Stoddard bakery owner wins finale of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship

It was well worth the price of admission for the owner of a little bakery in Stoddard, Wis.

Jen Barney (on right in picture above), owner of the Meringue Bakery in Stoddard, won the $50,000 grand prize last night on the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship.

Barney watched the finale with family and friends after her parents rented out the hometown movie theater in Stanley, Wis., and put an ad in the paper inviting everyone.

Since the show first aired this fall, Barney has had to hire a second full-time baker, as her cake making business has exploded.

Now, perhaps she’ll need to use those winnings for a bigger bakery.