‘Halloween Baking Championship’ Fans Blast Show’s New ‘Sudden Death’ Twist
The popular Halloween Baking Championship returned for its 11th season on the Food Network on Monday (September 15) with 10 new budding bakers taking to the kitchen to create some spooky treats. However, a new format twist has left many fans disappointed.
Unlike previous seasons, which saw the 10 contestants competing in two rounds, resulting in 20 creations overall, Season 11 sees just one round featuring all 10 bakers. The bottom three contestants are then placed in a “Sudden Death” round, with the loser being eliminated.
Stephanie Boswell, Carla Hall, and Zac Young are this season’s judges and decide which bakers leave the competition and who will ultimately walk away with $25,000 and the title of Halloween Baking Champion. John Henson serves as host.
After learning of the new format on Monday’s premiere, fans took to Reddit to complain, with one user writing, “Halloween Baking Championship 2025, you ruined half the reason we watch.”
“This sudden death thing is so stupid, half the reason we watched was to see all bakers make 2 desserts so 20 creations… And yet here they make 10 and then 3, that is just… Who decided this?” the user continued, saying the original format worked because the first round would allow bakers to “work out some jitters” and come back stronger in round two.
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They added, “I don’t know who runs these shows but jfc man you guys just don’t get it, the format both baking championship and Halloween wars had were perfect… It’s why we’ve all been hooked year after year. It’s not just changing scenery it’s willy nilly changing the fundamentals of the challenge, it didn’t need changed.”
Many others agreed, with one commenter writing, “I left the showrunner a message on Instagram. I doubt I’ll hear back, but I would be interested to hear her side of this debacle.”
“It’s sad to see this show not showing more of the baking. It is called the Halloween Baking Championship,” said another.
“I didn’t get the memo that this is how it will be every week?! I had hoped it was a weed-out for the premiere,” another added.
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Another wrote, “Agreed, new format is horrible. This show is not MasterChef, also that first episode felt like it was written by TLC. So much scripted drama, halloween baking championship is not a novela.”
Others agreed that the first episode focused too much on drama, with one Reddit user writing, “I don’t care for the focus on hysterics.”
“I just felt like there was too much crying and not nearly enough baking,” said another.
“Couldn’t even finish the episode. This is the first time I am not going to bother watching more,” another added.
Some also criticized the new set, with the balcony, in particular, causing much frustration.
“The balcony is terrible, not only do they look stupid all crammed up there but the ooos and awss, the giggling and camera cutting back… Absolutely ridiculous. When the judges are judging it’s their time, I don’t need to see the cast every waking second,” said the original Reddit poster.
“Why copy the Master Chef balcony? The whole show just seemed off. The set, the host, the judges, the blonde on the floor and a quitter? What is happening here?” wrote one commenter.
“The competitors watching from the balcony while each person is being judged feels a bit like public humiliation to me. I don’t think I’ll be watching this season,” another added.
However, one fan disagreed, writing, “The only change I liked was the balcony.”
Others were also willing to give things a chance. “Nonetheless, it’s the first episode of a series I adore. I’ll give it a chance. And, if they really want to win me over, the more blind judging, the better,” said one user.
What did you think of the new format rules? Did you enjoy the first episode? Let us know your thoughts below,
Halloween Baking Championship, Season 11, Mondays, 9/8 c, Food Network
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The drama is awful. The lady rolling on the floor is ridiculous. the sad back stories don’t need to be told Stop it!! Just bake. The balcony doesn’t work. The producers should have seen the guy was going to quit. Too much pressure on him. Go back to being a baking show
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The Reddit threads were long. There is absolutely nothing good about this season, the Sudden Death segment is just a small portion. The long tables, rather than stations add nothing to the show. They spent way too much time focusing the "hot mess" bakers and I use that term very loosely. People have tuned in for 11 years to watch people bake. They don't tune in to watch people not bake, lie on the floor complain the entire time. They don't tune in to have the people in the gallery yelling out comments. It brought back PTSD from when the Network had Molly Yeh host Spring Baking. This is an epic fail. My husband and I looked forward all summer to watch this. It was a massive disappointment. He refuses to watch the rest of the season and I am inclined to agree. IT WAS THAT BAD
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This season is horrible! I have watched every year and am terribly disappointed. I felt so much anxiety just from watching from the contestants. I cannot believe how much drama was in this show. I am here to watch a baking show, not watch a novella. The balcony was awful. I want to here from the judges and their comments, I don’t want to watch a camera zoom in on the contestants reactions at all, for what?!? This is hard enough on the individual being judged, what does that have to do with anything for that person being judged and how does that help that person. You all are doing this for more added drama.. during the final round, having the final contestants baking and under so much stress being watched by their peers and being asked a bunch of questions is insanely stressful.. like what is that?!? And how is this helping them? Okay if it is a judge this can be different, but a fellow competitor … no! Can you people think about? Yes this is competition, but you all seem to want to create more drama than actually show off their baking skills and why they are there!
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I watched half of the first episode and turned it off. I don’t watch for the drama, I watch for the baking. What was up with that woman rolling on the floor?? If you don’t want to be there, go home. Halloween Baking Championship has always been one of my favorite baking shows, so this is a real disappointment. I won’t be watching this season.
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Had to laugh at the Molly Yeh comment - thought that season was as bad as it could get, but I was wrong. Do these Halloween bakers even know how to bake ANYTHING that turns out? Not much talent in this group. The balcony is cringe worthy and the crying and complaining and excuse making are not what we tune in for. Where are the professional talented bakers? I'm not sure I'll watch much longer with this group. And if one more baker mentions that they are on to show their daughter that women can achieve anything, I think I'll barf.
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I turned it off. I don’t watch it for the drama, which there was plenty of. Not sure I’ll watch going forward.
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Too much drama and not enough baking. I don't like the new format or the balcony. I've made it through two shows but not sure I will continue watching.
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Agreed. Too much drama. Are these real bakers or actors that bake. I will try one more episode before tuning out.
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I do not like the new format at all. Like others have said I enjoy watching the BAKING and the first round allows the contestants to get the jitters out. 🫤
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The new format is terrible. I hate, hate, HATE having the bakers on the balcony commenting every move. How embarrassing! I couldn't even follow who was baking what because the camera kept cutting back to the balcony drama. The girl rolling on the floor was unbelievable and ridiculous. Go back to what made me want to watch past my bedtime. Again, terrible!!
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Too much drama. A tad bit ridiculous. Most bakers seem to be a disaster. I was anticipating more wonderful bakes.
Who would really lay on the floor in front of millions of people? Really?
Very disappointed!
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Awful new format. Don't like new set. Unlikeable contestants and no fun to watch. The show is ruined. John Henson can't even save this season and I love him. Even the judges have turned into caricatures of themselves...so phony!!
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They ruined the show! Half the contestants have been on other cooking competition shows. It was focused on the baking challenges in the past plus John Henson's fun antics. Feels very bullying to make the bottom three bake in front of the saved contestants while they keep questioning what they're doing! Feels very junior high with humiliating the bottom three!! It used to be a fun sweet Halloween show we've watched since season 1. We won't be watching it this season! Fake drama and too scripted!!
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I did not care for the new format at all. I prefer the bakers doing the 2 challenges. I did not like the other bakers watching the judges critiques of each baker. It seems a waste for the judges to change into costumes just for the sudden death bake off. Not a winner this season. It does not hold my interest like the previous seasons. I most likely will not continue watching.
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i find the set is not particularly ‘Halloweeny’ previous sets have had better ambience. The judges seem a little stiff, and I think the dining table format looked more natural than them standing behind a bench. The gallery is ridiculous- no need for other contestants two cents every second 🙄
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The show is a total disappointment this year. Is it a cost cutting measure to only have three bakes half way through the show? I don’t want to hear sob stories, cheering, and bragging. The show was working. Don’t fix what wasn’t broken. Look to the British baking championship. It sticks to its format and has a loyal following.
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I fully agree that the new format is a big disappointment & the balcony/drama focus is extremely distracting. I also think the quality of many of the bakers does not seem up to the usual standards, though this could be related to the format change. There is far too much focus on the “drama queen” contestants as well.
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I don’t know where you got some of these bakers but it was very strange, the balcony is terrible & agree with the comments on the sudden death. WHY are you trying to fix something that wasn’t broken ????? I had to switch channels - so bad this season.
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All cooking shows should have to do blind judging. They are all bias. How does Nina go first! The other two were in the bottom the week before and didn't do good either week. Thx Zak I know it was him. Nonsense! If your in the bottom once, twice, thrice whatever you go! Get it together Food network!
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I also do not like the new format. The pressure on the bottom three seems so unfair when everyone should be baking. Not a fan of the balcony either. Don’t need to hear the other baker’s comments. I’ll watch a couple more episodes to decide whether I stick with it but Food Network kind of ruined the enjoyment for me.
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Hate it
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I was shocked. I get that they like to change it up a little. In the 1st baking championships, the contestants all heard what was said to the others ant that changed. But this one seems designed to show nonsense. The woman who seems very off? Phew. Hard to believe she's a nurse. The balcony immediately made me think Gordon Ramsey designed the set. I laugh as they all root for everyone when you know that they are thinking, just lose already. The last few championships have been very Canadian heavy which made them even nicer, but this never relied on drama like this. I kind of like no one and I have yet to see any really spectacular decorating. Having the 2 sessions gave people a 2nd chance and more of a chance to get to know contestants. I have lots of suggestions on some changes if they want to contact me. This seemed like a change to fit a mold. If Carla starts to say, this is terrible, what a shame, I will know for sure gordon bought the company. (and yes the molly yeh season was terrible. So glad it was one and done. Hope this new format follows suit.)
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Drama. Crying constantly. Balcony and sudden death stupid. PLEASE return to old format and get more people that don’t bring drama.
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Ruined it..I've watched every year and extremely disappointed this year. Have you not ever heard "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" Obviously not. Not watching anymore. Thanks
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My daughter and I both are so disappointed in the new format. It is not fair to the bakers. How many times have we’ve seen a baker win the first round and then struggle in the final. Also a baker who has a bad first round comes back in the second. Also the balcony is ridiculous. We are not sure if we are going to continue to watch. Please bring back the ordinal format back
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I don't like this season at all. The format is terrible, it seems someone ends up in tears every show, turning into a "social drama". Hopefully the producers listen to the fans and go back to original format.
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I was so excited to watch this year only to be disappointed by it. I don’t care for the new format this season at all. I miss the old format where there’s more baking and less humiliation for the bakers. Please scrap this format and bring back the old Halloween Baking Championship back next year.
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I look forward to this show every year and now I'm not sure I'll even watch episode 2. I'm so disappointed.
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This year's group is almost universally unlikeable. Mina and Justin are insufferable. Rooting for the fireman. I don't mind the changes.
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I watched around 4 episodes, but ulitmately it was so annoying, that I stopped watching and won't watch again if they continue to pander to hysterics and over the top emotions rather than baking. This is afterall, a "baking" championship, not a soap opera. I agree that the whole thing just seems off this season and more stressful to watch than enjoyable. Very dissappointing!
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Oksanna should have won over Melanie. I couldn't stand to watch her blubbering. She's probably a nice person but this is a baking channel. The guys were better than Melanie.
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Worse bakers that the show has ever had on. Stations too close together—and didn’t care for the new set.
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The new format is horrible ! I wait all year for these shows all year. The blonde laying on floor, bringing health issues onto a baking show, contestents complaining about having to bake and not even knowing how to bake has ruined the show. I am trying this year to watch,this one, but if foodnetwork does this to any of there other shows, I will not watch any of them again.
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I actually like the new format. It gets out the weaker bakers much quicker. Before , they could make a bad one in the first round, but pass elimination , but always be on the bottom. This way, the better bakers shine brighter. However, the balcony isn't working. The way the cast is able to judge is intimidating. I would have anxiety if I knew mine wasn't done perfectly. I will continue to watch.
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