Icelandic girl shines on Norwegian baking show

Lilja Árnadóttir Olvik has made a splash on the Norwegian TV series Bakermesterskapet Junior , a baking competition for young people. At just ten years old, she was the youngest contestant by two to three years.

The show featured eight contestants—four girls and four boys—and aired in April on NRK, Norway’s national broadcaster. Lilja says participating was a lot of fun and that she has long had a passion for baking.

Baked her first cake with her grandmother in Iceland

“I’ve been baking since I was very young. I probably baked brownies for the first time with my grandmother in Iceland,” says Lilja, who lives in Valdres, Norway, with her family. Her father is Icelandic, making her half Icelandic herself.

Asked what she enjoys baking most, Lilja says it’s macarons. She now takes orders and sells her colorful creations, having baked for several parties in Norway this spring.

“My favorite are pink macarons with passionfruit and chocolate flavor,” she says.

Always Something Sweet at Home

Lilja often bakes macarons and marzipan cakes, much to the delight of her parents—there’s always something delicious on offer at home thanks to her.

What did you bake during the competition?

“I baked marzipan cake twice, cupcakes, cookies, and a chocolate cake.”

In the competition, each contestant worked solo, receiving a baking challenge they had two hours to complete. They were allowed to practice four of the bakes at home beforehand.

What was the most memorable moment from the show?

“A balloon popped in my face,” Lilja says with a laugh. In one challenge, she had to inflate a balloon, coat it with melted chocolate, and let it harden before popping the balloon to create a chocolate shell.

Like having a private chef at home

Lilja’s father says that he and her mother sometimes call her on their way home from work to ask her to start cooking dinner. “It’s a bit like having a private chef at home,” he says, noting that Lilja not only bakes but also enjoys cooking full meals.