El Paso Baker Competes in Food Network’s ‘Gingerbread Showdown’

An El Paso bakery owner was given the opportunity to win big bucks on a popular Food Network holiday baking show.

Alexa Ortiz, the owner of CakeaholicsEP, appeared on a standalone episode of "Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown, Season 2” competing as a gingerbreader’s baking assistant for a shot at gingerbreading glory and a stocking stuffed with $10,000.

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Showdown Lowdown

In “Gingerbread Showdown,” each episode features three two-person teams tasked with building a themed gingerbread creation for the chance to win the dough.

Alexa and gingerbread artist Peter Williams competed in Episode 6, titled “North Pole Games,” which first aired on Monday, December 12.

The gingerbread makers and baking assistants were challenged “to create giant displays that show off the unique games played up in Santa's stomping grounds.” Whatever was built had to include a moving part and a dessert “made with a ‘strong’ ingredient in honor of all the strong athletes.”

Gingineer Williams’ vision was a gingerbread version of a Roman-inspired coliseum featuring a Reindeer Tug of War with elves and Santa as spectators. Alexa took on the dessert assignment and settled on a Tequila Key Lime Mousse Tart. Her plan was to integrate it as shrubbery around the coliseum.

Spoiler Alert

The duo did not win the $10,000 prize, but Alexa looked like she a lot of fun doing the show.

Her bakery, CakeaholicsEP, is a pickup-only bakery on the Far East side that specializes in custom designer cakes, cookies, and cupcakes.