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Dessert Wars Orlando 2026 Winners Announced: Chef Kristina Lavallee Leads Judging at America's Largest Dessert Festival
Cantreats by Cantrese wins $5,000, Angelyne's Cookies takes second place, and 13-year-old Sweet Danika earns third place at Dessert Wars Orlando 2026.
ORLANDO, FL — Dessert Wars Orlando 2026 brought together talented bakers, dessert entrepreneurs, and food lovers on Saturday, October 17, at the Central Florida Fairgrounds for an unforgettable celebration of creativity, flavor, and competition.
Billed as America's Largest Dessert Festival, the event showcased dessert businesses competing for $8,500 in cash prizes, with celebrity cake designer Kristina Lavallee, founder of Tampa's award-winning bakery The Cake Girl, serving as Lead Judge.
Lavallee was joined by fellow judges Baileigh Bockover of FOX 35 Orlando and Orlando food influencer Kyla Sanae, known as @theorlandoqueen, bringing together baking expertise, local media, and food industry perspectives.
From impressive desserts to an inspiring young entrepreneur, this year's Orlando competition gave attendees plenty to celebrate.
Who Won Dessert Wars Orlando 2026?
Three dessert businesses took home top honors and a combined $8,500 in cash prizes at Dessert Wars Orlando 2026.
First Place: Cantreats by Cantrese — $5,000
Cantreats by Cantrese earned the grand prize of $5,000, taking first place at Dessert Wars Orlando 2026.
The victory marked an exciting achievement for the dessert business and its creative work.
Second Place: Angelyne's Cookies — $2,500
Angelyne's Cookies took home second place and a $2,500 cash prize, earning recognition among the talented dessert businesses competing at the festival.
Third Place: Sweet Danika — $1,000
One of the most inspiring stories of Dessert Wars Orlando came from Sweet Danika, a 13-year-old entrepreneur who earned third place and a $1,000 cash prize.
At just 13 years old, Danika competed alongside other dessert entrepreneurs and earned a spot among the competition's top three winners. Her accomplishment is a reminder that passion, creativity, and determination can begin at any age.
Congratulations to Cantreats by Cantrese, Angelyne's Cookies, Sweet Danika, and every competitor who participated!
Meet the Dessert Wars Orlando 2026 Judges
Dessert Wars Orlando brought together personalities from the baking, television, and food influencer communities to help recognize the talent behind the competing desserts.
Kristina Lavallee — Lead Judge
Celebrity cake designer, entrepreneur, and founder of The Cake Girl in Tampa, Florida, Lavallee brought years of professional baking experience and industry knowledge to the competition.
Baileigh Bockover — Judge
Representing FOX 35 Orlando, Bockover joined the judging panel, bringing a Central Florida media perspective to the event.
Kyla Sanae (@theorlandoqueen) — Judge
Orlando content creator and food influencer Kyla Sanae, known online as @theorlandoqueen, joined the panel, bringing her perspective on Orlando's food, dining, and local experiences.
Together, the judges helped celebrate the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the dessert businesses participating in the competition.
From Baking at Home to Leading Dessert Wars: Kristina Lavallee's Journey
For Kristina Lavallee, serving as Lead Judge of Dessert Wars Orlando was especially meaningful.
A graduate of the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Lavallee returned to Orlando as a nationally recognized cake designer and entrepreneur.
Her journey began in 2008 with a home-based baking business. Over the years, that passion evolved into a dessert truck, a Tampa storefront, national television appearances, celebrity collaborations, and a growing bakery franchise brand.
Lavallee has been featured on NBC's TODAY, Fox & Friends, Food Network, Telemundo's Hoy Día, People, Entrepreneur, TMZ, and Access Hollywood, among other national media outlets.
Her celebrity clientele includes Cardi B, Tom Brady, Marcus Lemonis, Daymond John, Jason Momoa, and Jesse Cole, founder of the Savannah Bananas.
Under her leadership, The Cake Girl has been voted Best Cakes and Best Cupcakes in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay awards for five consecutive years.
Beyond the recognition, Lavallee remains passionate about supporting fellow bakers, celebrating entrepreneurship, and encouraging the next generation of creative business owners.
Seeing 13-year-old Sweet Danika place among the top three at Dessert Wars Orlando reflects the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that makes the baking industry so special.
Relive the Sweet Moments! From the incredible desserts to the excitement of the competition, Jamaal Treasures captured the sights, smiles, and sweet victories of Dessert Wars Orlando 2026 through photography and video. Check out the Dessert Wars Orlando photo and video coverage by Jamaal Treasures for a behind-the-scenes look at the event!
What Is Dessert Wars?
Dessert Wars is a traveling dessert festival and competition promoted as America's Largest Dessert Festival.
The event brings together dessert vendors and food enthusiasts to discover creative sweets, support independent businesses, and celebrate the people behind the desserts.
Dessert Wars Orlando 2026 took place on October 17 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, with competing dessert businesses pursuing top honors and cash prizes.
For independent bakers and dessert entrepreneurs, events like Dessert Wars provide an opportunity to introduce their creations to new audiences and gain recognition for their work.
Next Stop: Dessert Wars Tampa 2026
Following the Orlando competition, Dessert Wars heads to Tampa on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Kristina Lavallee will once again serve as Lead Judge, this time alongside a panel of Tampa Bay media personalities and food influencers:
Jamison Uhler: Seven-time Emmy Award-winning news anchor at 10 Tampa Bay.
Ray Roa: Editor-in-Chief of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
Tiana Maamari: Tampa Bay food influencer, @foodbytiana.
Alyssa Ramos: Tampa Bay food influencer, @tampafoodiess.
The Tampa competition will bring another exciting opportunity to celebrate dessert makers and the businesses behind their creations.
For more information, visit Dessert Wars.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dessert Wars Orlando 2026
Who won Dessert Wars Orlando 2026?
Cantreats by Cantrese won first place and $5,000. Angelyne's Cookies earned second place and $2,500, while Sweet Danika finished third and received $1,000.
Who was the lead judge of Dessert Wars Orlando 2026?
Kristina Lavallee, celebrity cake designer and founder of The Cake Girl in Tampa, Florida, served as lead judge of Dessert Wars Orlando 2026.
Who were the judges at Dessert Wars Orlando 2026?
Confirmed members of the judging panel included Kristina Lavallee, FOX 35 Orlando's Baileigh Bockover, and Kyla Sanae, known as @theorlandoqueen.
Who is Kyla Sanae, also known as The Orlando Queen?
Kyla Sanae (@theorlandoqueen) is an Orlando content creator and food influencer who participated as a judge at Dessert Wars Orlando 2026.
How old is Sweet Danika, the third-place winner?
Sweet Danika is 13 years old and earned third place and a $1,000 cash prize at Dessert Wars Orlando 2026.
Where was Dessert Wars Orlando 2026 held?
The event took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida.
Is Kristina Lavallee judging Dessert Wars Tampa 2026?
Yes. Kristina Lavallee will serve as lead judge of Dessert Wars Tampa on October 24, 2026, at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
About The Cake Girl
Founded by celebrity cake designer Kristina Lavallee, The Cake Girl is an award-winning custom cake bakery based in Tampa, Florida, specializing in custom celebration cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes, and extraordinary edible creations.
Through national media appearances, celebrity collaborations, community involvement, and franchise development, The Cake Girl continues to celebrate creativity and entrepreneurship in the baking industry.
Learn more at TheCakeGirl.com.
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