'Edible art': 'Baketopia' competition series features confections never made before
May 6—It's the first morning that Rosanna Pansino knows where everything is in her new home.
The chaos of moving has begun to settle and the bestselling author can breathe a little.
"I'm getting settled, and it feels good," she says. "I'm also excited about the new show."
Pansino is known to an audience for her YouTube channel, where she is known as a baker.
Her latest endeavor is "Baketopia," a 12-episode competition series for HBO Max.
From the magical set to the talented bakers, Pansino says she is "obsessed" with the show.
"I've always wanted to do a baking show or competition show," she says. "I've been doing YouTube for over 10 years now. I listened to my community who always urged me to do a show like this. It's been seven years in the making."
"Baketopia" pits three bakers against one another in a competition. Each must fill their carts with the unique ingredients necessary to build trend-setting cakes and delectable desserts in hopes of impressing baking superstar Pansino and her "Cake Council" to win $10,000.
Pansino says she challenges each baker to create confections that have never existed before.
She says the show comes at a time when "stress baking" swept across the nation during quarantine.
As the host and judge of the show, Pansino is joined by Donal Skehan and Timbo Sullivan.
Skehan is an international expert on flavor and author of nine cookbooks; former host of Food Network Star Kids and Junior MasterChef. Meanwhile, Sullivan is a four-time Food Network champion specializing in 3D realistic cakes.
"I would say I have very high standards," she says of her view on being a judge. "I'm definitely sweet but tough. All the bakers are cast because they are talented bakers. But in a baking competition, it all changes. You are in a different kitchen, and there's a lot of pressure. A lot of the bakers learned how to be better on the show. As a baker, I know when I've messed up. So when I judge, I don't rub it in their faces. We really focus on giving the bakers tips and tricks."
Pansini has enjoyed making the first season and hopes there will be a second.
"I just love making the show, and it's been the highlight of my year," she says. "For the record, I have the best job in the world with this show. I got to eat six desserts a day. There were a couple of cakes that just melted in my mouth. I couldn't stop smiling, because these bakers are making edible art."
