‘King of Cakes’ Dana Herbert is back in TV competition mode

Dana Herbert baking up a storm on the new Hulu show Cookie, Cupcake, Cake

NEWARK — Dana Herbert understands why Mike Tyson would reenter the spotlight.

“You want to climb back into the ring every so often,” says the John Dickinson High School graduate.

Herbert, however, wears an oven mitt, not a boxing glove, and his ring is the commercial kitchen on “Cookie, Cupcake, Cake,” on Hulu, which dropped the entire season Nov. 18. He’s also appearing this month on the network’s  “Cake Toppers,” which is streaming now.

Herbert is no stranger to baking competition shows. In 2010, the Desserts by Dana owner won TLC’s “Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker,” hosted by baker Buddy Valastro, owner of Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey. He’s also been on “Cake Wars” on the Food Network and “Cake Hunters.”

“Cookie, Cupcake, Cake” brings back Valastro, who is joined by Samantha Seneviratne. Before starting her blog Love, Cake, Seneviratne was food editor at “Good Housekeeping,” “Fine Cooking,” and “Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food.”

Dana Herbert: A Tasty Track Record

On each episode, judges give contestants a theme, and the bakers must make a cookie, cupcake and cake to complement the theme.

All episodes now streaming on Hulu

Herbert appears in the “Retro” episode, which asks the contestants to salute the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Herbert won’t give away what he made but says the cookie is an homage to growing up in Delaware.

While fans can check out the episode right now, we won’t reveal the winner. You’ll have to watch it.

On “Cake Toppers,” two teams must make a “masterful cake” with impeccable details. Then they switch to “level up” each other’s designs. Once again, Valastro is a judge.

Typically, show producers put potential contestants through interviews and tests. Just ask Delaware’s Dru Tevis, who won the “Holiday Baking Championship” on the Food Network.

Herbert had a smooth entry, undoubtedly because he was familiar to the casting agents. “I’ve done 15 or 16 different shows in the last 10 years,” he says. “They’re like, ‘Yeah, we know who you are.’”

It’s not unusual for the casting crew to tap talent more than once. Robbie Jester, for instance, has been on two Food Network shows and won the grand prize on “Pressure Cooker,” a Netflix program.

Baking a Business

The Sugar Daddy of Delaware was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to Delaware for his father’s job with DuPont Co. By his junior year, he was reading cookbooks after school. His own cookbook, “Sweet & Savory Union,” is available on Amazon.

Herbert graduated from the University of Delaware’s hotel, restaurant and institutional management program and from Johnson & Wales University.

Herbert’s industry recognitions include a profile in Dessert Professional and a ranking on the Top Ten Cake Artists in America list.

Why stay in Delaware? It’s a great place to raise a family, he says. And in a small state, he’s the undisputed King of Cakes.

Pam George