Santa Barbara Baker Wins Cupcake Wars

Riede is the fourth baker from Santa Barbara to be on the show, but the first one to take home the top prize.

Now entering its fourth season, the show pits four bakers from across the country in a competition to create the tastiest and most attractive cupcakes based on a theme the show selects. This episode’s theme was the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Her competitors were from L.A., Las Vegas & Chicago.

Sunday night’s first challenge was to turn an outdated Christmas tradition into a contemporary cupcake. Riede did a play on a traditional cheese log, creating a sharp cheddar cupcake topped with a candied pecan crust and a honey blue cheese frosting that drew raves from judges Candace Nelson and Florian Bellanger.