‘Kids Baking Championship’: 3 of Host Valerie Bertinelli’s Most Popular Baked Creations, According to Food Network

Serving as a judge on Food Network’s baking competition Kids Baking Championship since 2015, Valerie Bertinelli has more than earned her credentials as a baked good authority.

Since 2011, she’s hosted Valerie’s Home Cooking and is also the author of two cookbooks. Most importantly, though, she’s created countless cake, cookie, and pie recipes both as a kitchen personality on the Food Network program and as a home cook inspired by her mother’s recipe box. Here now are just a few of her particularly popular sweet treats.

Bertinelli’s Baked Pumpkin Donuts are a healthier treat

In the Food Network video for this recipe Bertinelli clarifies that, although these donuts are baked and not deep-fried, lack of flavor is not an issue.

“I’m not going to fry them, and they’re going to taste just as good,” she says. “I think, actually, even better. And they’ve got all those beautiful flavors of the fall.”

As reviewers confirmed on Food Network’s website, these baked goodies are just as good as their fried originals.

“They are moist and not too sweet. Fried doughnuts got nothin’ on these!,” one home cook wrote. Another fan noted their airy consistency: “These have such a light texture! Delicious!”

Go to Food Network’s website for this recipe.

Valerie Bertinelli’s Neapolitan Cookies are one of her favorite childhood treats

“The baking marathon started right around Thanksgiving,” the former Hot in Cleveland star said of her mother’s holiday cooking. “And my mom just put her heart and soul into these cookies.”

Bertinelli added that home cooks should keep in mind these traditional Italian cookies do require overnight refrigeration in order to set the tri-colored layers.

With their almond extract-infused flavoring and irresistible chocolate ganache, Bertinelli’s Neapolitan Cookies taste as dazzling as they look.

Reviewers said on Food Network’s website: “These are amazing!! I made them for our holiday party. BIG hit! They are so pretty and taste incredible,” and “This has become a must in my holiday gift baskets.”

Get the full recipe on Food Network’s site.

Bertinelli’s Blueberry Cake could be a cake … or a cookie

Of this fruity cake, Bertinelli wrote on her website, “If a cake can have an identity crisis, this is the one,” she said. “Whenever I make this always well-received blueberry cake, a debate ensues between bites: Is it a cake? Or is it a cookie?”

In the end, the Enough Already author wants home cooks to have the final say: “I leave it to you to decide: Is it a cake? Or a cookie?”

Reviewers were impressed with how easy this cake is to make and how impressed guests were with the presentation.

“This was not only easy but delicious. The cake batter came out just like hers and was dynamite! This is a great dessert for company!,” wrote one home cook on Food Network’s site.

Another fan added, “The most fluffy and moist cake I have ever had!”

Find this recipe on Food Network’s site.