I Thought I’d Closed the Door on Baking TV. Then Gordon Ramsay Called.

How to know when revisiting an old chapter is growth, not regression.

Have you ever been presented with an opportunity you would’ve killed for in the past… and you’re not sure it fits who you are now?

Gordon and Carla are the Dream Team!

For years, my life was split between two things: frosting cupcakes and judging them. Cupcake Wars, Sugar Rush, spots on Masterchef, Top Chef Kids… it was a wild chapter, and one I’ll always be grateful for.

But the truth is, that’s no longer the world I live in every day.

Today, my world is entrepreneurship, brand building, mentorship, and investing.

So when the call came inviting me to join Next Level Baker, a Gordon Ramsay holiday special filming in Ireland, my first reaction was: “Wait… baking TV? Again?” It wasn’t an obvious yes. It wasn’t even an easy yes. But it ended up being a yes.

Here’s why:

You can outgrow a chapter and still honor what it gave you

For many of you, Cupcake Wars was our introduction. That show helped people discover Sprinkles and gave me a platform to tell the story of a national bakery chain that I started out of my tiny home kitchen.

That era shaped me. It opened doors. Even though I’ve grown beyond being “the cupcake lady,” that chapter is still an important part of my story. Saying yes to Next Level Baker felt like a chance to reconnect with the people who cheered for me from the very beginning.

Fran Drescher as a guest judge on Cupcake Wars.

Going back to an earlier version of yourself reminds you of how far you’ve come

One of the most meaningful parts of Next Level Baker was the opportunity to mentor home bakers who are where I once was: in their home kitchens, pursuing their passion around the job that pays the bills, wondering if something bigger is possible. I remember that season vividly - baking at odd hours, scraping together ingredients, trying to convince myself there was something to this wild idea. Coming back as a mentor meant standing in that same world again, but this time with the perspective of the business leader I’ve become.

Sometimes an opportunity is a bridge, not a destination

Was this project perfectly aligned with where I’m heading? Maybe not. But it still held value.

Visibility keeps you in the cultural conversation and keeps you relevant. It introduces you to new people and reminds longtime viewers that you’re still building, creating, and evolving. One of my friends once jokingly told me “The only thing worse than being on TV… is not being on TV.” It made me laugh, but there’s real truth to it. People can’t cheer you on if they can’t see you.

This wasn’t a strategic master plan. It was a bridge - something that could lead to new conversations and opportunities.

All the holiday feels!You can never predict exactly what you’ll take away from a new experience

You Can Never Predict Exactly What You’ll Take Away From a New Experience

Most people assume I came home with new frosting techniques. I didn’t.

What I did come home with were leadership lessons. Gordon Ramsay is a titan of industry, a born leader whose intensity demands excellence and whose care runs just as deep. You can see it in the way his long-time team shows up for him, and in small moments like when he FaceTimed a producer’s child who’d been injured in a soccer game just to lift his spirits.

I left that set thinking less about buttercream and more about how to show up as a leader. Sometimes the real gift of an opportunity is who you get to learn from and who you become in the process. You may say yes for one reason and walk away with a lesson you didn’t even know you were looking for.

YOLO – You Only Live Once

I could dress this up and say the decision was complicated and strategic. But the truth is simpler: Ireland sounded magical. The show sounded fun. The people involved were inspiring. I said yes because it sparked something in me - and sometimes that’s reason enough.

Not every opportunity has to be the perfect brand fit. Some are worth saying yes to simply because they bring joy into your life, even if the ROI is fuzzy.

Next Level Baker premieres December 4

Next business idea: bottle Carla Hall’s energy!

Next Level Baker premieres Thursday, December 4 at 9/8c on FOX, and I hope you’ll tune in. It’s a feel-good holiday special with all the trimmings – Santa, reindeer, carolers, ice skaters – and a group of home bakers laying their hearts (and desserts) on the line.

And because I couldn’t possibly ask you to watch hungry, Pizzana is launching a limited-edition chocolate peppermint cake through December. Even sweeter: if you order Pizzana to-go on premiere night, December 4, you’ll get a free slice tucked into your order so you can eat cake while you watch.

🎄❤️🎄,

candace

PS: Pizzana is running a Black Friday deal today only! Buy a $100 emailable gift card and get a $25 emailable gift card just for you!