BOUNTIFUL—When Henry Muranaka was three or four years old, he started helping his mom in the kitchen baking. He never dreamed that several years later it would land him a spot on Food Network’s Emmy®-nominated competition series Kids Baking Championship. The 13-year-old Bountiful Junior High student is one of 12 competitors from all over the country.

The 10-episode series premieres on Jan. 1 and the winner will receive a $25,000 prize, a spot in Food Network Magazine and the title Kids Baking Champion.

“When I was younger I’d help my mom bake,” said Muranaka. “I have been going to the Salt Lake Culinary Institute for two years. I got more and more into baking. I decided to take more classes and I did.”

Muranaka said his mom got an email from the school about the competition. “They said I should try out for the baking championship. We hadn’t heard of it so we watched a couple of episodes and I thought it looked fun.”

To apply for the show Muranaka said he had to send in photos of himself baking. “We had to bake tons of stuff and send in pictures and videos of you making it. We did Zoom interviews and a Zoom call with a big group of people and the producer who talked to the finalists so they could get to know more about you. I heard from them a couple of days later.”

Muranaka said he likes to bake a lot of things but his personal favorite is creampuffs. “I did a sixth grade science project to decide what the best flour was to make creampuffs that left the most space inside for filling. I used three different types of flour and weighed it before and after. I noticed the most filling space and averaged it out.”

In the competition he has to bake a variety of different things, not just creampuffs. Each week the bakers face a new challenge, creating the most popular sweets and latest dessert trends. The twist is, the kids have to follow a school-based theme such as picture day, recess games and cafeteria lunch dessert imposters.

“I don’t have a favorite,” said Muranaka. “I just like school so any of the challenges (will be fun).”

“School serves as a social hub, a space for learning, and a nurturing ground where children face challenges and foster growth – making it the ideal theme for the new season of Kids Baking Championship,” said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. “The new challenges capture the essence of the school experience with every dessert.”

The judges set a base item, he said. “Then we have a certain amount of time to make something involved in it.”

It’s pretty stressful, Muranaka said. “I just took deep breaths when I was under pressure.”

In one of his classes at Bountiful Junior there is a unit on cooking, said Muranaka. “The other kids look at me. There are no recipes. I make them myself.”

When he’s not baking Muranaka likes to mountain bike, golf and play tennis.

Muranaka said he might open a restaurant when he gets older. “I really like cooking too. I really like to make stuff with onions. I really like onions, especially caramelized onions that I use on burgers.”

The producers were really nice, he said. “It was a crazy experience. My favorite part was getting to know everybody. Especially the kids my age who all enjoy baking. There’s not a ton of kids in general who like baking – when you go there they do.”

The show premieres Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. on Food Network. On Monday, Feb. 26 it’s the final two episodes of the competition. The four remaining contestants will be challenged to see who has the most school spirit with a tie-dye doughnuts and ice cream competition. Three bakers will earn a spot in the grand finale at 8 p.m. where they have to make a championship-worthy volcano cake. It has to look realistic and it must erupt too. The baker with the best all around volcano cake will be crowned Kids Baking Champion.