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Gluten-Free Baker Wins “Cupcake Wars” on Food Network

December 20, 2011

Gluten-Free Baker Wins “Cupcake Wars” on Food Network

Owner of Portland’s Crave Bake Shop takes first place in popular TV competition.

Last Sunday, Kyra Bussanich, owner of Crave Bake Shop in Portland, OR, became the first gluten-free pastry chef to win “Cupcake Wars,” a highly rated show on The Food Network. She competed on taste, texture and appearance against traditional bakers who had no restrictions on their ingredients.

Chef Bussanich previously appeared on the TV series in December 2010, when she came in 2nd place. She was invited back to compete against four other bakers who had appeared in previous episodes. This time, Bussanich’s gluten-free baking took the cake, as she was named the winner. Get Chef Bussanich’s recipe for gluten-free Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes.

Crave Bake Shop isn’t the only gluten-free bakery to appear on “Cupcake Wars.” Allison Lubert and Heather Esposito of Philadelphia’s Sweet Freedom Bakery represented the gluten-free community in an episode that aired last December.

The Food Network will rebroadcast the episode of “Cupcake Wars” featuring Chef Bussanich’s win this Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. ET.

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