The WORST episodes of The Great American Baking Show
Every episode of The Great American Baking Show ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Great American Baking Show!
Based on the hit UK series, “The Great British Bake Off,” the American version is hosted by Nia Vardalos & husband Ian Gomez, and is judged by Mary Berry & Johnny Iuzzini. The show premiered as “The Great Holiday Baking Show” but changed the name for its second season. It stars some of the nation’s best amateur bakers as they compete in a series of themed challenges and eliminations, all hoping to be crowned Baking Champion.
#1 - Patisserie Week
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/5/2017
It’s the semi-finals, and the bakers prepare Petit four glacé-style mini cakes, French crullers, and mille-feuille.
#2 - Semi-Final and Final
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/2/2020
The 4 remaining bakers face a showdown of sugar and spice where the winner is named “America’s Best Amateur Baker.”
#3 - Pastry and Cookie Week
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/26/2019
The 6 remaining bakers focus on flaky, flavorful pastries and holiday cookies.
#4 - Spice and Dessert Week
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/19/2019
Eight bakers tackle “Spice Week” with the bakers challenged to create sweet and savory creations using spices. Then, on “Dessert Week” the bakers creating delicious delicacies like cakes and cookies, including one of Paul Hollywood’s toughest challenges yet.
#5 - Cake and Bread Week
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/12/2019
Cake and bread are on the menu when 10 aspiring bakers from around the country step into the famous white tent to tackle the challenges of cake and bread.
#6 - Semi-Final and Final
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/20/2018
Five finalists remain in the tent as they face their final 3 bakes, all hoping to make it to the final round. With their toughest challenges ahead, like French custards and cakes, the heat is on where only one baker will be named America’s Best Amateur Baker.
#7 - Cookie and Bread Week
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/13/2018
The bakers return to the tent to test their skills at making decadent and delicious cookies and breads.
#8 - Cake and Pastry Week
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/6/2018
The premiere kicks off with slices of cake and sweet & savory pastries, along with new host, Emma Bunton, Anthony “Spice” Adams, veteran judge Paul Hollywood, and new judge Sherry Yard.
#9 - Cake Week & Morning Treats
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/7/2017
The Great American Baking Show showcases some of the nation's best bakers as they compete in a series of themed challenges and eliminations all hoping to be crowned America's Best Amateur Baker.
#10 - Finals Week
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/12/2017
Ten amateur bakers from across the country entered the tent, and now only two remain. The winner of this week will be named America's Best Amateur Baker.
#11 - Cookie Week
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/30/2015
The bakers make seasonal cookies, ginger snaps, and showstopping gingerbread creations.
#12 - Custard & Meringue Week
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/22/2016
In the bakers' Signature Challenge, they will tackle Crème Brûlée - a dozen perfectly silky custards hidden beneath a hard caramel topping with unique flavors like chestnut, apple, peanut, maple and fennel. In the Technical, Mary Berry shares one of her favorite dishes to ring in the New Year, the French dish, oeufs en neige - otherwise known as "eggs in snow." For the Showstopper Challenge, the bakers will make 24 petite pavlovas, a baked meringue creation from Australia and New Zealand. Everyone is on pins and needles, as the bakers won't know if they've achieved the classic marshmallow center until their pavlovas are sliced open during judging.
#13 - Chocolate Week
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/22/2016
For the Signature Bake, the bakers are tasked with creating a dozen molten lava cakes where mere minutes in the oven can result in a cake whose center flows like hot magna or has no ooey-gooeyness at all. Next is the Technical Challenge, where the bakers are tasked to create a perfect assortment of delicious and decadent truffles. Finally, for their Showstopper Challenge, it's a naked, layered mousse cake full of soft, silky layers of flavorful mousse, built upon a baked foundation and topped with elaborate chocolate decorations. In the end, not everyone's desserts will rise to the occasion, and another baker will be eliminated from the competition.
#14 - Pies & Tarts Week
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/15/2016
This week the bakers are frantically whipping egg whites and lighting up their blowtorches to give their meringues toasted finishes, hoping their creations stand up - and out - to the judges. Next is the Technical Challenge, where Mary surprises the bakers with her recipe for Partridge in a Pear Tart. With no molds, the bakers must freeform their creations, and not everyone finds pear shape perfection. Finally, for their Showstopper Challenge, it's all about savory flavors with Hors D'oeuvre Tartlets. With ingredients like kimchi butter and southern grits, these bakers are going outside of the box to create delicious holiday treats!
#15 - Bread Week
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/8/2016
In the Signature Challenge, the bakers create a dozen perfectly sized dinner rolls incorporating unique flavors and spices, including those traditional to Portugal and India. In the Technical Challenge, it's Johnny's Christmas Stollen, a traditional German Christmas fruit and nut bread. Finally, the competitors must create elaborate sculptures with bread!
#16 - Cookie Week
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/1/2016
In their Signature Challenge, the bakers tackle bar cookies, showcasing everything from compotes to crumbles. In the Technical, Johnny challenges the bakers with a cookie that must be baked twice – biscotti. Then, in the Showstopper Bake, the bakers build elaborate 3D Iced Cookie Scenes.
#17 - Cake Week
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/1/2016
For their very first Signature Bake, the bakers are tasked with making bundt cakes inspired by winter flavors. Next up, a Technical Challenge of Mary Berry's recipe for apple almond cake. And lastly, The Showstopper Bake has these bakers constructing fantastical multi-tiered holiday celebration cakes.
#18 - Final Week
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/21/2015
In the Season 1 finale, the three remaining bakers compete in the final three challenges in hopes of being named the winner.
#19 - Pastry Week
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/14/2015
This week, the bakers must make breakfast pastries, Mary Berry's Christmas tart, and a holiday showstopper with cream puffs.
#20 - Cake Week
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/7/2015
The five remaining bakers must each make a festive yule log, Johnny's recipe for tiramisu cake, and a fruit cake inspired by the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas."