Ohio Couple Appears on Hallmark Channel’s ‘Baked with Love: Holiday’
Ben Bruening and Gabrielle Payne from Hudson share heirloom recipes, festive treats and the chaos of filming, all while welcoming their first child.
When Gabrielle Payne and Ben Bruening step into the kitchen, it’s never just about following a recipe. For the Hudson, Ohio-based couple, baking is a way to connect to family and tradition, and it’s exactly what they brought to “Baked with Love: Holiday,” Hallmark Channel’s newest baking competition. From winning a county fair with a carrot cake that went viral to recipes for dishes handed down from relatives who grew up Amish and chocolate-chip-cookie-obsessed grandparents, the couple’s story is as rich as the desserts they create.
The series premiered Oct. 27 and airs Mondays at 9 p.m., with its eight-episode season running through Dec. 15. Outside the the ”Baked with Love: Holiday” baking barn, the couple balances careers. Gabrielle, in addition to being a content creator, works as social media manager for Duquesne University’s Department of Education, while Ben is digital analyst at Progressive Insurance. With their first child, Teddy, on the way during filming — and now seven weeks old — their plate has been full.
On Baking
For Ben and Gabrielle, baking is both a passion and a routine.
“I started making carrot cake for my family ...” Ben says. “Eventually, I felt like I kind of perfected my carrot cake as far as my family was concerned, and so I entered that cake into the Geauga County Fair."
The cake went on to win first place during the fair and even went viral on Instagram and TikTok. “Everybody of course was like ‘What’s the recipe?’ and we were like, ‘We can’t gatekeep this,’” Gabrielle says. “The more of this carrot cake out there in the world, the better.”
They were asked to be on “Baked with Love: Holiday” after a casting director discovered the viral video online and reached out. On the show, their strengths complement each other well. Gabrielle focuses on decoration and finishing touches, while Ben manages structure and planning. Challenges pushed them to experiment with new flavors, from cardamom with orange to marzipan, and rethink familiar recipes. Gabrielle calls the experience a “baking boot camp” that taught them to adapt, take risks and grow, all while honoring family recipes.
On Family
Their recipes are rooted in family and place. Ben’s grandmother, who grew up Amish, passed down her recipes for from-scratch treats like apple crisp, which was featured on the show. Gabrielle’s family is known for chocolate chip cookies, baked weekly for decades by her grandma Lil, who has locally been called, “Cookie Lil.”
“Food has always been a love language for our families,” Gabrielle says. “Getting to bring together two of the biggest, most important pieces of our lives, which are family and food, made the show [feel like it] was made for us."
From maple syrup tastings in Burton to the small-town feel of Hudson, Ohio, their creations are deeply inspired by the region they call home.
On Reality TV
Filming a reality baking show was intense. The couple worked in a fully outfitted, holiday-decorated barn with cameras rolling and crew bustling around.
“It didn’t feel like we were competing against the other teams,” Ben says. “It felt more like we were competing against ourselves.
The show highlights the stories behind each recipe, adding an emotional layer to the competition. Gabrielle remembers an episode honoring her late grandparents with a cherished holiday recipe.
“It was just so special to get to share their story as a special tribute to them,” Gabrielle says. “That was so fun about the show; not only getting to share our family recipes, but every one of the contestants ... It was just so cool to get to witness and hear about all their family stories too, and the recipes and flavors that they love, and honestly it inspired us.”
On Each Other
Their baking partnership mirrors their relationship: a balance of spontaneity and strategy. Gabrielle recalls an emotional moment early in filming while pregnant.
“Episode two, there were some tears,” Gabrielle says. “Ben, he was so loving, and it just helped me realize that … you’ve just got to take a breath and keep going.”
They rely on each other to navigate stress and the pressure of competition, each bringing different strengths to the challenges.
“It worked out really good, where I felt like it was a good balance, and each challenge we brought something different,” Ben says.
On Christmas
Holidays are a time for family, food and tradition. Recipes like Ben’s grandmother’s bumbleberry pie, Gabrielle’s chocolate-chip cookies and their carrot cake are staples. Even their wedding featured a cookie table stacked with family favorites instead of cake.
The couple also embraces festive family rituals, dressing as Mr. and Mrs. Claus for massive family gatherings that includes cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews and more. Now, with Teddy a part of the family, the couple continues to pass down these traditions, while also sharing their holiday baking favorites with the nation.
“Life these days just feels really, really nice to slow down, and it’s fun that we still get a chance to do a lot of baking,” Gabrielle says.
For more information on “Baked with Love: Holiday,” visit hallmarkchannel.com.
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