Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heavy promo, slow pace, amazing Potter-inspired bakes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In HARRY POTTER: WIZARDS OF BAKING, teams of pastry chefs and cake artists make magical edible sculptures based on the movie and book series. Filmed at the Harry Potter film studio in the UK, the baking challenges take place in many of the most familiar locations from the movies. The challenges are hosted by James and Oliver Phelps (aka the Weasley twins) and judged by celebrity chefs Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef. Actors from the movies make special appearances, including Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood). The bakes themselves are inspired by different parts of the Harry Potter world—from Luna's train trolley, to the Whomping Willow, to the Mirror of Erised. They also all feature a "magical" interactive element befitting the wizarding world. The Wizards of Baking winners will have a recipe featured in a cookbook and take home the coveted Wizards of Baking cup.
Is It Any Good?
The premise of this cooking competition show seems like a slam-dunk for Potter and baking obsessed muggles, but it falls flat on its execution. The Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking pacing is extremely slow, with the premiere episode lasting almost 90 minute. It's magical when one team appears to have traveled to the set via floo powder and fireplaces, but the charm wears off when nine teams repeat the same gag. Even the charismatic judge Carla Hall and the fun Potter movie sets can't provide enough magic to keep Wizards of Baking from falling into the category of "background TV." Kid Potter fanatics are likely to lose interest while watching.
The actual baking is pretty impressive, and the bakers faithfully recreate some of the movies' most imaginative scenes. Fans of Food Network competition shows and Netflix's Is It Cake? will recognize some talented familiar faces. If families fast forward through the fluff, they'll be rewarded with some magical Potter-y confections.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the talents contestants need to be good at the Wizards of Baking competition: design, sculpting, engineering, and baking. How do you think the competitors learned how to do all these things? Would you like to learn how to get better at any of these skills?
Do you think this show is trying to sell you anything? How does it make you feel about Harry Potter as a company or brand?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 14, 2024
- Cast : James Phelps , Oliver Phelps , Carla Hall , Jozef Youssef
- Networks : Food Network , Max
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Cooking , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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