Who Is Andy de la Cruz? Holiday Baking Championship Season 13
Andy de la Cruz is a professional pastry chef from West Covina, California, competing on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship Season 13. He has worked at several prestigious Southern California hotels and restaurants, including The Beverly Hills Hotel, Bouchon in Beverly Hills, Cicada Los Angeles, and Fashion Island Hotel.
In August 2021, De la Cruz was appointed Lead Pastry Chef at The Westin Anaheim Resort. He is known for creative cake decorating, artisanal breadmaking, and elaborate edible holiday displays. His television appearances include The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown, Beat Bobby Flay, and a 2025 Road to Halloween Wars feature.
He joined Holiday Baking Championship in November 2026, bringing decades of pastry experience to the competition for the $25,000 grand prize.
Andy de la Cruz: Quick Biography
- Full name: Andy de la Cruz
- Profession: Pastry chef and cake designer
- Based in: West Covina, California
- Known for: Creative pastry work and elaborate edible displays
- Previous workplace: Fashion Island Hotel, Newport Beach
- Hotel appointment: Lead Pastry Chef at The Westin Anaheim Resort in 2021
- Television appearances: The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown, Beat Bobby Flay, Road to Halloween Wars, and Holiday Baking Championship
- Current competition: Holiday Baking Championship Season 13
- Age: Approximately 50–51 in 2026
- Education: Specific culinary school not independently confirmed
- Instagram: @adlcchef
Where Is Andy de la Cruz From?
Andy de la Cruz is based in West Covina, California. Much of his professional career has taken place in Southern California, particularly in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, and Anaheim.
Andy de la Cruz’s Pastry Chef Career
De la Cruz has built his career through decades of experience in professional pastry kitchens. His previous workplaces include The Beverly Hills Hotel, Cicada Los Angeles, and Bouchon in Beverly Hills.
One of his longest professional positions was at Fashion Island Hotel in Newport Beach, where he worked as a pastry chef for more than 13 years.
During his time there, he oversaw pastry operations, developed seasonal dessert offerings, and managed the hotel’s Market Place. He also led a team of seven pastry chefs and helped coordinate pastry production for hotel events.
His work combined traditional pastry techniques with creative cake decorating and large-scale dessert presentations.
In a 2025 television feature, De la Cruz said he had been making cakes and baking cookies for approximately 30 years. He also explained that his experience in restaurants eventually led him into the hotel industry, where he continued developing his skills under experienced chefs.
His Career at The Westin Anaheim Resort
Andy de la Cruz joined The Westin Anaheim Resort as Lead Pastry Chef in August 2021.
The appointment announcement highlighted his experience in creative cake decorating, artisanal breadmaking, and large-scale banquet production. It also recognized his previous work at Fashion Island Hotel and other established Southern California hospitality businesses.
His work at the resort has involved creating desserts, pastries, cakes, and elaborate displays for hotel guests and special occasions.
In May 2024, The Westin Anaheim Resort announced that De la Cruz had received its 2023 Leader of the Year recognition.
The resort praised his leadership of the pastry team and his creative contribution to themed desserts, cakes, pastries, and lobby displays. The recognition highlighted his influence beyond individual baking projects and his contribution to the hotel’s wider culinary operation.
His Famous Gingerbread and Edible Holiday Displays
One of the most distinctive parts of De la Cruz’s career is his work creating large edible displays using gingerbread, chocolate, candy, and other confectionery materials.
His installations have received attention from Southern California media, particularly through his work at Island Hotel in Newport Beach.
In 2012, De la Cruz and the hotel decided to create larger Christmas installations inspired by recognizable features of the Newport Beach community. Their projects included a lifeguard tower and a boat representing the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.
The Willy Wonka Gingerbread Display
In November 2016, the Los Angeles Times featured De la Cruz’s plans for an elaborate gingerbread installation inspired by Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
The project was created in remembrance of Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in the original 1971 movie.
De la Cruz planned a chocolate factory display featuring oversized candy canes, lollipops, cream-filled mushrooms, and other confectionery decorations. The main structure was expected to measure approximately 10 feet tall and eight feet wide.
Creating such a large installation required careful planning. Gingerbread structures can be affected by humidity, temperature, and their own weight, making additional support necessary.
The project demonstrated his ability to combine pastry techniques with artistic design and large-scale construction.
The Westin’s Halloween and Christmas Displays
De la Cruz continued creating themed edible installations after joining The Westin Anaheim Resort.
In 2023, he led the creation of Santa’s Chocolate Workshop, a large chocolate-themed Christmas display in the hotel’s lobby.
The following year, he designed a Halloween installation inspired by Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The project featured approximately 80 pounds of dark chocolate and 30 pounds of white chocolate.
A team of nine pastry chefs worked for approximately 115 hours to complete the display.
These projects show why his professional work extends beyond traditional cakes and desserts. His creations combine baking, chocolate work, sugar artistry, and decorative construction.
Andy de la Cruz’s Television Appearances
Before joining Holiday Baking Championship, De la Cruz had already appeared in several television productions featuring professional bakers and pastry chefs.
The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown
De la Cruz appeared on Food Network’s The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown, a holiday-themed baking competition hosted by Duff Goldman.
He competed alongside fellow baker Tatiana Kovalenko. The programme featured six teams of dessert makers creating imaginative sweets and edible displays inspired by the popular Christmas characters.
The appearance gave viewers an opportunity to see his creative pastry work in a competitive television setting.
Beat Bobby Flay
De la Cruz also appeared on Beat Bobby Flay in an episode titled “Half Baked,” which aired on February 26, 2026.
The episode featured pastry chefs Andy de la Cruz and Yohann Le Bescond. Duff Goldman and Amanda Freitag supported the competitors as they attempted to earn an opportunity to challenge Bobby Flay.
The appearance introduced his pastry skills to another Food Network audience before his participation in Holiday Baking Championship.
Road to Halloween Wars
De la Cruz was also featured in the 2025 Road to Halloween Wars preview special ahead of the show’s fifteenth season.
During the segment, he introduced himself as a pastry chef at The Westin Anaheim Resort and discussed his experience making cakes, cookies, and elaborate chocolate and candy displays.
He demonstrated his interest in sugar work and explained how he uses inspiration from art, sculptures, and other visual subjects to develop creative desserts.
The programme featured him as one of the cake and sugar artists hoping to join the Halloween competition.
Andy de la Cruz on Holiday Baking Championship Season 13
Andy de la Cruz joined 11 other bakers on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship Season 13, which premiered on November 2, 2026.
Hosted by Jesse Palmer, the season takes place in Santa’s Village, where contestants complete holiday-themed baking challenges judged by Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown, and Molly Yeh.
The competition initially divided the 12 contestants into two teams: the Elf Squad and the Reindeer Crew. De la Cruz was assigned to the Reindeer Crew.
The premiere featured two challenges, including holiday-themed employee profile desserts and stained-glass cakes.
The second episode, titled “The Time of Your Life,” aired on November 9. The bakers created peppermint desserts and red velvet creations inspired by the workers at Santa’s Village.
After the second episode, the team format ended, and the remaining contestants moved into individual competition.
The winner will receive $25,000 and the title of Holiday Baking Champion.
Other contestants on Holiday Baking Championship Season 13 include Christina Schumacher, Audri Fleming, Dyana O’Brien, and Montanna Brumfield.
Is Andy de la Cruz Still on Holiday Baking Championship?
As of November 11, 2026, available Season 13 results list De la Cruz among the 10 bakers remaining after the November 9 episode.
The next episode, titled “Snow Business,” is scheduled for November 16. The contestants will create snow globe trifles featuring personal holiday memories.
The individual competition will give De la Cruz another opportunity to demonstrate his pastry skills, particularly his experience with creative decorations and elaborate dessert presentations.
Is Andy de la Cruz on Instagram?
Andy de la Cruz’s Instagram handle is @adlcchef. His social media profile is a useful place to follow his pastry creations, professional work, and updates relating to his television appearances.
Frequently Asked Questions About Andy de la Cruz
How old is Andy de la Cruz?
A November 2016 Los Angeles Times profile described De la Cruz as 41 years old. Based on that information, he would be approximately 50 or 51 in 2026.
Where does Andy de la Cruz live?
He is based in West Covina, California, according to Food Network’s official Season 13 contestant profile.
Is Andy de la Cruz the Lead Pastry Chef at The Westin Anaheim Resort?
He was appointed Lead Pastry Chef at the resort in August 2021. The hotel subsequently recognized him as its 2023 Leader of the Year in May 2024. In a 2025 television appearance, he also introduced himself as a pastry chef at the resort.
Where has Andy de la Cruz worked?
His professional background includes The Beverly Hills Hotel, Cicada Los Angeles, Bouchon in Beverly Hills, Fashion Island Hotel, and The Westin Anaheim Resort.
Has Andy de la Cruz appeared on other cooking shows?
Yes. His television appearances include The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown, Beat Bobby Flay, and a Road to Halloween Wars preview feature.
Is Andy de la Cruz competing on Holiday Baking Championship Season 13?
Yes. He is one of the contestants on Season 13, which premiered on November 2, 2026.
What is Andy de la Cruz known for?
He is known for professional pastry work, creative cake decorating, artisanal breadmaking, and elaborate gingerbread, chocolate, and candy displays.
