all the fun that will take place on the show.
“Stay tuned to see what we all get to make,” he said.