Church Lady: A Slice of Sunday

This cake is more than yellow layers and chocolate frosting—it’s a memory.

It’s sitting at my grandparents’ place after church, still dressed in your Sunday best, listening to grown folks talk, laugh, and sneak in gossip between gospel records and reruns of old shows.

The Church Lady cake is classic. Familiar. Comforting.
Just like the women who raised us with tough love, hard prayers, and unbeatable pound cake.

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I don’t drink milk—never have. So my slice was always paired with a red Solo cup of that iconic church punch. You know the one. Sweet, bright red, ice cold. If the Caribbean lady made it that week? It might’ve had guava juice… maybe papaya. You never knew—but it always hit.

This is that cake.
The one that shows up at every occasion but especially matters on Sundays.
The one that says “you’re home.”

If you bake it pls tag me! also pls share your grandparents recipes with me, i would love to try it! and maybe we can make some content together around it!

Embracing the Spotlight: How Engagement Fuels Growth (Because Life Is Messy, But It’s Still Sweet)

“Don’t read the comments,” they say.
I say, dive into them headfirst — like a glitter sprinkle into warm cake batter.

I’ve read the comments. Every last one.
The shady ones. The sweet ones. The “how did HE get on the show?” ones.
And you know what? I’m not ducking. I’m not dodging.
I’m right there — screenshotting, sipping tea, soaking it in.

Because part of notoriety is critique, and part of being self-made means learning how to listen without folding.
This isn’t just about ego — it’s about engagement, growth, and strategy.

What They See Is What I Built

When Spring Baking Championship Season 11 dropped, there were 13 contestants.
All talented. All worthy.
But somehow, you remembered me. You said my name. You debated my cake. You laughed, you commented, you reposted — and even when you didn’t mean to support, you helped me grow.

I’m not here because of a fluke.
I’m here because I’ve got:

• 11 years of real baking experience

• An Ivy League digital marketing education

• A brand, a story, and a product I built from the ground up

• And most of all — VISION

Let’s Talk Numbers — Real Ones

Since the premiere aired:

• 3,200+ visits to my website in under two weeks

• 2,100+ pageviews

• Visitors are spending 5+ minutes on my blog posts

• 59% of site traffic is from iPhones — meaning people are looking me up live while watching

That’s impact. That’s reach. That’s conversion through curiosity.

People aren’t just watching.
They’re searching my name.
They’re checking my site.
They’re reading, clicking, and most importantly — engaging.

The Comments Ain’t Just Drama — They’re Data

Sure, I’ve seen things like:

“Kareem is so sweet, but that cake? He gotta go!”

And I’ve seen people ride for me too, like:

“Okay but y’all can’t act like ANY of those cakes were good. At least his had a story.”

Here’s the thing: even the critique is a win.
Because engagement fuels growth.
Whether you came for the cake or stayed for the charisma — I got you here.
And that’s marketing, baby.

Every Reddit thread, TikTok stitch, tweet, comment, or roast is a reminder that I’m memorable.
That’s the goal in brand-building — be unforgettable.

How to Track the Buzz

Want to follow your own impact in real time? Here’s how I’m doing it:

1. Google Search Console — See what keywords people are searching to find your site. I track phrases like “Kareem Youngblood Baker” and “Spring Baking Championship Kareem.”

2. Squarespace or Website Analytics — Watch for spikes in traffic after an episode airs. Look for bounce rate, time on page, and where people are clicking from (Reddit? Instagram? Direct?).

3. Google Trends — You can literally compare your name to other contestants or even other seasons. I saw spikes in searches for me specifically in Puerto Rico, Australia, and the U.S.

4. Reddit & Social Media Search — Type your name into Reddit or TikTok and sort by “new.” You’ll see the rawest, realest convos — that’s gold for learning what sticks.

5. Screenshots are receipts — Don’t just read, document. Save praise, critique, confusion — it’s all part of your growth archive.

If I Have to Be the Face of “Try Anyway,” I Will

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I’ve been in the bottom. Twice.
And I still showed up with a smile, flavor, and the kind of hustle that can’t be taught.

So if I have to be the one to:

• Take the Ls with grace

• Show your kids that winning includes losing

• Inspire someone sitting at home to say, “Wait... maybe I could do that too”

Then I’ll be that bitch every day.

Kareem On Brooklyn Roof top in PANGAIA

Like Me, Like PANGAIA — It’s About Sustainability

This moment? It’s not just about cakes or clapbacks.
It’s about transformation and sustainability — the kind you feel in your spirit and your strategy.

Turning critique into fuel.
Turning struggle into story.
Turning your flowers into down — literally (FLWRDWN™).

That’s why I connect so deeply with PANGAIA — not just as a brand, but as a mirror of my mindset.

• Pan = all, everyone, everything

• Gaia = Mother Earth

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Together? It’s unity. It’s innovation. It’s vision.
They’re not just making clothes — they’re merging science and nature to create a better future.
That’s what I’m doing, too — just with sugar, story, and soul.

PANGAIA is the only brand I really want to wear right now.
Their values are my values.
Their mission to sustain the Earth? Matches my mission to sustain the dream.

✨ Use promo code [Qvrkv0zs6] for a discount on your first order — if you’re ready to wear something that means something.

Final Slice 🍰

I didn’t come to serve perfection.
I came to serve realness, heart, and hustle.

So if you see me in the comments, don’t be surprised.
I’m not there to fight — I’m there to learn, to laugh, to listen, and to keep baking forward.

Because life?
Life is messy. But it’s still sweet.

And I’m just getting started.

My Cake Isn’t from the Nether? Hold On, Y’all… Hear Me Out!

Defending My Warped Forest Cake: A True Minecraft-Inspired Creation in Spring Baking Championship Episode 2

Intro: My Cake Was a Tribute to the Warped Forest—Not a Mistake

The Warped Forest is a biome that is found in the Nether dimension and was added in the Nether Update (Minecraft 1.16). It is known for its greenish-blue landscape and tree-like structures. This is the only Nether biome where you can find enderman.

Episode 2 of Spring Baking Championship challenged us to bring Minecraft to life in cake form, and I got the Netherworld as my assigned biome. Naturally, I went deep into Minecraft lore and pulled inspiration from one of the most unique, surreal, and underrated biomes in the game—the Warped Forest.

For those who don’t know, the Warped Forest is the most peaceful part of the Nether, but it’s still otherworldly. The vivid blue-green colors, eerie fungi, and glowing shroomlights make it feel like a dreamscape, and I wanted my cake to capture that magic. But when the judges saw it, they didn’t quite get it. So let me break it down.

What Is the Warped Forest?

The Warped Forest is a biome introduced in Minecraft’s Nether Update (1.16). Unlike the fiery chaos of the rest of the Nether, this space has:

• Warped Nylium-covered ground (a teal-blue version of the Nether’s terrain)

• Giant Warped Trees with twisting vines

• Glowing Shroomlights nestled within the foliage

• Endermen lurking around, the only mobs that spawn there

This isn’t a hellscape—it’s a mystical, almost alien landscape inside the Nether, where vibrant blues and eerie greens contrast against the lava-filled world around it.

How My Cake Captured the Warped Forest Vibe

When given the Netherworld as my assignment, I knew I didn’t want to go with the expected lava-and-fire theme that most people associate with the Nether. Instead, I wanted to showcase the depth of the Minecraft world by representing the Warped Forest’s beauty and mystery in a dessert.

What do you think now?

Spring Baking Championship A Minecraft Movie

Kardea, Duff, Nancy, And Jessie Spring Baking Championship Host and judges with Minecraft characters

Another wild episode—back-to-back two-hour challenges? Insane. Out of 11 seasons, we were the first to have two of them in a row, which is pretty huge. Was it hard? 100%.

Jesse Palmer had us making Minecraft-inspired square fruit entremets, each featuring an assigned fruit to create geometric, visually striking desserts. Then, we teamed up to bring A Minecraft Movie to life with landscape cakes—one baker representing the Overworld, the other the Netherworld—all connected by an edible portal that tied the worlds together in both design and taste.

Kareem Youngblood on set of Spring Baking Championship

Now, let’s talk about square cakes. They are brutal. Even with unlimited time, getting sharp edges takes layers of patience. Chill, ice, clean up, repeat—over and over—until it’s crisp. I always allot extra time when making square cakes, but on a competition clock? Whew.

That said, I’m not here to complain because I had a blast, and Team Pri-K was safe tonight!

Speaking of Priya Winsor—absolute rockstar. A mom, pastry chef, and chocolatier who lives for chocolate. Her business in St. Albert, Alberta, is all about handcrafted sweets—bonbons, bars, and confections. Working with her was a highlight—she's one of my favorite gals. Team Pri-K 5 Ever!

From a Brooklyn 2 Food Network:

From the heart of Brooklyn to the national stage, Kareem Youngblood’s journey to Spring Baking Championship is a testament to resilience, passion, and family legacy.

Born in 1985 during the crack and HIV epidemic, Kareem was raised by his grandfather in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. With his father absent and

his mother battling addiction—now over 30 years clean—Kareem found strength in his grandfather, the neighborhood’s unofficial patriarch, who made sure no one went hungry.

"Even though I wasn’t classically trained, my education came from life itself—I went to the University of Grandpa and YouTube," Kareem says. "He taught me everything I know about food—not the fancy stuff, but the real, soul-satisfying kind."

Now, that foundation has led him to Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship Season 11, where he’s set to showcase his talent, heart, and hustle.

A Story of Loss, Strength & Full-Circle Moments

Kareem’s journey isn’t just about food—it’s about loss, growth, and stepping into his purpose. His grandfather passed away on May 22, 2022, after a battle with kidney failure. The hardest decision of Kareem’s life was choosing not to put him on dialysis, knowing it would make his final days harder. Instead, he made a promise: one more sunny day—the same words from one of his grandfather’s favorite gospel songs.

After bringing him home for one last Thanksgiving together, Kareem stayed by his side until the end, personally washing and dressing him after he passed and carrying him to the funeral home van. Every last penny of his grandfather’s life insurance went toward what he calls his “grieve-cation”—a healing journey to Big Bend Summit and Cancún.

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"My grandpa didn’t die for me to pay bills," Kareem jokes. But in truth, the trip helped him heal—Big Bend gave him clarity, Cancún reminded him to live again. Then, exactly two years later to the date, Kareem found himself competing on Spring Baking Championship. "It wasn’t just a baking competition—it was a full-circle moment," Kareem shares. "Everything I had been through led me to that kitchen."

Don’t miss Kareem as he bakes his heart out and brings his Brooklyn roots to the national stage! Mondays 8pm on Food Network

Host Jesse Palmer, Judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Kardea Brown as seen on Food Network Spring Baking Championship