Alabama Baker Whips Up Dreams on ‘Holiday Baking Championship’
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A dash of determination, a sprinkle of heart, and a whole lot of sugar — that’s what Alabama’s own Jeanna “Gia” Barnes is bringing to the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship this season. Gia, the talented founder of bSweet Dessert Boutique in Troy, Alabama, is one of 12 contestants competing for the sweet grand prize of $25,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine . And what makes her story even more inspiring? She’s the very first contestant from Alabama ever to appear on the show.
Season 12 of the popular baking competition premiered on November 3rd with the festive episode titled “Welcome to the Holiday Village.” The bakers were split into two teams — the Naughty Team and the Nice Team — and given themed dessert challenges that sound as fun as they are delicious. The “Nice” bakers were asked to create warm and toasty desserts, while the “Naughty” ones tackled chill and frosty treats. Each group then came together to craft an entire edible holiday village, showcasing a dessert from every baker. Of course, judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller, and Kardea Brown had the final say in whose village captured the true holiday spirit — and whose dream would melt away like buttercream on a warm day.
For Gia Barnes, this competition means much more than a shot at prize money. Baking has been her lifelong passion, one rooted in family tradition. Completely self-taught, she started experimenting in the kitchen at just five years old, learning from her mother and grandmother. Her bakery’s signature item — a pound cake recipe that has been passed down through five generations — is still baked with love by her sons today.
But Gia’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. After a long career in emergency management, including work in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to follow her dream and open bSweet Dessert Boutique in 2022. Just eleven weeks later, her husband of nearly 25 years tragically passed away from a stroke. Despite the heartbreak, Gia and her two sons chose to carry on his memory by keeping the bakery alive, pouring their hearts into every cake and cookie that comes out of their kitchen.
Now, as she steps into the national spotlight, Gia represents not only her hometown of Troy but also the resilience and spirit that define true bakers — the ones who keep going, even when life crumbles a little. Viewers can catch her and the rest of the talented contestants every Monday night on the Holiday Baking Championship , airing on the Food Network and streaming later on HBO Max. Whether she ends up crowned champion or not, one thing’s for sure — Gia Barnes has already baked her way into the hearts of fans across the country.
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