Season 11 of Holiday Baking Championship brings 12 new baking fanatics into the Food Network kitchens. This year, $25,000, a feature in Food Network Magazine and, of course, the iconic title of Holiday Baking Champion is on the line. Host Jesse Palmer will be joined by judges Carla Hall, Duff Goldman and Nancy Fuller. Let's meet the Season 11 competitors, shall we?

Megan Knudsvig is a home baker from Chehalis, Washington. She grew up watching cake-decorating videos on Food Network and started baking in high school. Now, she's a mom to three young girls, who also love to bake. “The holidays are the perfect excuse to get together,” she says.

This Jacksonsville, Florida, culinary instructor doesn't mess around. Andre Ward served in the U.S. Army as a pastry chef for 24 years. He also holds two gold medals from the IKA Culinary Olympics.

This self-taught home baker Steven Levitt hails from Aurora, Ontario. He's a fun-loving guy who's all about happiness and smiling — which is why he loves baking. “When you hand someone a baked good, they smile from ear to ear,” he said. “That never ever happens when you hand someone a bowl of steaming broccoli.”