We’ve all seen the dazzling, terrifying spectacles of competitive baking, but what happens when the oven cools and the cameras stop rolling? We sat down with Plymouth resident Megan Carroll, who recently braved the challenges of Food Network’s “Halloween Baking Championship.”
Now running her micro-bakery, The Kindred Cottage, Megan shares her journey from recipe developer and food photographer to TV competitor, discussing everything from the wisdom learned on set to the pure joy of making things by hand. She reveals that sometimes, the biggest lesson is that “it’s anyone’s game.” Here, she reflects on the intense schedule, the infamous “spider fart” moment, and what the true spirit of Minnesota means to her as a mom, entrepreneur, and resilient baker.
Courtesy of Megan Carroll/Food Network
Q: Let’s start with an easy one… blondie or brownie?
MEGAN CARROLL (MC): Brownie, a hundred percent.
Q: And you like a brownie mix, don’t you?
MC: I think it’s easy! Because I’m a recipe developer, I’m used to working with people who maybe don’t bake often. So, if I can come up with a really fun recipe that uses a simple store-bought brownie mix, that’s awesome. But if I’m making them for my family? Oh no, those are absolutely homemade.
Q: Tell me about a day in your life here in Minnesota as a recipe developer and all that.
MC: I’m in a state of flux, really. For years, I was a food photographer and recipe developer, mostly working with bloggers. I’d either create or shoot recipes for their sites. But honestly, when AI rolled out this past year, my business fell out from underneath me. It was awful, but it forced a great change. I created The Kindred Cottage, which is my micro-bakery and makery. Now I take sourdough breads, homemade perfumes, beauty products, and my custom spice and rice mixes directly to the farmers markets.
Q: Why is making something with your hands important to you?
MC: I think gifting is one of my core love languages. So, having The Kindred Cottage allows me to make treats and goods with my hands and, in a way, gift them to people. Even though they’re buying them, it feels like I’m sharing that love. It’s truly wonderful to create something that brings someone else genuine joy.
Q: You made me very nervous and very Minnesota proud to watch you on the show. What’s the biggest lesson you learned about yourself from the “Halloween Baking Championship”?
MC: The biggest lesson I learned is just how amazing these competitions are because you pull people from all different walks of life and throw them into these huge challenges. Literally, day by day, you’ll see the top people crumble and the bottom people move to the top—it’s anyone’s game!
It’s not clear-cut from the beginning; it just depends on that challenge, the weather, whatever it is. It makes you realize life is the same way, right? You just put yourself out there, and it might just be your day to win.
Courtesy of Megan Carroll/Instagram
Q: Tell me about a typical day on the set of “Halloween Baking Championship”.
MC: It was certainly a schedule! We would get picked up and head straight to the set to get into our outfits for the day, get mic’d up, and make sure we looked camera-ready. Then, we’d get ready for the challenge. We did hours and hours of interviews because they wanted to hear all the details about our creations. Once on set, they’d give us the challenge, and then it was time to literally go. We would be baking our butts off! It was exhausting, but also incredibly fun and exciting.
JS: People may not realize that two hours is not two hours. It’s two hours of baking, but it’s also cleaning the kitchens and setting the tables and all that. It’s crazy!
MC: Exactly! After you’re done baking, you have more hours of interviews, followed by the judging. It’s a very long, stressful day. You don’t get that instant, “OK, you won or you didn’t” moment. It’s a whole day of feeling that tension and wondering, “Oh gosh, how did I do?” It definitely makes for a very intense competition experience.
Courtesy of Food Network
Q: I don’t think this is a spoiler or not, but tell me about the spider fart. What did you think in that moment?
MC: Oh, that thing nearly drove me nuts! I was so excited about that cake, and I had huge plans for it. Unfortunately, due to some technical issues, it just didn’t work out.
The biggest issue was that the cake wasn’t baking properly, which completely pushed back all my timing. That forced me to put it in the refrigerator while waiting for judging, and the cold caused the balloon to lose air—that’s why the pop didn’t work. It was a choice: risk the big reveal failing or risk the entire cake structure falling over. It was a stressful moment, to say the least!
JS: You might forever be known as the “spider fart lady”.
MC: Apparently!
Q: What tips do you have for home bakers?
MC: Honestly, the biggest thing is just to have fun with it. Yes, baking can be really scientific, difficult, and there’s a lot that goes into it. But you can also just relax and enjoy it! It doesn’t need to be that serious. It’s OK if something doesn’t work out, even if it ends up being a “spider fart”! Don’t let the stress take over.
Q: Favorite Minnesota Fall activity?
MC: Definitely either apple orchards or pumpkin patches. Like, love it, I’d go as many times as I can.
Q: Favorite Minnesota bakery?
MC: That is a tough one. The original Hans’ in Anoka.
Q: Recipe developer, Kindred Cottage, being a mom. What’s a typical day in Minnesota like for you?
MC: You know, it depends on the day, but honestly, I am up at like six every morning. I start my sourdough, get my daughter awake and off to school, then come home to do more sourdough, make cookies, work on labeling perfume bottles and lip balms, or make tea, whatever I need to refill that day. And then going and picking her up from school, and coming home to make and bake.
Q: Do you have a secret for your sourdough?
MC: Yes! This is definitely my secret: I don’t think anybody puts enough salt in their sourdough. I genuinely believe you need more salt than the recipes tell you to put in. That’s what gives it that depth of flavor.
Q: Minnesota Monthly is dedicated to the spirit of Minnesota. What does the spirit of Minnesota mean to you?
MC: Minnesota is just so special. I think the people here are so kind, and they are so caring. They almost always put themselves last—they want to make sure they’re taking care of their neighbors and taking care of the state in general. The spirit of Minnesota is really all about kindness, and that is truly what makes it such a wonderful place to live.
