Jen Childs | GCBS Baker Bio

Jen Childs | GCBS Baker Bio

Jen Childs, 45 (she/her)
Hometown: Esquimalt, BC
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Instagram: @jen.m.childs

Jen sets the record for most applications submitted before finally reaching the baking tent, having auditioned for the show every year since Season 1. Applying became an annual tradition that her husband and their three kids dubbed
"baking season" as her experimentation with new treats kicked into high gear as soon as casting opened. Her perseverance paid off on the eighth time around. 

The rest of the year, Jen's Vancouver Island family loves to have fun together outdoors, spending their time kayaking, paddleboarding and skiing. Always up for a challenge, Jen races on extreme obstacle courses several times each year and has become an ambassador for the sport.

When did you start baking? I grew up in a family that bakes a lot. The first big thing I remember baking myself was a Baked Alaska. I'm pretty dorky and I thought it was super cool that you could put ice cream in the oven. From there, the bakes just got more ambitious!

What's your signature bake? Butter tarts are a family favourite. My grandma and then my mom used to bring them to family gatherings, and now I make them whenever we get together with family. The family recipe was my great-grandmother's and butter tarts are such a crowd-pleaser.

What is your fondest memory in the kitchen? I love to make cakes, fillings and icings for my kids and decorate them together. It's so much fun to see their creativity.

Why do you think you can be Canada's Best Amateur Baker? I already feel like a star baker being one of the bakers chosen to bake in the tent! Hopefully, all my years of auditioning and practising will help me be successful in all my bakes.

Watch The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC Gem.