Jennifer Barney, a Stoddard, Wisconsin native, won the Food Network's Holiday Baking Championship Monday night.
Barney opened Meringue Bakery in Stoddard three years ago after graduating from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, according to TODAY'S TMJ4 sister station WISC-TV.
Barney didn't even have to apply. She was picked to compete on the show and contacted directly by the Food Network. She was one of eight people chosen out of thousands to ultimately compete in the Holiday Baking Championship.
The desert that one her the title, a gingerbread cake with eggnog buttercream decorated to represent "six geese a laying" from the popular Christmas song.
The baker took home a $50,000 prize and recognition one of the best pastry chefs in the country.
