The BEST episodes of Next Great Baker

Every episode of Next Great Baker ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Next Great Baker!

In the series, Buddy Valastro puts 10 talented pastry chefs through the ringer to earn the title of Next Great Baker. At stake - $50,000 cash and a chance to work side-by-side with Buddy at Carlo's Bakery. Each week, Buddy pushes the contestants' baking and decorating skills to the limit through a series of increasingly difficult challenges. Someone will win, and someone will go home every week - until the NEXT GREAT BAKER is the last one standing.

Last Updated: 8/20/2026Network: TLCStatus: Ended
star
7.00
27 votes

#1 - Do Not Pass

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/13/2010

Things get heated in the kitchen when the hopefuls work in teams, creating Monopoly-theme cakes to mark the 75th anniversary of the board game.

star
7.00
27 votes

#2 - 'Tis the Season to Be Jolly!

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/20/2010

The gals battle the guys in a Christmas-theme bake-off for the American Cancer Society.

star
7.00
27 votes

#3 - It's Dyn-o-mite!

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/27/2010

A special-effects company needs an extreme cake to mark its 20th anniversary, so the hopefuls must incorporate special effects and pyrotechnics in their confections.

star
7.00
27 votes

#4 - 3-2-1 Blast Off!

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/3/2011

The hopefuls are tasked with creating space-theme cakes for Buddy Jr.'s birthday party.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.00
27 votes

#5 - Here Comes the Bride!

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/10/2011

The remaining hopefuls must create a dream wedding cake for a couple who are about to walk down the aisle.

star
7.00
27 votes

#6 - Pedal to the Metal

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/17/2011

Cakes inspired by cars are created after the hopefuls are taken for a test drive in a new vehicle.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.00
27 votes

#7 - The Big Finale!

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/24/2011

The winner is crowned in the Season 1 finale. At stake is $50,000 and a job at Carlo's Bakery.

star
7.00
27 votes

#8 - Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/6/2010

Ten pastry chefs begin vying for a chance to work alongside Buddy Valastro at his famous Hoboken, N.J., bakery in the series premiere. Their first task is to create elaborate celebration cakes that showcase their baking and decorating skills.

Watch Now:Apple TV
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0 votes

#9 - Cakes Al Dente

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/14/2013

Contestants create cakes resembling classic Italian meals.

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#10 - Vegas Showstoppers

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/19/2014

The top three teams remain, but only two will move on to Vegas; each team must create a masterpiece revolving around each judge's specialty.

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#11 - Battle of the Sexes

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/21/2013

The contestants split into teams of men and women to create theme cakes for the bakery’s portfolio, but a late change in the rules by Buddy intensifies the competition.

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#12 - Happy Birthday Kelly

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/28/2013

Former NFL player Michael Strahan asks the contestants to bake a birthday cake for his talk-show cohost, Kelly Ripa, that will be presented to her on TV.

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#13 - Momma Knows Best

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/4/2013

The final four contestants bake cakes to honor their mothers. Buddy recruits surprise helpers for the competition.

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#14 - Vegas Baby!

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/11/2013

A winner is crowned after the final three contestants compete in Las Vegas in the Season 3 finale.

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#15 - Sugar High

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/1/2014

Bakers choose their own teams in a challenge that involves 100 pounds of candy and a very demanding client.

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#16 - Empire State of Mind

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/24/2014

With two new experts by his side, Buddy the Cake Boss judges ten pairs of bakers in the first phase of the fourth season. Each team takes a bite of the Big Apple as they race to iconic city cites for inspiration in their inaugural cake challenge.

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#17 - Destination Wedding!

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/8/2014

The bakers switch partners to build a cake for a destination wedding, while Buddy gets help from two celebrity guest judges.

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#18 - Buddy's Winter BBQ

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/15/2014

The teams must create barbeque inspired cakes and present them to Buddy's family; a six-foot long hot dog and a 4-foot wide hamburger.

Watch Now:Apple TV
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#19 - Nightmare on Baker Street

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/22/2014

Making cakes inspired by horror movies; gory cakes and a guest judge who is a scary film villain.

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#20 - Long Island Medium Cakes

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/29/2014

The teams have to create life sized cakes in the form of the Long Island Medium, Theresa Caputo.

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#21 - Gravity Defying Cakes

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/5/2014

A trip to Rachael Ray's show will decide the winner of a competition involving the creation of cakes that defy gravity.

Watch Now:Apple TV
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#22 - Sexiest Cakes Alive

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/12/2014

Cakes with a moving element make up the contestants’ quest to be featured in People magazine as part of the publication’s 40th anniversary.

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#23 - Wow Cakes

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/12/2014

An eliminated group returns when the teams unveil their creations at the Cake Boss Cafe in New York City’s Times Square.

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#24 - Wedding Belles

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/7/2013

The competitors create wedding cakes, but they have to change course when the brides alter their design plans.

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#25 - New Years Eve, Hoboken Style!

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/31/2012

The contestants discuss the casting process, their first day at the bakery and emerging rivalries.

Watch Now:Apple TV