Two York County natives to compete on Food Network holiday baking shows

Caroline Gross, a pint-sized baker from Springettsbury Township, is returning to Food Network's "Kids Baking Championship" for a Thanksgiving special, "Gobble Goodies."

Gross, 12, previously competed on the kids’ baking competition last year. She was one of 12 young bakers to compete in the 10^th season of the show.

From a young age, Gross was inspired by her mother, who bakes often and allows Caroline to get involved in the process.

At 8 years old, she began watching "Kids Baking Championship," a competition on Food Network hosted by Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Gaoldman, featuring kids ages 10 to 13, competing to create the best baked goods.

Even though Gross, then 10, was eliminated during the 4th episode, coming in 9th for the competition, she made enough of an impression to be invited back for the special holiday episode. She will compete against three other mini bakers.

"I was in tears, having the chance to redeem myself," Gross said. "I think it's easier this time because I was more calm, and it was just one episode and there weren't as many kids."

Gross said it takes a lot of preparation to do a competition like this. She spent several weeks baking fall-flavored treats, and even worked with a local country club to bake for an event as practice for the show.

More:This York County-raised baker will be on Food Network's 'Halloween Wars' Sept. 19

More:This 10 year-old York baker is on Food Network's 'Kids Baking Championship'

As much as she loves baking, Gross said she doesn't want to do anymore baking shows, but she is happy to participate in local competitions. She is currently slated to compete at the White Rose Cake Show in Yorkana on Nov. 12, one day before her Food Network episode airs.

Viewers can watch Caroline compete on Food Network's Kids Baking Championship Thanksgiving special at 7 p.m., Nov. 13, on the Food Network Channel and Discovery+.

And Caroline isn’t the only baker from York to make a holiday appearance on the Food Network this Sunday.

Hunter Roof, a 2017 Northeastern High School graduate, is competing on the Food Network’s "Holiday Wars."

Roof, 23, made his first TV appearance on the network's "Halloween Wars." His team lost early in the competition, but he got an invite to compete again.

Roof, who is a pastry supervisor at a Pocono Mountains resort, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2019. His specialty is being a sugar artist, transforming sugar and chocolate into works of art to make cakes and other desserts beautiful.

The first episode of "Holiday Wars" aired Sunday, Nov. 6. There are nine teams and three preliminary rounds. Roof’s team, Fab-Yule-us, will compete this Sunday, Nov. 13.

Episodes are at 9 p.m. Sunday.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Food Network's holiday baking specials to feature York County natives