Food Network cooks up thrills & chills with new seasons of 'Halloween Baking Championship' & 'Halloween Wars'

‘Halloween Baking Championship’ with host John Henson premieres Monday, Sept. 15; ‘Halloween Wars’ with host Jonathan Bennett premieres Sunday, Sept. 21

Food Network Press Release & Photos

Food Network, the go-to destination for holiday programming, is kicking off the season with the return of two fan-favorite, Halloween-themed competitions full of outrageous challenges and spine-tingling, edible creations. Fans can get into the Halloween spirit beginning Monday, Sept. 15 (9 p.m. ET/PT), with the return of “Halloween Baking Championship.” Hosted by John Henson and set in a haunted mansion, the season features myriad dessert challenges, including some inspired by the monsters and deranged clowns of competitors’ worst nightmares.

Then, on Sunday, Sept. 21 (9 p.m.), a new season of “Halloween Wars” premieres with host Jonathan Bennett presiding over this year’s mayhem, as teams of cake, sugar and pumpkin-carving artists create deliciously scary scenes and creatures in epic proportions. Episodes of both series will stream the next day on HBO Max.

“ ‘Halloween Baking Championship’ and ‘Halloween Wars’ kick off Food Network's must-see, seasonal programming each year in spectacular fashion, consistently ranking among the network's top audience drivers,” said Betsy Ayala, head of content, food, Warner Bros Discovery. “This season promises more scares and heart-pounding action as the competing artists do what they do best: Conjure jaw-dropping and terrifying creations from flour, sugar and their imaginations.”

The Halloween season starts with the two-hour, supersized premiere of “Halloween Baking Championship,” where host Henson welcomes a batch of 10 bakers to a terrible haunted mansion filled with secret passageways and scares around every corner. The bakers are tested over seven episodes with a series of sinister challenges inspired by the haunted manor, and the most terrifying aspect of all: their own personal fears. For the first time, the bottom three bakers in most episodes will be forced to bake for their lives as judges Stephanie Boswell, Carla Hall and Zac Young decide whose chilling displays will earn $25,000 and the title of “Halloween Baking Champion”!

Shinmin Li, Aarti Sequeira and Jonathan Bennett on “Halloween Wars.” (Food Network photo)

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Bennett returns as the host of “Halloween Wars,” challenging seven teams of the best cake, sugar and pumpkin artists in the world to create daringly delicious treats. From scenes depicting childhood monsters to an inspired take on the boogeyman’s evil lair, this season’s teams create some of the spookiest and most mouthwatering displays yet. In the end, only one team will impress judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira, and walk away with the “Halloween Wars” championship and the grand prize of $25,000.

Before the action kicks off, don’t miss the “Road to Halloween Wars” special Sunday, Sept 15 (11 p.m.), where aspiring competitors from across the country show off their skills to prove why they deserve to compete for the grand prize.

Fans can check out FoodNetwork.com for the ultimate Halloween destination to watch exclusive clips, browse photo galleries and meet the judges and teams from #HalloweenWars and #HalloweenBakingChampionship, and find entertaining Halloween tips and expert advice from their favorite stars.