(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)
(FESTIVE MUSIC FADES IN)
(GORDON, VOICE OVER) 'Twas the week before Christmas
-And all through the tower... -(DRAMATIC BEATS)
The kitchens were covered In sugar and flour...
These desserts need to be perfect.
Only six bakers left
The finale's in sight...
You have to create a three-tiered cake,
each tier baked on a different level.
-Agh! -Who will crumble...
This is straight insanity.
And who will shine bright?
It's (JINGLE) delicious.
My only advice before we begin...
Bake at next level If you want to win!
(GORDON) The winner of Next Level Baker...
That's the title you will have forever - it is everything.
Is...
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)
(UPLIFTING RENDITION OF 'DECK THE HALLS')
(DEIRDRA) Oh, my goodness.
-(JEFF) Oh, my God. -Wow!
(BAKERS GUSHING, CHUCKLING)
(STEFANIE) Good morning, little guy.
(GORDON) Nikki, you look petrified.
You've seen a reindeer before, haven't you?
(NERVOUS) Yes. And my dad's name is Rudolph.
-Oh! -(LAUGHTER)
I love that!
I feel like I just got
a big bear hug from my daddy.
And he said,
"Go tear their ass off."
Dasher and Dancer are all set
to whisk you off to the grand finale.
Sadly, the sleigh over here only has room for five
of you talented bakers.
(CARLA) All of you know what that means - six of you remain
but only five can move forward for a chance at the title
of the first ever Next Level Baker.
If you want it, you have to earn it first with one last bake.
-Are you ready? -(BAKERS, EAGERLY) Yes!
We're ready.
Now, baking around the holidays
is not just about the sweet treats, right?
It's also about those incredible savory comfort foods
that really do bring the family around the table.
So, for this challenge
we want to see incredible,
festive, savory showstoppers.
-Is it that incredible pot pie? -Or a spicy sausage wreath?
A delicious Beef Wellington? Think about it.
That's what we're looking for.
Oh, gosh! I don't do savory. Savory is not in my wheelhouse.
This is gonna be challenging.
Make sure you're in that sleigh at the end of the round.
Don't play it safe.
Right. Okay, based on your last performance
in the previous round, Stefanie and Jeff,
you're off to the top level kitchen
and I will meet you there.
(SOFTLY) Okay!
Zoha and Chloe, you are back with me
-in the middle level. -(ZOHA, LAUGHING) Yay.
Yay.
Which means Deirdra and Nikki,
you're in the basement with me.
You'll have 60 minutes to create a next level,
savory, holiday showstopper.
Remember, a spot in the finale is on the line.
Alright, head to the elevators. We'll see you shortly.
-You got this, y'all. -(GORDON) Good luck.
(STEFANIE, SIGHING)
(DRAMATIC FESTIVE MUSIC)
We got this.
(ELEVATOR PINGS)
-(BAKERS WHOOPING) -Let's go.
Oh, back in the basement.
(WHIMSICAL MUSIC)
Oh, my gosh. That doll scared me so bad.
(NIKKI) Yeah, I told you she'd stare at you.
-(SPOOKY LAUGHTER) -I have become
very familiar with the basement.
The doll sitting there, we have a relationship.
Real evil like, too.
-(DEIRDRA) With the red eyes! -(NIKKI) Yeah.
-(PING) -(BAKERS GIGGLING)
Let's go, let's go! You got this, can't wait to see it.
Okay! (SHARP EXHALE)
Having been on every single level so far,
I'm feeling really good about going into middle kitchen today.
I'm comfortable there.
It's the one level that I feel like I'm home.
It is not the basement. That's for (JINGLE) sure.
(JINGLE) the basement!
-(DRAMATIC FESTIVE MUSIC) -(ELEVATOR PINGS)
(STEFANIE) Okay, alright. Let's go, Jeff.
Wow. I've been dreaming of the top kitchen.
Finally made it. Oh, we got lots of stuff.
-Have a good one. -Thank you, you too.
-Alright, thank you. -(ELEVATOR PINGS)
-(DEIRDRA) Hello. -Welcome back to the basement.
I don't wanna be back, but I am.
Alright, let's do a quick huddle.
Remember bakers, by the time the platform
arrives to the basement, it's gonna be picked over.
-But we can still make magic. -(NIKKI) We're gonna make magic.
When we're up against a wall, we're our most creative.
I'm so nervous about this grab. I always freeze.
One thing we're excited about today, you're not...
-I'm not freezing. -..giving us a Bundt cake.
-(LAUGHTER) -(ELEVATOR PINGS)
What up, what up! We are back together.
-(SQUEALING) Carla! -Oh, my gosh.
-Think about a backup. -Got it.
Get a backup so if something goes awry,
you're not like a deer in headlights.
Or shall I say a reindeer in headlights?
-(ZOHA) Yeah... -(CHLOE SNORTS)
-(ZOHA) Okay, yes Carla. -Okay, you snorted!
-(LAUGHING) Not the snort! -God!
C'mon, get in here. -We're so good!
(ALL SQUEALING) Yes!
(ELEVATOR PINGS)
-Let's go! How're you feeling? -I'm excited.
-You good? -Yeah, excited.
-Likewise. How you feeling? -Feeling good.
Good. Baker's line up, please, against the elevator.
Here we go. Grab, grab, grab.
(HOLLERING) It's the holidays, be generous to us
in the basement! Don't be greedy.
What d'you mean don't be greedy? Don't be greedy up there either!
We got pick of the litter.
Right. Platform is moving!
Five, four, three, two, one... Let's go!
-(PLATFORM BLEEPS) -Let's go. Lobster's there.
First thing I see is lobster. Every Christmas
my family celebrates with some kind of lobster.
My dad is always the one to make it... and I choose it.
Even though I've only made it once in my life.
Oh, my goodness me, lobster! Wow.
(FAST-PACED FESTIVE MUSIC)
I'm thinking I can make a lobster pot pie.
(JEFF) I grabbed chicken breast.
Good. Chicken breast, love that!
I'm grabbing mozzarella cheese - to go into my gougères.
(GORDON) That's sage. Be careful, that's very strong.
Twelve seconds.
(JEFF) When you get most of the ingredients of a recipe
you have in mind, I'll take the blessing.
(GORDON) Oh, my goodness me.
Let's go! Platform is moving.
(GORDON) Well done.
-(STEFANIE) Woo! -(PLATFORM BLEEPS)
(CARLA) Yes, GO! We have rosemary, oregano.
(CHLOE) I see ground beef
and I'm thinking quiche.
(CARLA) Get in there!
Boop! I immediately go for beef.
(CARLA) Parsnips, we have bacon bits, you have vinegars.
-Find goat cheese. -(CARLA) If you do anything
with cream, mustard is a great flavor carrier.
This is actually really good.
(ZOHA) I see chicken thighs and not my favorite, but...
..immediate grab. -You have your chicken.
I am really hoping to bring some Pakistani flavors.
I wanna make some sort of tandoori chicken.
Cheese, cheese, cheese...
Chicken, yogurt, cheese, garlic, greens.
-(CARLA) Guys, c'mon. -(PLATFORM HUMS)
Now I see everything on there. Oh, that was hard.
I dunno what I grabbed to be honest.
I don't think I got everything I wanted.
Okay, alright.
Here it comes.
Your legs are so long, you always outrun me.
I'm like, what did I sign up for?
-(PLATFORM BLEEPS) -(CANDACE) Go, go, go!
Ahh... We have salmon.
Who leaves salmon to get in the basement?
I snatched that up real quick.
Deirdra, you got your salmon.
Do some lime. Spice.
I'm gonna make a good ass dish with this.
(CARLA) Here we got top sirloin!
I see red meat... Top sirloin.
..and I GRABBED it.
Go, go! Fifteen seconds, ladies.
(NIKKI) I was lookin' for fresh greens.
There's collard greens over here.
(NIKKI) Collard greens. Oh, my God.
I'm so happy that I get to prove
that I'm more than the cake lady.
(CANDACE) Grab it, grab, grab! Red bell pepper here.
I'm going to make a southern soul food pot pie
straight out the South. Oh yes, I got this.
Your 60 minutes start now.
Off you go. An amazing showstopper bake.
-Jeff, what're you thinking? -I'm thinking Parisian gnocchi.
And match that with chicken breasts I can medallion
-and cut on a bias. -Right. That's not a bake.
Well, with the Parisian gnocchi will be a pile of savory choux.
Kind of like a gougère on the side.
Gougère? Ambitious.
What're you stuffing it with? What's inside?
I want them to be airy and light so they can mop up some sauce.
It's a tough one, okay? Showstopper.
Tonight will be a true test for these bakers
because 95 percent of what they do is all sweet.
This one is a savory challenge using some incredible proteins.
-So lobster pot pie, right? -Lobster pot pie.
Smart idea with the fresh peas and beautiful corn.
Are you gonna cook the lobster in the sauce?
-Um... -Or cook it beforehand?
Well, I might sauté it in a little bit of butter.
I'm just worried about that overcooking.
-Just literally 30 seconds. -Okay.
I dunno how to work with claws, but I'll figure it out.
The biggest mistake a baker could make
across a challenge like this - over complication.
It's gotta be cohesive and it needs that wow factor.
-You good? -Yeah.
-Gonna get the choux going. -Get that in straightaway.
-(WHOOSH -(LIGHT MUSIC)
Chloe, what did you grab?
-Ground beef. -(CARLA) Uh-huh.
Three different cheeses including goat cheese.
-Oh nice. -I got prosciutto, red pepper.
I got some rosemary.
Okay. What is your ultimate dish?
My ultimate dish is gonna be a quiche.
Tell me about your sister. I know she means a lot to you
-'cause you raised her. -Yes.
Talk to me about what she would want in her quiche.
(CHUCKLES) My sister would want so much cheese.
-(LAUGHTER) -Hence, the three cheeses!
We're cheese girls.
My relationship with my little sister
is really special for me.
We lost our mom to brain cancer a few years ago
and my husband and I started raising her.
(EMOTIONAL) My mother asked me to raise her and just...
She said, "Don't disappoint me.
"Don't disappoint me, Pippi.
"Make her exactly what I did for you."
And... I have.
She's 20 years younger than me and she's a middle schooler.
And I don't know how many people know this,
but they're terrifying at this age.
I would do anything in the world to give her the world.
Talk to me about savory, you seem pretty comfortable.
-Do you do a lot of savory food? -I... (GIGGLES)
-My husband... -(LAUGHTER)
(CHLOE) No. So my husband,
you know, he's the cook in our house.
Working with meat is not something I do.
Me make cookie, not beef.
-So you have to channel Tyler. -I do.
And he's talking in my head saying,
"More seasoning, that doesn't taste like anything!"
Exactly. So y'all think about flavor.
-Think about building flavor. -Yes, Carla.
(CHLOE, SOFTLY) I got this, I got this.
Alright! Zoha, what did you pick?
Okay, I got chicken, chicken thighs. I'm so sorry,
I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to butchering chicken.
There's more flavor in the thighs because of the fat.
If I'm ever working with chicken
it's chicken breast with no fat on it.
I know that's the opposite of everything
that's supposed to be good - my husband makes fun of me.
But I just get a little queasy around the fats.
So what are you making?
I'm gonna make a tandoori chicken naan pizza.
-Okay. -Basically, make it like a pizza
with a tandoori chicken filling and hopefully serve it
with some sort of yogurt raita on the side.
-Okay, alright. -(TENSE MUSIC)
Carla's reaction to my open pizza...
-(CLEARS THROAT) -..that was not very fun.
Think about how you would make your dish festive.
We asked for a savory showstopper
and she is making a pizza. So I'm worried about that.
This is the last challenge before the finale.
You want to get to the other side.
Think like a savory chef.
It's maybe the stress of the finale
or butchering this however I can - I dunno what I'm gonna do.
I'm just stressing the (JINGLE) out right now.
(TENSE MUSIC BUILDS, ENDS)
(FESTIVE MUSIC REPRISE)
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)
Deirdra, talk to me about your savory bakes.
So I grabbed salmon which I'm surprised came down here!
-How'd it get way down here?! -I know!
Actually, I wasn't thinking about it as an option
but it would work pretty well as a seafood cobbler.
I got a little spice, something I could spice up the dish.
I've never made a salmon cobbler
but I make salmon at home all the time.
And I think I cook it perfectly almost every time.
I wonder if we have pastry cutters.
It's high hopes, but I'm gonna take a look around.
I feel like my mind is pretty creative having to make
five to 10 recipes a week in my job.
Being a food photographer, I do make it a point to make
the things that I bake both beautiful and tasty.
So I need to make sure the buttermilk biscuits on top
are delicious and amazing.
(CANDACE) Deirdra, you are already thinking
of presentation here. We've got colors going on.
I'm gonna make the biscuit red and green for the holidays.
Top 'em with a little thyme.
Is that an old tuna can you're using as a cutter?
It is. You know what, I didn't even realize at first.
So basically it does the same thing.
(CANDACE) That's right. Trash becomes treasure
-in the basement. -It definitely does.
(NIKKI) I would love to have a measuring cup.
(URGENT MUSIC)
When you're in the basement you have to be scrappy.
Sometimes a solo cup has to become a measuring cup.
And it can be because this first line is half a cup.
Second line is one cup and the top is 1-1/2 cups.
-Didn't know that. -Who knew?
Me neither, literally.
So in a pinch, in a college dorm room,
you can do some serious baking.
I ain't mad at the basement today.
It's got everything I need.
(WHOOSH)
Think like a savory chef. Build flavors.
Also I want you to think about how you would
serve it as a showstopper, so that means building things.
-Okay, Carla. -You got this.
Thank God for Carla 'cause Carla comes and helps me realize
I'm just doing a plain round pizza.
What if I do two rounds, put them on top of each other
with the filling inside, do a twisty star snowflake shape.
-That is beautiful! -Thank you, Carla.
-It is GORGEOUS. -Thank you, Carla.
-That is not a pizza-- -I changed my mind!
I thought I could make a snowflake with it.
It's really ambitious to try to do an enriched
naan bread dough in just 60 minutes.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed the bread is baked properly.
Did you know you were gonna roll it like that?
-No. -You just came up with that?
-Yeah. -I am so EXCITED!
(ZOHA) Yes!
-(SOMBER MUSIC) -Alright, Nikki.
You did indeed find your collard greens!
-I did -So happy for you.
-And some red meat. -Yeah.
So you must be feeling pretty happy.
-I'm very happy. -Thank goodness!
Tell me a little bit more about your dad Rudolph, Nikki.
Oh, my gosh.
The most amazing person I've met in my life
-other than my husband. -(LAUGHS GENTLY)
I did manage to get a husband
much like my father.
My husband stepped in and picked up where my dad
finished spoiling me.
I dunno, seems like you spoil your family
with all this good cooking.
Yeah, I spoil them and they spoil me.
My tribe at home - my grandkids, my husband,
especially my daddy...
He's always said, "You could do whatever you wanna do.
"You want to be Next Level Baker?
"Go be Next Level Baker."
I need to channel them and make them proud.
I'm gonna fight to the nitty gritty.
(CANDACE) Love it. I can tell you're here to win.
Okay. Oven, oven, oven. (SIGHS)
-(DRAMATIC FESTIVE MUSIC) -Guys, look!
Another mid-round surprise. Looks like the reindeers,
they've chosen this one. Carrots, right?
(REINDEER GRUNTS)
Some beautiful carrots here, by the way. Oh, my lord!
-Oh, guys! C'mon. -(CHLOE) Oh no!
(CARLA) Look at the carrots. You got carrot juice.
You got carrot baby food.
You got baby carrots.
Oh my God, what did I grab?! Carrot baby food.
Hope this works.
Looks like the reindeer have left us a surprise.
Grab whatever you can to add to your stews.
Go, go, go!
That thing be gone too fast.
(CONTENTED SIGH)
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)
(MUSIC ENDS)
(CARLA) Oh, my God. I'm loving carrot juice,
carrot baby food, 'cause it's already cooked.
Right, we're talking vinaigrette.
-Yeah. -We're talking carrot.
Yeah. So let's taste it.
See if you need anything.
Mm... OH!
('DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY' - NUTCRACKER BALLET)
Carla! You should do this like, professionally.
(GIGGLING)
(TENSE MUSIC)
We have time check?
Time check!
Carla, time please?
Thirty five minutes to go.
-Thank you, Carla. -(MUSIC ENDS)
Both Zoha and Chloe
are very intense in very different ways.
-Ah (JINGLE)! Yeah, goat cheese. -Yes!
-Zoha is like, give me the time. -Time check?
Chloe's like, stay out of my face.
Doing laps! Can't find a towel.
Oh, my God. What do you need? You need a towel.
It's like, ah-ooh-ah-ooh!
Be really nice to have some oven mitts in here!
(SIGHS)
-Time check? -Twenty three minutes left.
-How you doing up there? -Oh, my God.
-How's it going down there? -Oh, it's awesome.
We have festive biscuits
-rising in the oven. -Oh my God, that's what I smell.
Ho, ho, ho. It's the holidays down here in the basement.
Okay. Nikki, how you doing down there?
I'm doing amazing.
She's using a PVC pipe for a rolling pin.
She's making things work.
Next thing you know, she'll be buying one for home.
I already have one.
(GORDON) Twenty minutes remaining.
A spot in the grand finale is on the line.
-I want you both in there. -Yes.
-Yes, chef. -Stef, be careful
that lobster's not overcooked now.
Okay. Off the heat.
Do you mind tasting that to see what you...
Yeah, taste with me.
You need more salt, just a touch.
I keep adding it, I guess...
Just a touch. Don't forget, lobster's very sweet.
(STEFANIE) Being in the top level with Chef Ramsay
is definitely more stressful
than baking at home with my four kids.
Although my kids also rate my food. They'll be like,
"I'd give this meal an eight out of 10." I'm not kidding you!
Christmas day, is it chaotic? Is it mad?
Oh, I love Christmas morning. We wake up early...
-Love that. -..and usually I'll make
cinnamon rolls or just something like that.
-And then the chaos starts. -(GORDON) We have a big family.
-There's eight of us. -You have twins?
I think I read somewhere they were premature--
They were very premature, yeah. Due on the 14th of February,
Valentine's Day, and they were born on millennial eve, 1999.
Are you serious? That's incredible.
He has twins and I have twins, and his twins were premature
and my twins were incredibly premature.
So it feels like we really do have a bond.
I tried to suggest to Tana, why don't we have one each side?
One on 1999... and she told me politely to (JINGLE) myself.
-A terrible idea. -Sorry!
I think we're best friends. (LAUGHS)
(GORDON) We've just over 18 minutes to go.
(TENSE MUSIC)
It would mean so much to me to get into the final.
I learned how to bake in the evenings, on weekends.
I spent a year sacrificing any free time
to go into a culinary school dedicated
to people like me who had full time jobs.
-(GORDON) You happy with those? -Yeah.
-You're not stuffing them? -No, not stuffing them.
I didn't put too much cheese in.
I didn't want it to be overpowering.
So, getting to the finale recognizes
all the work I put into being a quality baker.
Let's run through.
I'm gonna plate the gnocchi kind of in a line.
-Yeah. -In between those
-I'll lay chicken breasts. -Gotcha.
And the buns will go off to the side here.
-Now bring it together. -Yeah.
Okay. A lot of elements going on there, young man.
Don't let me down.
-Yes, chef. -Please.
(CANDACE) Stay focused, bakers.
Oven...
A spot in the finale is on the line.
(DEIRDRA) I do think my savory bake is good enough
to get me in the finals. It's got perfectly cooked salmon
in my opinion, and a delicious fluffy biscuit on top.
I feel really good about the sauce.
All the flavors work really well together.
-(DRAMATIC BEAT) -Oh!
-Wow. -(HITCHCOCK-STYLE TENSE MUSIC)
(JINGLE)
(MUSIC ENDS)
-(URGENT MUSIC) -(CANDACE) 15 minutes remaining.
-Oh! -What happened?
Um, the top just came off as I was shaking it into...
We've had a seafood seasoning explosion.
-How did it taste, Deirdra? -A bit salty.
I'm literally thinking of all the ways I could pivot.
I'm like (JINGLE)! What am I gonna do to make this
not as salty as it is? I'm freaking out.
Deirdra, would you have time to start again
with just a butter flour roux, a little bit of fish stock,
then adding in some of your existing?
-Hmm. -See what you can do.
(WHOOSH)
(GORDON) We're down to 10 minutes to go.
Can't wait to see what you make, Jeff.
(JEFF) Likewise, chef. Uh, where are the thermometers?
Do you know? Nevermind, I have one.
-I just want to test these. -No, no! Look at me.
Just touch them. I promise you, they're raw.
-Sorry... Thanks. -I'm here to help you.
But I promise you, now, way too dangerous.
They're still raw. Nine minutes means nine minutes.
Nine minutes, okay. Heard, chef.
-(VALIANT MUSIC) -(CANDACE) Let's go!
Earn your spot in the finals, ladies.
It's not giving me the color I want.
If this pie doesn't brown...
..get the medic.
And please make sure she's got a stretcher.
-(URGENT FESTIVE MUSIC) -Okay.
C'mon, Nikki J! Rudolph is counting on you.
-And my grandkids. -Rudolph and Todd...
-Yes. -The whole gang are cheering
real loud for you right now. I can hear 'em.
This is a competition and it's for the finale.
Come on, brown gods.
(WHOOSH)
I'ma tell you, it smells so good my mouth is watering.
And you all are ama... Hold on! Hold the phone.
You are getting this beautiful puff in your eggs.
-I'm sorry, I love eggs so much. -Isn't it great?!
I'm not getting any jiggle. What d'you think?
-No, I think you're good. -Let's go. I'm gonna pull 'em.
Take them out one... Uh, yeah. Be careful.
-Gentle. -(CARLA) Gentle!
These look so incredible. Oh, my gosh.
Oh, that's heavy! Sorry, sorry.
-Sorry, sorry. -Phew!
(CARLA) That is gorgeous.
(CHLOE) To get into the finale, you have got
to bring your A-game and make it feel
like the holidays and perfect.
I really hope that it baked beautifully on the bottom.
That's so unpredictable.
(JINGLE)! I might be in the finale.
I did not think I was getting this far.
..but I'm feeling pretty confident
that I'm not going home to the holidays right now.
Christmas tree, christmas tree...
Oh, is that ugly? Nah, it's not ugly.
This looks like a showstopper. Let's do it.
I'm nervous. I don't want it to break.
Okay.
Woo! (WHISPERING) I did it.
(CARLA) How is it? Is it cooked?
Looks pretty brown all around. I think so.
-Okay, garlic butter. -Oh my gosh, stop it!
-Stop it right now! -It's a naan bread, Carla.
(GORDON) Ninety seconds! You good?
Yep. I just wanna try and tower it up as much as possible there.
Not trying to crowd it, but I want that to be a centerpiece.
(GORDON) The platform is descending downstairs.
-That means it's coming up soon. -(DRAMATIC BEATS)
(VALIANT MUSIC)
(CANDACE) The platform is on its way.
Here it comes, ladies.
Don't let it pass you by.
-(NIKKI) Woo, shoot! -(CANDACE) Go, go, go!
Let's get those bakes on the platform.
(DEIRDRA) Insanity. We did it.
(CARLA) Okay, it's the platform!
C'mon, the platform. The decisions are over.
Zoha, don't miss it. Carefully!
(CHLOE) Oh, my God.
-(CARLA YELPS) -It looks good, it looks good.
Woo!
(GORDON) Platform's here. Let's go, we got this.
Do not miss that platform. C'mon! Turn and burn.
Let's go, guys. It waits for no one.
Let's go. It waits for no one.
Well done! Yes, yes, yes. Good job.
-Thank you. Yeah, I'm good. -You good?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(GORDON) Mm. Very good.
(CARLA) Look at this!
-(CANDACE) Wow. -(GORDON) Look at that.
-Wow. Man, it smells festive. -Right?
-Heavenly. -(GORDON) Holidays. Delicious.
(CARLA SIGHS)
Unfortunately, there are six of you
and there are only five spots in the finale.
Right. Where shall we start, ladies, top floor?
-Okay. -Yes.
(GORDON) Let's go.
These are Stefanie's Lobster Pot Pie.
-(CARLA) Wow. -Shall we dig in?
-Yes. -Let's do it.
(CARLA) This looks amazing.
(SUSPENSEFUL NOTES)
It feels decadent yet cozy and homey.
Just that perfect balance of celebration and Christmas.
Lobster's cooked beautifully.
I love the spice, the heat. Well done.
-(DRAMATIC NOTE) -This is Jeff's Gougère
with pan roasted chicken, gnocchi,
-with a carrot purée underneath. -(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
I will be honest, it's not a showstopping holiday bake.
It's components of a bake.
I think if you call something a gougère you do need cheese.
I wish you'd stuffed these.
But... (TAPPING) they're cooked beautifully.
And the cook on the chicken - beautiful, really beautiful.
(JEFF) They liked my gougères.
I'm feeling a little relieved.
I just hope that it's enough.
Alright, shall we move up to the middle level?
The best level... what?!
(LAUGHTER)
(CARLA) Alright to start, we have Chloe's
Ground Beef Holiday Quiche.
There's a carrot purée in the quiche
and then the carrot salad with a carrot vinaigrette.
(LIGHT MUSIC)
Okay, let's see what you're talking about.
Look at that. That is beautiful.
I think what I'm excited about already
is the crispiness of that pastry.
(CARLA) Mm-hmm.
That is a savory flavor bomb.
Pastry - exceptional. I love the little acidity
-with the pickled carrots. -Right?
-Smart. -(CARLA) Mm.
Alright next up, this is Zoha's
Tandoori Chicken Holiday Naan Star.
We have a carrot raita
and then we have a little chutney.
-(SHARP EXHALE) -(CARLA) Look at that.
It's fun to have the theater of pulling.
-Tear and share. -Yeah, and sharing.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
-It's (JINGLE) delicious. -(LAUGHTER)
We said showstopper and it is just that.
-It's stunning. -I love the technical ability
of this beautiful twist.
And a very traditional shape for the holidays.
-Did you use the thigh? -Yeah.
Yeah, the flavor from that thigh is incredible.
Move over chicken breast. The thighs are in town.
(NERVOUS GIGGLE)
-Alright, the basement. -(GORDON) Please.
(CANDACE) Okay, this is Nikki's Southern Soul Food Pot Pie
made with top sirloin with candied carrots.
Really, really flaky pie crust.
(SUSPENSEFUL NOTES)
(CARLA) I love the flavor of the sauce.
-(CANDACE) Mm-hmm. -(GORDON) It's warm, inviting.
It's definitely a savory bake. Congratulations.
Alright, next up, Deirdra's Spicy Salmon Cobbler
topped with holiday biscuits.
(CARLA) I love the way it looks.
(TENSE FESTIVE MUSIC)
The seasoning is really overpowering.
That spice is starting to build in my mouth.
I could probably only have three bites or so.
(DEIRDRA) The seasonings were still there more
than I'd hoped they'd be
(EMOTIONAL) and I feel I'm probably gonna go home.
Uh...
(SHARP EXHALE, SNIFFLES)
(DRAMATIC BEATS)
-(DRAMATIC MUSIC) -(GORDON) Wow.
Deirdra, the seasoning is really overpowering.
She had a bit of a mishap.
Deirdra was putting her seasoning into her stew...
-Oh! -..and the entire bottle
of seasoning went into her stew and it was
-salty as all get out. -Damn.
She had to start again.
(CARLA AND GORDON) Wow.
Listen, it's on maximum seasoning.
I'll be honest.
Um, but the biscuits - exceptional.
And the salmon - it's delicious, really good.
(SOMBER NOTE)
Sadly, only five of you will continue
to the grand finale.
Man, it's gonna come down to the wire.
-Excuse us, please. -Wow, this is hard.
Uh, very hard. My goodness me.
(STEFANIE, WHISPERING)
(GORDON) That tandoori naan. Oh, my goodness me.
(CARLA) That was the first time I saw you take a second bite.
-(LAUGHTER) -Oh, my goodness.
I didn't wanna put it down.
(QUIETLY) I think you're safe.
(SIGH OF RELIEF)
-For the basement? -I have to say,
I've never seen Nikki so comfortable.
(GORDON) I think that's one of her best cooks.
-(CANDACE) I agree. -(GORDON) Deirdra's cobbler.
I could tell spice had been dumped in 'cause it was hot.
-I struggled to finish that. -Mm-hmm.
(GORDON) But Deirdra's biscuits - incredible.
I thought the texture of the biscuits were perfect.
-(GORDON) It was a showstopper. -It was gorgeous.
Top floor? The lobster pot pie?
Stefanie knows how to put together flavor.
Yeah. Kudos for her being a phenomenal baker.
-(CARLA) Yeah. -Grabbing a lobster
-and cooking it beautifully. -Absolutely.
Moving on to the dish I've been dying to talk about
because I'm still scratching my head.
-(CARLA) Jeff's buffet platter. -(CANDACE) Well put, Carla.
I thought the gougères were incredible.
They were! Some of the best we've had.
That's the bake side, right?
And then all these other elements went in.
(CANDACE) Right, if only he'd brought them together.
Listen, this is for the final spot
in the finale and it's a toss-up between the salty cobbler
or is it the three dishes in one with the gougères?
-(CARLA) The buffet, right. -Tough, tough...
Yeah.
(WISHING EACH OTHER GOOD LUCK)
(LIGHT SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Woo! Let's get one thing straight.
You guys have elevated
in each and every round, truly.
I am so proud of you.
(SIGHS)
But there are only five spots in the finale.
The first two bakers who have earned their spots
in the grand finale are...
Zoha!
(WHISPERING) Oh, thank you!
(CARLA) And Stefanie.
-Thank you. -Congratulations!
(ZOHA) Let's GO!
I am in the final. I feel so... happy.
The next two bakers
moving on to the grand finale are...
-Chloe. -(GASPS)
And Nikki!
(EMOTIONAL) Oh, my God.
That's Rudolph.
My daddy is bringing in the luck today.
-(GENTLE MUSIC) -Unfortunately, that leaves
Deirdra and Jeff. Only one of you
will be moving on into the grand finale.
-This was a tough one. -It was.
The final baker claiming their spot in the grand finale is...
Deirdra. Well done.
(STEFANIE UNVOICED)
Jeff, what you cooked here
as a dish was exceptional.
The big discrepancy for all three of us,
that it wasn't a holiday bake.
It's been a joy and I hope you guys have happy holidays.
-Likewise. -You too.
-(GORDON) Well done. -Thank you very much.
I would have loved to have been able to bake in the final
but the other bakers I'm baking with are just so talented.
So I can walk out with my head held high.
(GORDON) Take care, bud.
I look calm, cool and collected, but screaming on the inside.
Congratulations on entering into the first ever
Next Level Baker finale.
-(SQUEALS OF DELIGHT) -(CANDACE) Let's go!
(GORDON) Honestly.
My kids are gonna lose their minds.
(LAUGHTER)
Like, what do you do? Like mom dance?
(CANDACE) Look at all these women.
-That's what I'm sayin'. -Right?
-What?! -(CANDACE) Amazing.
You're the last man standing.
(LAUGHTER)
Nikki, what would you do with $25,000 across the holidays?
-I'm going on a cruise. -(GORDON) Love that.
And when I get back from the cruise
I'ma go on another cruise.
-Okay, that's whassup. -(GORDON) All of you...
head back to the lounge, get your heads in the game,
'cause when you get back...
you're gonna be faced with the most difficult,
the most daunting bake of your lives.
-Well done. -(CARLA) Yay.
-Congratulations. -Let's go.
Let's go!
(ZOHA) All girls final! (CHUCKLES)
Who's surprised? Not me. Not surprised.
I am honored to be here with these four women
and I think each one of them has their own strengths
and it's gonna be a tough competition.
(PING)
-Oh! -(LAUGHTER)
And that's from a 60-year-old!
(CHUCKLING) Oh!
...on the Next Level Baker finale.
(GORDON) Go! Let's go!
You have to create a three-tiered cake,
each tier baked on a different level.
Agh!
That elevator is gonna be busy.
Woo! Hey. Top floor!
(FRUSTRATED SIGH)
Oh, my God!
This is really pissing me off right now.
-(SIGHS) -(HI-ENERGY FESTIVE MUSIC)
-Woo! -Your cakes are burning!
I don't even know what floor is on fire.
Hold your nerve, c'mon.
The winner of Next Level Baker is...
-SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING) -(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
(GORDON) Well done, c'mon!
(FAST-PACED FESTIVE MUSIC)
Welcome back.
Come on in. There she is!
-Jumpity jump-jump. -Nikki's got more moves.
Love it! Right, really well done.
A one in five chance of becoming our first ever Next Level Baker.
(DEIRDRA) Amazing.
Deirdra, what does that mean and say to you?
That would mean everything. Like, this is a childhood dream.
But to win would be even more amazing.
$25,000 would be insane to win.
I think I would love to take some culinary classes,
hone my expertise even more.
Love that.
(GUSHING) Oh, Nikki!
How are you feeling, little chocolate drop?
I'm feeling still nervous, but amazing.
I am the oldest person in the competition
with all the youngsters, but I'm like,
listen girl, you have been baking all your life.
(PFFT) You got this. Piece of cake!
Piece of Bundt cake at that.
Stefanie, the fact that you're not even classically trained
and you've been serving up the bakes that you have?
I mean, we are all so impressed with you.
(EMOTIONAL) Thank you so much.
All of my formal training was watching baking shows.
And being here and doing this is absolutely validation
that I'm... doing what I should be doing.
It's just the biggest privilege
to bake amongst these incredible women
and to be mentored by you guys. I can't even believe it.
Chloe, you bake with such prowess, where's that come from?
I think my entire life has built me up for this moment.
I don't back down from pressure and I'm not gonna start now.
-We love that about you. -Thank you.
-(CARLA) Zoha! -Hi.
-How are you feeling? -Normally I have a lot of words.
but I feel like I can't "English" right now.
(CHUCKLING)
It's just a jumble.
I honestly dunno what to say.
-Speechless! -Honestly, speechless.
Well, just believe in your baking, and trust in it.
And I'm gonna say this to you, and you say, "Zoha time."
-Zoha, what time is it? -Zoha time!
-What time is it? -Zoha time!
That's what's up, okay?
Okay. Thank you, Carla.
And Zoha, if you do become
our first ever Next Level Baker tonight,
can you buy yourself a bloody watch?
Candace, Carla and myself are absolutely done with
telling you how much time is left.
We're like the talking clock that never stops.
-(LAUGHTER) -(GORDON) Honestly.
Gosh, why are they giving me such a hard time?
I just need the time.
Ladies, let's get one thing straight.
What stands between you and that title of our first ever
Next Level Baker is the most intense finale
in baking show history, let me tell you.
Your skills and your creativity
are about to be tested to the absolute limit tonight.
-(DRAMATIC BEAT) -For this final challenge
you all have to create a delicious three-tiered cake.
(CHLOE) Easy breezy. I can make a three-tiered cake.
I'm pretty comfortable with it.
-Sounds easy, right? -No... (CHUCKLES)
Think again, because each tier
must be baked on a different level.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(CARLA) And it's up to you to decide
where you'll make each tier.
(SIGHS)
(SOMBER NOTE)
Agh!
On top of that,
each tier of your cake must feature
a different flavor profile.
(UNEASY MUSIC)
It still needs to feel cohesive.
The platform will drop ingredients
three times, once on each level.
(GASPS) I think I just wanna go for some fresh air.
You'll have four hours and for the first time ever,
you'll have total freedom
to move from kitchen to kitchen as you please.
The three of us will be moving
floor to floor to keep an eye on you.
-I'm dizzy. -(SOFTLY) What?!
I'm just thinking, survive, survive, survive!
-Are you ready? -(NIKKI) Yes, yes. Let's do it!
-Alright, get to that elevator. -(GORDON) Good luck!
-(DEIRDRA) Let's do it! -Thank you!
Let's go!
(STEFANIE) We got this.
-That's crazy, man. -Yeah.
Three different levels, three different cakes,
all assembled in the last 30 minutes on that top floor.
For me, 'cause the basement is a little willy-nilly
and the ovens are small, I would do my top tier in the basement.
A hundred percent.
I'd start my biggest tier in the basement and get that done.
I actually think I would go middle level.
-(GORDON) Interesting. -They need to make sure
that bottom layer is solid.
That is the structure of your cake.
-I mean... -This is gonna be crazy.
Honestly.
-(ELEVATOR PINGS) -(BAKERS WHOOP AND CLAP)
-First time in the basement! -(DEIRDRA) Very good!
I'm going into the final at a disadvantage
because I've never been to the basement before.
Oh, my gosh, these are the cake pans you guys have?
-(SPOOKY MUSIC) -Ohh...
Here we go, little friend. Here we go.
I've been freaked out by that old evil doll...
..but we just had to become friends
because I need my good luck charm.
I even brought her my glasses today.
We twinnin'... me and Tabitha.
-Hey! -Oh, my gosh!
-Alright! -Alright, who's ready?
(GORDON) All of you, come and line up across there.
This grab is crucial.
It is really important you get everything. Be smart, right.
Line up. That platform is descending.
(PLATFORM HUMMING)
(GORDON) One stunning cake...
-(CARLA) Oh, my God. -..three incredible layers.
This is the most crucial platform grab ever.
You have to figure out what ingredients
might you need on the other levels.
Big question is, who will be
our first ever Next Level Baker?
(ZOHA) And we all want to win.
Obviously I'm already losing my (JINGLE).
GO! Let's go! Grab!
-(CARLA) Alright! -(GORDON) Grab, grab, grab!
(CHLOE) I grab molasses because I'm thinking gingerbread cake
and I'm gonna need a lot of molasses.
-(CHLOE) Cranberries. -Okay, got it.
I might as well be shopping on Black Friday.
It is intense.
-(GORDON) Grab everything, guys. -(NIKKI) Raspberry.
For my bottom tier, I would like to make a hummingbird cake.
-What do you need? -(NIKKI) Pineapple, pineapple...
Pineapple is one of the key ingredients.
Anybody seen a pineapple?
I did not see it anywhere. (JINGLE)!
(DEIRDRA) I'm grabbing all these ingredients,
thinking I got everything. Then I'm like...
Carrots. Where are the carrots?
(CANDACE) Five seconds.
(EXASPERATED SIGH)
(GORDON) Go, go, go.
(CARLA) Let's go, go!
-Woo! Dude. -Woo!
(GORDON) Did anybody miss a vital ingredient?
Oh, I'm gonna need some carrots to come down next time.
-Pineapples. -Then switch it up.
Yeah. I needed pineapple.
But I'm gonna take what I have and I'm going to
make the other cakes first
and pray for the best on the next platform.
-(WHOOSH) -(GORDON, CLAPPING) Here we go!
Your four hours start NOW. Let's go!
-(CANDACE) Let's go! -Let's go, let's go!
-(CANDACE) Hustle, hustle! -(URGENT MUSIC)
-I'm going to the top. -I'm going to middle.
-Yeah, I'm going there as well. -I'm gonna start down here.
Tonight will be a true test for these bakers
because you're operating three kitchens.
So this is a tall order. It may sound like a long time,
four hours, but they've got their work cut out
and that elevator is gonna be busy.
I'm gonna head straight for my station.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
Alright Miss Nikki, it's you and me.
This mixer's older than... me.
(SHARP EXHALE)
I've spent a lot of time in the basement
so I feel pretty confident.
I'll do my smallest cakes in the basement.
(CANDACE) I love to see some smiles already, ladies.
(STEFANIE) It's kinda peaceful in the basement.
-(CANDACE) It is peaceful in... -Oh! Two at once.
-..the basement. -(GORDON) 20 minutes gone, yes.
I put a little espresso powder in there.
Wow. And the inspiration behind it?
I just love Christmas.
These are some of my favorite holiday flavors.
For my three-tiered cake,
the bottom tier is a gingerbread cake.
It's filled with an orange diplomat cream.
And the middle tier is a cranberry orange cake
filled with cranberry compote. And then my top layer,
I'm hoping to make a chocolate peppermint cake.
As long as I can find some peppermint extract, but--
Peppermint extract. It's the only thing you missed, right?
-Yes. -Five minutes until the platform
-for the second drop... -Oh, my gosh.
..hits the middle kitchen.
I wish I could fry my cake.
You okay?
Hmm! That would go faster.
Alright, Nikki.
You're starting with your top tier.
The top. Mm-hmm. For my three-tier cake
I want the bottom tier to be a hummingbird cake.
The next layer in the middle tier is an amaretto liqueur.
And the top layer is a raspberry liqueur cake.
So I bet you're hoping to get some pineapple in the next...
-Oh. (CHUCKLES) -..ingredient grab.
-Definitely. -Otherwise it's time to pivot.
I need pineapple and pecans.
A little southern flavor.
-Yes. -I love it.
(CANDACE) About to get these cakes in the oven?
Our timers set for cakes down here? Don't want to forget them.
-We won't be able to smell them. -They are on.
Nikki, what's the second flavor?
-Amaretto. -Should we do one together?
-I'd love to do shots with you. -Yeah, definitely.
If you win, I'll come on that cruise with you.
We'll do shots together, girl.
Me and Gordon Ramsay, we're going on a cruise.
-(URGENT MUSIC) -(CANDACE) Headed up.
(NIKKI) I'm going to the grab.
(NIKKI) Hey, watch my girl. Don't knock her down, okay?
I'll keep an eye.
(JAZZY 'JINGLE BELLS')
It's three cake ladies in an elevator together!
-I know! -(NIKKI) Yeah.
-The Cake Rockettes. -Yes.
(CHUCKLING)
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
(MUSIC ENDS)
(BELL TOLLS)
(URGENT MUSIC)
Press and turn, like frickin' medicine.
(CHLOE) God yeah, childproofed.
A three-tiered cake is something I've never made before.
I've never done anything like this in my life.
It's been a dream of mine since I was eight years old
to be on a baking competition like this.
It feels great to be a home chef and made it this far.
Is this your licorice cake, chocolate licorice?
Yeah, bottom tier. First tier of my cake,
I'm making a black licorice cake with a blackberry filling.
For my second tier, I'm making an orange carrot cake.
I'm hoping so bad that I can get my hands on some carrots.
Fingers crossed for that next platform.
For my top tier, I'm making a peppermint vanilla cake
with cranberry orange filling and a cream cheese frosting.
(CARLA) Have you had that combo before?
-Yeah, I've made it. -Okay.
Not many people love black licorice.
I know it's a little bit risky, but in the baking world
one of my favorite things to do is flex the creative side of it.
I'm trying to get enough of the licorice root flavor in here.
-Okay. -You like it?
Wow. So good. Oh, my goodness.
Deirdra... (SIGHS) I love Deirdra.
She understands flavor.
But I am hoping all the flavors work together.
So this is a real challenge for her.
Everybody's gettin' ready for this drop?
(SING SONG) Ready as we're gonna be.
(GORDON) Stand by, guys.
(GORDON) Here we go!
Grab everything you need.
Let's go!
Platform's there.
-(PLATFORM BLEEPS) -(NIKKI) I need pineapple.
(CARLA) Anybody see pineapple?
I'm just grabbing stuff, grab something.
Pineapple, pineapple! How many? What else do you need?
(GASPS) There's pineapple!
Look over here. What carrots are they?! Yes!
Yeah! As many as I can get.
(SOFTLY) Yes! It's exactly what I needed.
Does anybody see peppermint?
I wanted to add peppermint extract
into my buttercream for my peppermint cake.
Anybody see peppermint? Peppermint?
I searched and searched and searched.
I could not find it anywhere.
Anything that's like legit peppermint?
So I've gotta pivot. (HI-PITCHED YELP)
-(CARLA) You get candy canes? -I did!
Ten seconds!
And I found some candy canes.
I'm just hopeful I can make something out of it.
I'll do my best. I don't know if I'll be able to.
Fondant! You need fondant?
(GORDON) Five seconds! Quick, quick, quick! Last grab!
Well done! Great grab.
I gotta go downstairs!
-Where do you wanna go? -Basement.
-Okay, basement first. -I'll ride up and down.
(HI-STAKES MUSIC)
C'mon, I won't let you down.
-Let's go. -Okay.
(SOMBER NOTE)
Oh, geez. Who's are these in here?
'Cause they are burning.
Who's are they, d'you know?
They might be Nikki's. She's been baking it down here.
Oh, no. NIKKI!
-Yeah! -Your cakes are burning!
-(DRAMATIC BEAT) -(JINGLE)!
Oh God, I forgot.
-Nikki! -Comin'!
I don't even know what floor is on fire.
-Get down here! -(NIKKI) Comin'!
-Please! -She's coming!
-I'm coming down! -(GORDON) Come on, Nikki!
-(SOFTLY) Oh, my God! -(MUSIC ENDS)
-(HI-STAKES MUSIC) -(HOLLERING) Nikki!
-Your cakes are burning! -(SOFTLY) Oh, my God!
My cakes are on fire.
Oh, my God. Who signed me up for this?
Cake gods, shine on that cake.
(NIKKI) C'mon, c'mon!
You got it girl, go get 'em!
Please, put some down. Let's go. Well done.
(JINGLE)
-(JINGLE) -That's fine.
Take them out, we'll get them cooled.
Let's get them out. You've gotta be on it.
Thank God Gordon Ramsay did tell me they were on fire because...
Whew! That could've been bad.
-(LIGHT MUSIC) -(GORDON) You okay?
-Yes. -Just get them out quickly.
-Okay. -And get them cooled down, yes?
-Okay? -Yes... okay.
Then you decide whether you do them again.
Did you just forget about them?
-No. The timer just went off. -Right.
They didn't look burned
I think because they were raspberry,
so they were already a darker color.
-At least they're fine, right? -Yes.
He saved the day because I could not have started over.
-Oh, my lord! -(PING)
-Geez, what's she doing here? -That's Tabitha.
-(GORDON) Tabitha? -Yeah, that's my girl.
She magical.
(CREEPY MUSIC)
(PING)
(CHUCKLES)
Tabitha was letting me know, "I got you, girl."
Hi, sweetie.
She's got eyes on the cake.
(CHUCKLING)
How long for the sponges on the middle floor and the top floor?
I haven't got 'em in the oven yet.
(JINGLE)! Let's go.
Here we go, straight up to the top floor.
-Get that sponge in, please. -Yes.
-(SOMBER NOTE) -(CARLA) Just over 3 hours left.
Zoha! What tier are you making right now?
I'm making my base tier, the largest tier.
-(CARLA) Okay. -I am making
a three-tiered cake representing the colors
and beautiful flavors of Pakistani food.
My bottom tier is a pistachio kulfi cake
with a raspberry compote through it.
The middle tier is a maple pecan cake
and my top tier is a gulab jamun-flavored cake
with cardamom and rose water.
(CARLA) It sounds amazing.
Feel like I'm already far behind.
The brain is not braining right now. (LAUGHS)
Yeah, it kind of feels like some screws are not in place.
Oh, I didn't put my frickin' parchment paper in there.
This is multitasking on a whole other level.
Cool, calm, collected. That's the mantra for today.
(METALLIC CLATTERING)
Just be cool, calm and collected.
(PLASTIC BANGING)
I can't lose it.
Oh, I'm running to the middle!
I have to split my brain into 30 pieces.
(WHOOSHING)
Holy (JINGLE).
There's different buttercreams, different flavors.
Then I'm gonna need time to make sure my cake looks good.
Hey, do you have baking powder and salt up here?
I haven't even started, no.
Is anyone actually calm right now?
Stefanie, what's going on here?
Here I'm doing a cranberry orange cake
and I'll have a cranberry compote in between the layers.
You're lovin' the cranberries today.
My daughter, Elle, is 10
and she loves sugared cranberries.
She eats them by the handful, so it's a little ode to her.
-Oh, that's so sweet. -Yeah.
Kind of a sophisticated palate. Those can be tart.
Cranberries and sushi. That's my girl.
I've got kids that like sushi, too. That's an expensive habit.
Yes, it is. So I'm a mom of four.
We had twins first, Landon and Hudson.
And a couple of years later we decided
to adopt our daughter, Elle, from China.
And then fast forward many, many, many years later,
we felt drawn towards foster care
and we were placed with this precious baby boy.
And so we were able to adopt him
right before Christmas last year.
Wow, that's amazing. You have your hands full.
One of my sons goes,
"Mom, you've gotta bake your butt off today!"
He also was, "Have you cursed?" That's what he wanted to know.
"Have you cursed?" Tried really hard not to.
We'll leave the cursing to Gordon.
Now c'mon, I'm not (JINGLE) around. Let's go, girl.
(TENSE ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC)
Damn it, I need more batter.
The game face is real, Chloe.
-(MANIC LAUGH) -What's your flavor?
So I'm working with a gingerbread cake.
For my bottom tier, I'm going to be baking my gingerbread cake.
My middle tier, I'm going to be making my pecan spice cake.
For my top tier, I'm going to be baking
my orange zest cake with cranberry compote.
And we're gonna do some snickerdoodle buttercream.
-You better shut your face. -Yes! Snickerdoodle buttercream!
-Oh. My. God. -(URGENT MUSIC)
I have made this gingerbread cake a thousand times,
but you take however much time you want.
You know and maybe even - wild thought - one kitchen.
So let's just get this in the oven! (BLEEP)
We're good.
Do you know where teaspoons are in here?
Moving between all these levels is really, really
affecting my timing in getting this cake put together.
You guys know where teaspoons are?
I can't find teaspoons anywhere. If you see them...
Okay, okay. (SHOUTING) I heard you!
Top kitchen please!
(HI-STAKES MUSIC)
I'm comin'! Every single bit of my energy is going into getting
in and out of the elevator.
Down, down, down. C'mon!
Basement, basement. BASEMENT!
-(LIGHT MUSIC) -Top floor, please.
-(TENSE MUSIC) -Basement!
I don't think I've screamed
at equipment more in my life. BASEMENT!
-(CLEARS THROAT) -(LIGHT MUSIC)
(LIGHT MUSIC CONTINUES)
(SHARP EXHALE)
Oh, my God! This is absolutely wild.
-(DRAMATIC 'JINGLE BELLS') -Phew!
-(ELEVATOR PINGS) -Oh! Oh, uh...
This is insane, from floor to floor, man.
Teaspoons?
(DEIRDRA) Woo. Hey! Top floor, please.
Shoes please, on three.
-This is a marathon. -(PING)
A really sticky, sugary marathon. Ugh.
Hold the elevator!
I think I've probably run
at least 20,000 steps by now.
Top floor.
I hate this challenge!
-Finally found some. -(MUSIC ENDS)
-(PING) -Shut up, shut up, shut up...
(WHOOSHING)
-Up, up, up... Go, go, go... -(ELEVATOR PINGS)
(CLEARS THROAT) Okay!
-(DRAMATIC BEAT) -(JINGLE)!
(TENSE MUSIC)
(DOOR SLAMS)
If you leave your oven doors open
any baker knows, you will effectively ruin your bake.
One more minute, c'mon!
That is probably the worst thing that could happen.
(CANDACE) Chloe, how's it going?
(IRONIC) We're doing great.
You know, honestly I dunno what everyone's panicking about.
-(CANDACE) Yeah! -Literally fine.
-Cool as a cucumber. -Yeah.
I did so many things right up to this point.
This cannot be the thing that brings me down.
Ow, ow, ow.
(SIGHS) Please be good, please be good... C'mon!
(JINGLE)
(JINGLE)!
(FRUSTRATED GROAN)
It is not fully baked.
I would love for this cake
to be salvageable, but it is not.
(HI-STAKES MUSIC BUILDS)
(THUDDING)
(CHLOE) Might be redoing this cake.
(MUSIC ENDS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(CHLOE) Please be good, please be good... C'mon!
It's pretty easy to see that this is dark on the outside
and completely not baked in the middle.
Oh, you're (JINGLE) kidding me.
I'm gonna have to start from scratch.
-Damn... damn, damn, damn. -(CANDACE) I know.
(CHLOE) It was fate, you guys.
You're remaking your ginger cake?
Yes. This time we'll do sheet pan, it'll be super fast.
I think the sheet pan strategy is gonna be brilliant.
I think the second time around I'll be prouder of the taste--
-I think so. -Who gets to taste test
-their cake already? -(LAUGHTER)
-So let's get this in the oven! -Let's get this going.
This should be fine. Alright.
Should be fine.
(LIGHT FESTIVE MUSIC)
Maybe not the best thing to go to the basement
for the first time on your last challenge,
but I have to make my top cake. I hate this.
(DEIRDRA) Just try to have fun.
My top tier is a gulab jamun-flavored cake
with cardamom and rose water.
Gulab jamun is a South Asian sweet.
It's okay, you're right. We're having fun.
-Yes, yes, yes. -C'mon, Zoha.
L-O-L.
I should have rose... right here.
I mean, for us, the biggest holiday in Pakistan is Eid.
And my mom or my grandmom
will not asleep at all because they're making
the Pakistani sweets. So this is for them.
(YELPS)
(URGENT MUSIC)
Oh, my God.
-Did it spill? -Yeah.
The top came off, didn't it?
-Did that happen to you before? -Down here, too.
(RESIGNED CHUCKLE) Damn the basement!
Everything's okay, don't worry about it.
(QUIETLY) It's okay.
(DRAMATIC BEAT)
Let's go. Ladies, halfway.
Halfway.
Who's are these cakes here?
Who's are these?
-DEIRDRA! -Oh, shoot.
(GORDON) Top floor to basement!
-DEIRDRA! -Oh yeah, that's me. Top floor.
Cakes are ready.
Deirdra's coming!
Oh my gosh, I need to make sure
these carrot cakes are delicious and amazing.
I can't have anything burn right now.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Okay, thank you.
The one at the back is ready.
That one looks a little bit runny.
It's so awesome to work with Chef Ramsay
because he so effortlessly knows everything.
See what I'm saying? Touch. They're ready.
-That top one isn't. -He just saved my carrot cake.
Ooh... This is the best cake I make.
(SIGHS) I'm so relieved.
Chloe, what are you working on?
I'm working on my spiced pecan cake.
I have to get back on track.
You can't stand around going,
maybe I'll, maybe I'll... Move!
-Let's taste that. -(CARLA) Hey!
Chloe, that is your yummy face.
It's SO good.
(CARLA) Oh, my gosh.
I needed it kinda nutty
because there'll be a caramel filling.
(MAGICAL HARP STRUMS)
This is delicious, and you toasted the nuts, didn't you?
-It makes all the difference. -It does.
Nuts will not caramelize inside the batter.
No, they just get more waxy?
Yes, they get waxy and taste like fingernails.
That's gross. I'm gonna get you in the oven, baby.
Which tier is this, the top or middle?
-This is the middle. -Alright.
(CHLOE) Middle!
An hour and 50 minutes left.
-(MUSIC ENDS) -We go for the middle tier now.
-Right? The left hand side. -Yes.
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
Oh my God, stop the clock. Just stop the clock.
Uh...
I can't think, I can't think. A mixer... I need a mixer.
I'm just trying to think of all three
different flavored cakes that we have to do.
I need a mixer. And now my head is so gone.
Nikki's way behind. Way, way behind. Nikki?
-Yes? -Next step, straight in the oven
with that sponge, then we can breathe.
No, there ain't no breathin'.
This is the craziest thing
I have experienced.
Okay. This oven... Which oven on?
-Good girl. -Why did I do this?
We got two in, I want you to think about your top tier now.
Okay, yeah. I'm gonna be fine.
Oh, I know. I remember.
Because I'm Nikki J and I'm Next Level Baker.
-(URGENT MUSIC) -Chloe?
What's going on with your cake that's in the oven right now
-that appears to be-- -Looking good... Oh, my God.
(MUSIC BUILDS)
This is amazing. This is going so swimmingly.
I'm pretty fed up, I'm pretty frustrated with myself.
Wish this was a martini.
You good? Is that out?
No, the cake is doing something.
I dunno what the (JINGLE) it's doing, it's not good.
-C'mon, what happened? -That oven.
Did you put bicarb in there or baking soda?
-I mean, yeah. -How much?
I think the amount I should.
-I mean (JINGLE). -(JINGLE)
I likely moved too fast
and used baking soda instead of baking powder.
It's going to burn on the edges and stay soup in the middle.
I dunno if this is gonna bake,
dunno what the (JINGLE) is happening.
Am I seriously gonna have
to make this cake a third time?
(MUSIC ENDS)
-It's not good. Just, just... -(GORDON) Damn.
-My recipe is... -We'll get this. You know that.
My gingerbread cake is somehow worse
than the first time I made it.
I have to start from scratch.
So, I make it again.
I'll use brown sugar 'cause I don't have molasses.
There you go, don't stick to a problem.
-Pivot and change up. -Move on.
I don't have time. I don't have any time for this.
That is annoying. What happened to that?
I honestly can't tell ya.
(EMOTIONAL) Believe me, this kind of thing can break you.
We are not giving up.
But, I promised my mom, I promised my little sister,
that I was going to make her life extraordinary.
At all costs.
We're gonna get there... If I win Next Level Baker
it's like everything I ever lost
and everything I overcame, finally,
it was for something.
Let's use a different oven.
New cake, new oven.
(QUIETLY) New cake, new oven.
-(PLAYFUL MUSIC) -What the hell?
It is bad in this basement, but I see some stockings.
Those stockings had to be about 50 years old, too.
I know nobody else would be excited about a stocking.
(CARLA) Oh, Nikki!
It's just me and you, babe.
And Tabitha, don't disrespect...
(CARLA) Sorry Tabitha, I see you.
Okay, I gotta roll my fondant out here.
I found something down here.
Tabitha showed me where something was.
-Yeah. -You puttin' on some stockings?
-No. -What's happening?
-Long story. -Okay.
Oh, is this a tip?
Okay, I need cornstarch.
Please don't leave those pantyhose on the kitchen table.
-(LAUGHTER) -(CARLA) Girl, that...
I put the cornstarch in the stocking
to control how much
I apply to the fondant.
So your decor, is it all fondant?
-Yeah. -Make it nice and thin because--
-I know. -Yeah.
-Can't be too heavy. -You lookin' at me like,
"Yeah, I know, Carla. I do this all the time."
(CHUCKLES) I've been making cakes out of fondant
for at least 13 years.
I'm used to that sheeter, but we don't--
-You are the sheeter. -Yeah, I see.
But not in these conditions.
How am I doing, Tabitha? (SIGHS) Yeah, I know.
This is super challenging.
You can use this as a guide so that this is--
-It's all even. -Yes.
I love teaching.
I love watching someone grow.
I used to do a lot of cooking classes.
And I feel like this experience sorta feels
like that but there's more at stake.
-(URGENT MUSIC) -(ELEVATOR PINGS)
(CARLA) Yes, yes, that's so much nicer. Oh, my God.
-(NIKKI) Yes. -(CARLA) Alright, Stefanie.
I'm hoping to do kinda like a peppermint filling.
I didn't find peppermint extract but I've got candy canes.
-Okay... yeah. -I'll work with what I've got.
-To get a little holiday flavor. -You can make a simple syrup
-out of candy canes. -Yes, I love that.
So I'm making a simple syrup out of these candy canes.
They're not melting great, and honestly,
there's not that much peppermint to it.
Forget this and get a mallet and just freakin' smash it.
I wanna save that one so that I get it in my buttercream.
I think one more minute and...
-Yeah, good. -..this will be ready.
Simple syrup goes a long way. Perhaps, I don't know.
I'm worried about the peppermint not punching through enough.
So much pressure.
You're both trailblazers and you both
wanna be that first EVER Next Level Baker.
(WHOOSH)
Two and a half hours down. Ninety minutes left.
Five-minute warning for the final drop on the top floor.
This to help you decorate your cakes
and make them beautiful.
We're all headed to the top floor.
(GORDON) Top floor, let's go.
-(LIGHT MUSIC) -Oh, oh! (LAUGHING) Oh, my God!
Girl dance party. Yeah? Yeah? Anybody?
-(ELEVATOR PINGS) -(MUSIC ENDS)
Alright, get out there!
(GORDON) Let's go! Get your stations clear.
Don't forget, the platform's gonna be here any moment.
(GORDON) The platform's on the move. Final grab. Here we go!
Grab your decorations.
(DRAMATIC BEATS)
-(PLATFORM BLEEPS) -(STEFANIE) What is that!
-What do you need? -Is there shredded coconut?
I'm looking for coconut shavings
to actually give a snowy effect...
(CANDACE) These need to look gorgeous.
..because the top is supposed to be white
like you made it up to the North Pole
and it's Christmassy and snowy.
But the only thing I see on the platform
are little tiny marshmallows. Oh, this is great.
Dazzling cakes that wow us.
Ten seconds, guys.
Jelly beans, where're the jelly beans? Somebody got 'em?
All I want is Santa at the top of the cake. Okay.
Santa made the wish come true.
Oh! Where're them jelly beans?
(CANDACE) There it goes!
This is the biggest grab Nikki's ever had!
(CANDACE) Oh, wow!
-(ELEVATOR PINGS) -Good luck. Let's go.
-(ZOHA) Thank you, sir. -One more. Basement?
-(LIGHT MUSIC) -Alright, c'mon.
-(CHUCKLING) -I'm just ready to go.
Come here, you. C'mon, a hug. You okay?
You've done the hardest part, now it's just bringing it home.
I still have to ice the other cakes.
That's half an hour per cake. Think about that.
-Okay. -And think about the cruise.
(LIGHT MUSIC)
(CHLOE, CHEERFUL) Okay...
Yes, yes.
Oh God, thank God.
This is, for a fact, a Christmas miracle.
This cake has finally baked after the third try.
So, I am incredibly grateful for that. Yes! (LAUGHS)
(TRIUMPHANT FESTIVE MUSIC)
(WHOOSH)
(CARLA) I don't wanna stress you out
but we have one hour left.
One hour to assemble your three tiers.
Decorate. Impress us.
And you know that all finishes up on the top level.
You didn't want to stress us?
Agh! Time is not my friend today.
Okay. Well, my cakes are kind of breaking,
so this is gonna be a challenge.
These cake pans down in the basement are really, really bad.
My cakes are broken, so I hope I can somehow redeem this.
When your cake starts to break, if you're trying to frost it,
that's where your tiered cake can start falling over.
They're all breaking. What do I do?
You can't do it over. I see that it's crumbling,
and there's nothing else to do. She doesn't have time.
Father Time has left the building.
(MUSIC ENDS)
-(DRAMATIC MUSIC) -(ZOHA) They're so broken.
Do you want to chill them?
That way you can cut it easier?
I don't know if I have any time, Carla.
You have 55 minutes.
I mean, that's really not a lot of time.
Yeah. There's still a lot
to get done on each level of the kitchen.
Some buttercreams need chilling, frostings need to be made,
some fillings need to be made... Oh gosh, what a mess.
I can't redo this. I'll have to use my frosting
as glue and just try to stick it together as best as I can.
Let me get a crumb coat on
then put it in the blast chiller.
Then I think it might redeem itself.
This is gonna come down to the last minute
and it's time to lock it.
Okay, I'm going back to the middle.
-Thank you, Carla. -Great, back to the middle!
Zoha's goin' to the middle.
Chloe, remind me what you're working on now.
I'm working on my top tier, just need to assemble it
-and get it upstairs. -Okay.
-(CARLA) You've had some redos. -Yes.
-How are you feeling? -I feel like if I get a cake up
at this point, we're winning.
-This is your comeback! -This is... (CHORTLES)
When it comes to my top tier,
my orange cake, it's looking good!
Chloe, show that cake who's boss.
Show that cake who's boss, right?
-Okay? -Okay. It's fluffy, it's zesty.
It's really, really bouncy
but the crumb is good. I'm thrilled.
(CARLA) Your sister's gonna be so proud of you.
Charlotte's gonna be like, you rock!
I am so incredibly impressed with these bakers.
Fifty minutes left.
There is the time crunch.
-There is the pressure. -(SHARP EXHALE)
When we see what they've made...
Alright, your cake is leaving the basement.
..it's really impressive.
Aw, that's so nice! So what is this design?
I'm trying to do a henna design.
-Yes! -It's so hard, Carla.
(ZOHA)
...which is a Muslim holiday.
The night before Eid, all the girls get henna on their hands
and it looks so beautiful.
-It means a lot. -I don't normally do a lot
of Pakistani baking, but I figured now
-is the time to do it. -Yes.
I'm always scared to get my hopes up high
but it would mean the absolute world to win.
I'm gonna try it. I'm gonna try my best.
(GORDON) Forty five minutes to go.
Oh, my goodness. This is really pissing me off.
-You're fine. -Ugh! The marshmallow top
is so bad - I wanted to have coconut shavings instead.
This snowy masterpiece that I imagined
is turning into a snowstorm.
-(LIGHT MUSIC) -(ELEVATOR PINGS)
(CANDACE) Hi, Deirdra.
-Hi, how are ya? -Not great, but...
(CHLOE) Okay. Well same.
Nobody's feeling great right now, by the way!
(URGENT MUSIC)
-You good, Nikki? -No, I'm not.
It's too much to cover three cakes in fondant.
Anybody seen a fondant smoother? Y'all doing buttercream.
(CARLA) Thirty minutes. We need to finish these.
The clock is ticking, the clock is ticking.
Damn. All I'm trying to do is make sure
I've got the fondant on this cake.
I should have done something buttercream.
-(CARLA) How you looking, Nikki? -Terrible.
-But I got faith. -Yeah.
It's okay, I got this. Hope this cake is okay.
-Hi, Zoha! -Hi.
(GORDON) What a day, man. -Yeah!
Pretty awesome, pretty awesome.
Cannot believe we've done this, I'm so proud.
-All these girls. (SIGHS) -Nearly there.
We're fine, gonna be tight, and the rest you do upstairs.
-Okay, yeah. -Here we go. Elevator, please.
Top floor.
I can't believe it's all over.
This all started from my little kitchen at home.
And when I opened a bakery, people thought I was crazy.
Hold your nerve, c'mon.
So to be here now in the finale of Next Level Baker?
-It's incredible. -Let's go. Good, look at that.
Guys, we've got 25 minutes to go, okay?
The baker who pulls it off will be walking away on $25,000.
-That looks beautiful. -Thank you!
Nikki, that looks great.
-There's so much color. -There's so much,
-and a lot of texture. -I want this to be pretty.
(GORDON) 15 minutes to go, yes? Come on, ladies. Finish strong.
Ah! Come on, come on... Visually, I'm gonna get flamed
on the internet for this, is what's gonna happen!
Fix it, fix it, fix it. But at this point
it's about getting a cake on the platform, at all.
And hopefully, the flavors shine.
(JINGLE)
Chloe, you have a CAKE!
-I have a cake. -(GORDON) Well done, Chloe.
10 minutes to go.
I want this to look better.
There's a lot of texture on Deirdra's.
My family would look at that cake and be like,
she didn't make that. 'Cause they've never seen me
put together a tiered cake like that.
I'm so scared to put it together.
(GORDON) There you go, well done.
-(CARLA) Yes. -(GORDON) Well done!
Oh (JINGLE).
You got this, Nikki. You're amazing.
-(ZOHA) We all got this, girl! -(BAKERS AGREEING)
(GORDON) Zoha, c'mon. Bring it home, let's go.
I'll try to make some stripes to make it look like bangles.
So, I'm just piping around.
Piping, piping, piping. Switching bag, piping...
switching bag, piping... switching bag, piping.
(CARLA) Oh, my gosh.
Then again, time is not my friend.
Three minutes to go! Final three.
C'mon! Oh, my goodness me.
These last 30 minutes have been insane.
-I mean... -Insane!
-This is a nail-biter. -Honestly.
(CANDACE) They are just so focused and concentrated.
-Every second counts. -(GORDON) Unbelievable.
(CANDACE) And somebody's going home the winner tonight.
Make it dazzle! Make it sparkle!
You guys wanna be the Next Level Baker.
It is your time to shine.
-(GORDON) Platform's moving! -Here comes the platform.
Thirty seconds to go!
(CARLA) C'mon, get that chocolate on.
Everyone has a completed cake!
(CARLA) I'm so proud of you all, I can't even stand it!
Fifteen seconds to go. (CLAPPING) Come on!
Please be careful when you put your cakes on the platform.
(CARLA) Platform is arriving.
-Can't watch... -(TENSE MUSIC BUILDS)
I never lifted a three-tiered cake before.
I was so scared to get it to the platform
without falling over, and it's wobbling.
That's probably one of my worst fears, is dropping a cake.
Ten seconds to go!
Stefanie, you gotta go up top.
How am I gonna put my cake
on the second level?
(CARLA) On the top. Zoha go up!
(GORDON) Let's go! Eight...
(CARLA) C'mon, c'mon! -..seven, six, five, four...
My muscles aren't that strong!
-(CARLA) Be careful, c'mon! -..three, two, one.
(CARLA) Oh... oh...
(DRAMATIC BEATS)
(MUSIC ENDS)
(GORDON) Go, go, go! Go up.
-Stefanie, you gotta go up top. -(GORDON) Four...
My muscles aren't that strong!
-Be careful! -..three, two, one.
(CARLA) Oh... oh...
-(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) -(CARLA) Wow!
Oh, my God!
I did it, I got it on the platform.
And I'm really, really proud of myself for that.
-You good? -(CARLA) Y'all! Dude!
What's that face doing, girl?
(NIKKI) I'm extremely proud of myself
but I feel like I had just been run over by a truck
and the truck backed up to make sure I was dead
and ran over me again.
(CARLA) Oh my gosh-uh!
(UPBEAT FESTIVE MUSIC)
(MUSIC ENDS)
Wow, what a bake.
You five have created holiday magic.
It's been a frantic four hours
but my goodness me, this looks stunning.
This was indeed the toughest test...
-Yeah. -..in baking history
and you've all accomplished an incredible feat.
Well done. Right. Ladies, ready to taste?
-(CARLA) Ready to taste. -(CANDACE) Oh, yeah.
(CARLA) Our first cake is Zoha's Cardamom, Maple and Pistachio.
I just love what you've done tempering that chocolate.
It looks stunning.
It's so festive. It's so distinctive.
(CARLA) This is a cultural celebration. I love it.
All we have to do now is taste it.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(CARLA) Alright, we're gonna get into it.
(MUSIC ENDS)
I think the flavors are really complex and well-balanced.
There's so much depth here, and I was delighted
by the texture in the bottom layer.
Pistachios were nutty, toasty and delicious.
-Thank you. -I think all of the flavors
go together - one doesn't blow out the other.
I wanna go in for another bite 'cause I'm like oh my gosh,
discover another flavor.
Overall, you've taken us on a cultural flavor journey.
(GORDON) It's beautiful. It's a celebration.
What a perfect moment for it. Well done.
-(CARLA) Mm! -Thank you, chef.
I'm so proud of myself. To be able to win,
it would be the absolute highlight of my life,
aside from my baby.
I would literally scream from the rooftops.
-(TENSE MUSIC) -Right, next up,
this is Chloe's Orange, Gingerbread and Pecan Cake.
First of all, I just wanna say well done.
Honestly, pulling that back the way you did?
-Brilliant job. -Thank you.
The scale of the tiers, obviously, is a little off
and some of the frosting is heavy-handed
but I'm really proud of you. I think you put together
a very simple and elegant cake.
-(GORDON) Shall we taste? -(CANDACE) Yes.
(UPBEAT CHAMBER MUSIC)
Well, this is packed with the spice flavors of the holidays.
(GORDON) The middle tier - ginger.
I know you had some issues with that.
It's just the sponge is a bit too dense for me,
but then the top tier is beautiful.
It's elegant. It's sort of... It's almost perfect.
If I had three tiers like that it would be number one.
I'm happy to hear how they feel about my flavors
and I imagine that my little sister
will be immensely proud.
(GORDON) Next up, Stefanie's.
This is a Peppermint, Cranberry and a Gingerbread.
(CARLA) I think this is going to be an inspiration
for a lot of home cooks. It is effective, it is simple,
in terms of piping and putting all the decor.
(GORDON) It looks... elegant.
I can imagine kids running up and pressing their nose
to the window at this cake...
-That would be you. -..in a patisserie, yeah.
But like all these cakes
it's about the flavor profile balance, right?
Should we get in there?
-Yeah. -Sure.
Right, so on the base we've got the ginger.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(GORDON) Nice.
Ginger at the bottom - delicious. Great start.
Cranberries, refreshing, tart, everything you want.
It's a nice little intro to the holidays.
I forgot about the peppermint and the chocolate.
It's just enough, it is not overpowering.
It reminded me of having chocolate milk
with the little candy cane, you know? I loved it.
(CANDACE) It feels like a party.
I just want to deck the halls
and you really brought out the spirit of the holidays.
I really felt like I was discovering something
through each tier of your cake.
It really was honestly like opening a present.
To hear comments like that
about a bake that I've literally just poured
so much into, it's just like this soothing balm to my soul.
This is Nikki's Raspberry Hummingbird and Amaretto Cake.
You do nothing by halves. You didn't go down
the easy route, let me tell you. You really went all out there.
And it looks beautiful.
It's kid friendly and definitely a celebration for the holidays.
You were the only baker who covered your cake in fondant.
I think that was a really bold choice
because it brought the color.
(CARLA) This cake reads to the back of the room.
You could be way over there and see what this cake says.
And I do think it's gonna bring the kids to the yard.
-Is that a thing? -(LAUGHTER)
(CANDACE) Alright, let's dig in.
Did you mean to leave the foil on Santa?
You don't wanna undress him for Christmas?
I didn't wanna undress him.
-Gotcha. -We had to keep it nice.
You know, naughty or nice? I kept it nice.
-I mean, he's on a pole. -(DRAMATIC 'CAROL OF THE BELLS')
(LAUGHTER)
(GORDON) It's very indulgent, the amaretto. I love that.
I love that you made a Christmas cake with hummingbird.
It took me down South. It was really sort of...
comforting. Well done.
(GORDON) The big issue I've got is the density of the fondant.
It needs to be thin.
And sadly, some parts, it's like half an inch thick.
But the flavor's there and I love the fun inside this cake.
Well done. Great job.
This is Deirdra's Peppermint, Carrot and Chocolate
Black Licorice Cake.
(CARLA) I like the ombre of the blue.
I'm processing the marshmallows.
And, um, the elephant in the room is that it's tilted.
-(DRAMATIC BEAT) -Please catch it if it falls.
Again, it's gonna be all down to the flavor.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
The carrot cake is divine. It is so fluffy and delicious.
The chocolate cake I love. Be careful with that licorice.
It is so strong.
(CARLA) The reason this cake is sort of sinking -
this carrot cake is so soft, it needed to be on top.
It may look busted, but the flavor is on point.
(GIGGLES QUIETLY)
Wow. What an experience. Right now, we need to decide
which one of these five becomes our first ever
Next Level Baker.
All of you, head back to the lounge.
Put your feet up, 'cause we need a strong moment.
-Well done. -Well done!
(GORDON) Head out. We'll see you shortly.
(NIKKI)
Ladies, shall we?
(CARLA SIGHS)
(STEFANIE EXHALES NERVOUSLY)
We got a very hard decision here.
-(CARLA) Yeah. -How do we choose between them?
-Chloe had a hard time today. -She struggled.
(CANDACE) She's really talented when it comes to flavor.
-Absolutely. -I give her so much credit
-for not just breaking down. -Yeah.
An hour left and you're putting cakes in the oven.
I'm not making my kid's birthday cake after this, honestly.
Zoha's finishing with that tempered chocolate
and the piping. I mean, beautiful.
(CARLA) The tempered chocolate was representative of the henna
that she's had on her hands and it was very effective.
Even if you didn't know the flavors
you got to know her through the cake.
(CANDACE) It was personal to her, celebrating her heritage.
-And was something unexpected. -Yeah.
Your cake was beautiful.
-That chocolate work?! -That was perfect.
-Thank you. -Oh my gosh!
And I wanna try those flavors.
I wanna try all your food.
Stefanie's cake. I mean - beautiful.
-Yeah. -Really beautiful.
The peppermint for me, the most elegant.
-Oh! -And the sponge - delicious.
-(CANDACE) Very nostalgic. -It was so symmetrical and so
beautiful - as a home cook I think sometimes less is more.
-(BOTH AGREEING) -It was stunning.
-You said it there. Nikki's? -(CANDACE) I was excited
she was working with fondant. She was the only one to do that.
-Mm-hm. -But it was so thick,
-it ended up being sorta gummy. -I love the decorative part.
She did the frosting with the snow, the Father Christmas.
-(CARLA) Yes. -For the kids, it's just...
-They'd go to that one. -Oh, 100 percent.
I was going to make the damn Santa.
You got Santa on a pole? You did.
(MANIC LAUGHTER)
Deirdra's carrot cake was a showstopper.
-The carrot cake was the bomb. -Honestly.
-That carrot cake was insane. -(GORDON) It tasted incredible!
But it looked a hot mess.
We gotta pick a winner. It's our first ever
Next Level Baker and it's a tough one.
Ask yourself this - which cake would you love to see
at your table for the holidays?
-It's a clear top two for me. -Yeah.
But I'm really torn as to which one is my top choice.
-I know who my top two are. -Interesting.
How do we choose between them? (SIGHS)
-No pressure! -Seriously?
(MUSIC ENDS)
(DELICATE MUSICAL NOTES)
♪ Deck the hall with boughs of holly
♪ Fa la la la la La la la la
♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly
♪ Fa la la la la La la la la
♪ Don we now our gay apparel
♪ Fa la la la la La la la la
♪ Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
♪ Fa la la la la La la la la ♪
-Oh, brilliant! -(NIKKI) Awesome!
(GORDON) Thank you so much. Ladies, what a night.
Honestly, for the three of us, this has been incredible.
You've done yourselves proud,
-your families proud, and... -Our taste buds proud.
Our taste buds proud, honestly.
Congratulations to all five of you.
Thank you.
We've had a tough discussion...
(SIGHING) Ah, yeah.
..but we do have our winner.
One of you
is about to become the first person ever
to be crowned our Next Level Baker.
I mean as a baker, that's like getting your doctorate.
That is the title you will have forever.
It is everything.
(GORDON) Scooping up that check for $25,000
and a incredible HexClad prize package.
(NIKKI) I need a HexClad crown.
You think they would have a trophy or crown
or somethin' for the queen?
(GORDON) For one of you, this will be the best holiday ever.
To think that I could possibly be the Next Level Baker?
That is... wild.
The winner of Next Level Baker is...
Being here already has proven to me
that I am really good at baking.
And if I win, that would mean so much more.
Congratulations goes to...
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Stefanie!
Well done!
(EMOTIONAL MUSIC)
(GORDON) Well done!
Amazing. Well done.
(ZOHA)
Stefanie, well done. How does that feel?
(EMOTIONAL) It feels amazing. I'm so grateful to be here.
And I have such a wonderful family that supported me
through all of this. And this has just been
the best privilege of my life. Thank you so much.
And... I mean, these women are so incredible.
It's been such a gift.
I've worked really, really, really hard for so many years.
And coming here and winning this...
all that hard work and the sleepless nights
and... the tears. Like, it's all been worth it.
Sorry. A Home Baker did this.
And I think it shows that even
if you're not trained in something,
you can do anything.
Oh, my goodness!
I can't wait to celebrate with my family.
It's gonna be a Christmas for the books.
From our family to yours...
Happy holidays, everybody!
(GORDON) Well done, guys!
♪ We wish you a merry Christmas
♪ We wish you a merry Christmas...
-(CARLA) Oh, my God! ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas
-♪ And a Happy New Year... -Oh, God. I'm so happy!
♪ Good tidings we bring
♪ To you and your kin
♪ We wish you a merry Christmas
-♪ And a Happy New Year -(CANDACE) You're so talented...
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)