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NATCHEZ — Natchez baking and pastry chef extraordinaire Molly Manning Robertson has new accolades to add to her resume.

Robertson was chosen as Best Cake Designer and Best Baker of Cakes and Sweet Treats in the annual, statewide Mississippi Magazine Best of Weddings contest.

Robertson has been on the magazine’s M List since 2021 for cake designing and cake and sweet treat baking, meaning she has been chosen by statewide readers of the magazine as being among the top five in Mississippi.

“I was really excited to learn about this. I think partly with the build up for the (Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship) show, more people around the state became familiar with me,” Robertson said Thursday afternoon. “Everyone locally knew me, but I think people around the state got to know me from the show.”

Robertson made it to the finale of the Food Network’s popular season 9 of Spring Baking Championship in May 2023. She was a favorite among viewers and the show’s host, Jesse Palmer.

Robertson said right now she is focusing on designing and baking wedding cakes and planning upcoming cookie classes. Two are planned within the next six weeks. Both will be held at Smoot’s. One set for Jan. 23 will have a Mardi Gras theme. The other on Feb. 13 will have a Valentine’s theme. Cost is $45 and classes can be booked by calling Robertson directly at 870-540-6249.

“I don’t have anything in the pipeline with the Food Network right now, but you never know. They are last minute kind of people. I would be willing to possibly do something with them again, if the circumstances are right,” she said.

Robertson continues to take custom orders cookies, cakes of all kinds, petit fours and other pastries.