The BEST Episodes of Next Great Baker
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Jan 11, 2021
Network: TLC
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.
#1 - Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired Dec 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.
7.00 #2 - Do Not Pass
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired Dec 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.
7.00 #3 - 'Tis the Season to Be Jolly!
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Dec 20, 2010
The gals battle the guys in a Christmas-theme bake-off for the American Cancer Society.
7.00 #4 - It's Dyn-o-mite!
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Dec 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.
7.00 #5 - 3-2-1 Blast Off!
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired Jan 3, 2011
The hopefuls are tasked with creating space-theme cakes for Buddy Jr.'s birthday party.
7.00 #6 - Here Comes the Bride!
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired Jan 10, 2011
The remaining hopefuls must create a dream wedding cake for a couple who are about to walk down the aisle.
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#7 - Pedal to the Metal
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired Jan 17, 2011
Cakes inspired by cars are created after the hopefuls are taken for a test drive in a new vehicle.
7.00 #8 - The Big Finale!
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired Jan 24, 2011
The winner is crowned in the Season 1 finale. At stake is $50,000 and a job at Carlo's Bakery.
7.00 #9 - It's Go Time!
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired Nov 28, 2011
In the series premiere, the competitors put their baking skills to the test when they are paired up into teams to create a 4-foot tall theme cake. But when Buddy presents an interesting challenge to win immunity, will it be every baker for themselves?
0.00 #10 - Life-Sized Cakes
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired Dec 5, 2011
Sculpted cakes are one of the most popular requests made by clients today and nobody does them better than Buddy. The competitors are asked to create life-sized sculpted cakes in 10 hours with special mystery clients serving as the models.
0.00 #11 - Wedding Wonderland
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired Dec 12, 2011
Being the Next Great Baker means creating cakes that are magazine worthy. The stakes are raised when the competitors are asked to create elaborate wedding cakes inspired by the latest wedding trends for Brides Magazine.
0.00 #12 - Bakers On Ice
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired Dec 19, 2011
Competition heats up for the holidays when the bakers break into teams to create their best holiday themed cake for the Valastro Christmas party. But not everyone is merry as tempers flare amongst the teams with one baker making a trip to the hospital.
0.00 #13 - Let the Sparks Fly
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired Dec 26, 2011
"Engineered" cakes that spin, smoke and spark require the contestants to work together on a difficult challenge.
0.00 #14 - Gators, Chimps and Bears...Oh My!
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired Jan 2, 2012
The contestants' speed and agility are tested when they unload the industrial ovens at the new factory. Meanwhile, animal cakes are needed for a New Jersey zoo.
0.00 #15 - Here Comes the Bride-zilla!
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired Jan 9, 2012
It's wedding day at the bakery! The bakers must team up to create an off-beat wedding cake for a true bridezilla! It's the ultimate test to see how these bakers will handle a difficult client, but will the bride's requests be too demanding?
0.00 #16 - Headbanging Bakers
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Jan 16, 2012
0.00 #17 - Crown Winning Cakes
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired Jan 23, 2012
0.00 #18 - …And the Winner Is?
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired Jan 30, 2012
Season 2 ends with finalists Marissa, Nadine and Ryan vying for the top spot, which includes a $100,000 prize, a feature in Brides magazine and a chance to work at Carlo's Bakery.
0.00 #19 - Game On!
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired Nov 26, 2012
In the Season 3 premiere, contestants come up with ideas for a groom's cake with a Mexican fiesta-theme for Mario Lopez's wedding
0.00 #20 - Cake Powers, Activate!
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired Dec 3, 2012
The chef-testants prepare to construct and decorate 3-foot-tall cakes that pay homage to their favorite childhood fantasies by creating a superhero cake; a surprise judge for the week worries the participants that they may be smashed to pieces.
0.00 #21 - Bunny Suits and BB Guns
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired Dec 10, 2012
The remaining chefs are tasked with creating a cake for the cast of Broadway's newest musical, one that pays homage to the holiday film, "A Christmas Story", after which their creations are judged by the movie's star, Peter Billingsley.
0.00 #22 - Cake Roast
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired Dec 17, 2012
The remaining chefs form two teams to create life-size cakes of guest judges, Comics Judy Gould and Carol Leifer.
0.00 #23 - New Years Eve, Hoboken Style!
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired Dec 31, 2012
The contestants discuss the casting process, their first day at the bakery and emerging rivalries.
0.00 #24 - Wedding Belles
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired Jan 7, 2013
The competitors create wedding cakes, but they have to change course when the brides alter their design plans.
0.00 #25 - Cakes Al Dente
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired Jan 14, 2013
Contestants create cakes resembling classic Italian meals.
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