Ep 6. The Pie of the Beholder

In the seventh season of Kids Baking Championship, young contestants between the ages of 8 to 13 battle it out for a chance to win $25,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine. The sixth episode is titled "The Pie of the Beholder," and it opens with the host, Valerie Bertinelli, asking the kids to create their best fruit pies.

The first challenge requires the contestants to use their creative skills to make a decorative lattice pie crust. Valerie instructs them to use a variety of fruit fillings and reminds them to keep their pies consistent with their chosen flavors. The young bakers are given 90 minutes to complete their pies, and they quickly get to work.

Most of the kids opt to make classic fruit pies, like apple, cherry, or blueberry, but some of them incorporate unique ingredients to set their pies apart. One contestant uses peaches and raspberries to make a peach melba-inspired pie, while another incorporates lemon and thyme into their blueberry filling.

As the bakers work, they face challenges such as dough that's too dry or too soft, unevenly sliced fruit, and cracked crusts. Despite these obstacles, the kids persevere, and soon the kitchen is filled with the aromas of fresh fruit and warm pie crusts.

After the time is up, Valerie and the guest judges, pastry chefs Zac Young and Amanda Freitag, taste each pie and give feedback on the taste and appearance. They praise the bakers for their efforts and creativity. However, they also offer constructive criticism, noting issues like undercooked crusts or overpowering spices.

The second challenge is a twist on a classic pie - the pizza pie. The young bakers must create a sweet dessert pizza using a variety of toppings like fruit, chocolate, and candy. They are given 60 minutes to complete their pizzas and must once again balance creativity with consistency.

Some of the kids opt for traditional pizza toppings like strawberries and Nutella, while others incorporate more unconventional ingredients like popcorn and marshmallows. One contestant even makes a s'mores-inspired pizza with graham cracker crust, chocolate sauce, and toasted marshmallows.

As the time ticks down, the bakers scramble to add the finishing touches to their pizzas, carefully arranging their toppings to create eye-catching designs. In the end, the judges are impressed with the variety of flavors and textures that the bakers have created.

After tasting each pizza, Valerie and the judges deliberate on who will be sent home and who will move on to the next round. The decision is a tough one, as all of the kids have shown immense talent throughout the challenge. In the end, one contestant is eliminated, while the rest move on to the next episode, where they will continue to show their baking prowess.

Overall, "The Pie of the Beholder" is a fun and exciting episode that allows the young bakers to showcase their creativity and skill. The challenges encourage the contestants to step out of their comfort zones and experiment with new flavors and techniques, leading to some truly impressive results. Fans of the show will not want to miss this exciting installment, which is sure to leave them craving a slice of pie or dessert pizza.