The holidays are in full swing, and it’s time for a new baking competition to premiere on FOX: “Next Level Baker.” Chef Gordon Ramsay is here with another reality TV baking competition, as bakers take each other on in this special three-week battle. The bakers will be taking on their first challenges tonight, so find out who gets eliminated on “Next Level Baker” tonight with us during our “Next Level Baker” live recap below.
Baking Spirits Bright on ‘Next Level Baker’
The 12 bakers are going to be arriving in the next level winter wonderland to start their holiday adventure. They will be working with three wise mentors: Chef Ramsay, Carla Hall, a “Top Chef” alum and former co-host of “The Chew,” and Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes.
For this first episode, titled “Baking Spirits Bright,” the bakers will be tasked with making nostalgic chocolate treats. They will then be put to the test of having to make boozy holiday party bakes. The fight to be named the winner of “Next Level Baker” starts tonight, so follow along with our Live Recap below!
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD: THIS LIVE RECAP WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE, SO DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ SPOILERS.
December 4 Live Recap – Premiere
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The Bakers Have Arrived
Gordona, Carla, and Candace are in place, and the bakers have now, excitedly, arrived! The three different teams arrive, and they are so excited to see the mentors.
Gordon said this is his favorite season of the year, and it’s the best time for baking. The tower gets switched to the holiday spirit. We have the home, professional, and social media bakers all in place. The three levels will factor into how they cook, as the top level has top-shelf ingredients and equipment. The bottom level has very terrible equipment. The middle level is an average kitchen.
First Challenge on ‘Next Level Baker’
They aren’t wasting any time tonight, as they get started on their first challenge of the season. For this challenge, they will have 60 minutes to create a family holiday favorite. They will be using chocolate for their dish.
To determine what level they will be cooking on, they have to choose between three unwrapped presents. Each team picks its box, and we learn that the Pros will be in Middle Kitchen, the Social Media Bakers are in Top Kitchen, and the Home Bakers are in the Basement Kitchen. At the end of this bake, one member from each team will be eliminated!
The bakers head to their floors, and the Home Bakers are scared down in the basement. The Pros are happy to be in a normal kitchen, but the Social Media Bakers are ecstatic to be on the top floor.
The mentors head to the floors, as Gordon is in the basement, Candace on the top, and Carla in the middle.
Platform of Ingredients
Now, a platform comes down to each level with the ingredients they can use for this challenge. They have 30 seconds to choose their ingredients. It starts at the top and heads down, so it will be the bottom of the barrel ingredients left when it gets to the basement.
On the top level, Nikki can’t figure out what she wants to make, so the platform comes and goes, and she doesn’t get enough stuff. By the time it gets to the basement, the only chocolate left is chocolate syrup. The Home Bakers are definitely going to have to make it work.
All levels have their ingredients, so the 60 minutes have now started on “Next Level Baker.” Carla is talking to her chefs, and Nikki is struggling, and she told her to work with what she’s got. Carla has got Justin feeling stressed.
For the Professional Bakers, Maricsa was excited to get the Mexican spiced chocolate. She felt like it came down from the heavens from her family. Meanwhile, the Home Bakers are struggling in the Basement Kitchen. They are trying to make it work with what they’ve got.
A Holiday Surprise
Time for a special guest, as the platform is coming down with Santa Claus. Each baker needs to grab a stocking from the platform, and then they must use an ingredient from that stocking.
Nikki was excited, as she could use her ingredient as evaporated milk for her cake. Now we see Zoha’s cake is dry, so she quickly gets another one in the oven.
The time is flying by, as we see the 60 minutes coming to an end. The bakers are all finishing up their dishes and trying to get them to the platform. They all did it, so now it’s time for the mentors to taste them all!
Time to Taste the Dishes
The dishes have arrived, so it’s time for the mentors to taste all of the dishes from tonight:
- Home Bakers (Basement Kitchen) – For Stefanie, Candace said she is shocked it was cooked in the basement. Carla said the rosemary reminds her of a Christmas tree. They said Jeff’s was a little underbaked, and Deirdra’s dish was a little too sweet.
- Professional Bakers (Middle Kitchen) – For Chad, it was very nice, and the pastry was cooked perfectly. For Maricsa, they said it tastes undercooked. For Aubrey, it was very peanuty, and they could use a glass of milk. For Winston, Gordon said his palette was blown out from the truffle.
- Social Media Bakers (Top Kitchen) – For Zoha, they really liked it, and Gordon said good comeback. For Justin, they said the mousse is rich, but it doesn’t look good. For Chloe, they said the pastry crust is delicious, and the chocolate works well. For Nikki, they wanted more salt to balance it out, as too sweet.
Gordon said it was a great first tasting, but they need some time to discuss with everyone.
Results – The bakers eliminated from this challenge are Michael from the Home Bakers, Justin from the Social Media Bakers, and Winston from the Professional Bakers.
FOXNow, we see where the other chefs will be placed for the next challenge:
- Top Kitchen – Chad from the Professional Bakers, Stephanie from the Home Bakers, and Zoha from the Social Media Bakers.
- Middle Kitchen – Nikki from the Social Media Bakers, Deirdra from the Home Bakers, and Chloe from the Social Media Bakers.
- Basement Kitchen – Aubrey from the Professional Bakers, Jeff from the Home Bakers, and Maricsa from the Professional Bakers.
Baking With Alcohol
For this next challenge, the bakers will be baking with alcohol. They will have 75 minutes to create an exciting bake with alcohol. One of the bakers will be leaving after this challenge on “Next Level Baker.”
The bakers head to their levels, and the platform comes down with their ingredients. Nikki is feeling more confident with this one. Zoha doesn’t drink alcohol, so she is struggling.
Nikki loves the booze, so she is sipping on some of that alcohol as she bakes. Boxed wine and beer are in place. Chad’s apples are disintegrating, so not sure how he is going to move on from this. He is going to poach the pears now, but knows he will be tight on time.
The time is running out, and the platform is moving. Time for the bakers to get those bakes on the platform. Everyone gets their dish on the platform, so time for judging.
Second Challenge Results
The dishes are in place and its time for the mentors to taste them all:
- Top Kitchen – For Stefanie, Gordon said great style, and Carla said the crumb is great. For Zoha, they loved it. For Chad, the pears were undercooked.
- Middle Kitchen – For Nikki, a lot of booze. For Chloe, Gordon said they look beautiful and elegant. For Deirdra, she made it arful.
- Basement Kitchen – For Maricsa, they are undercooked, and it falls flat. For Jeff, they said it looks festive. He took bad ingredients and turned them into something amazing. For Aubrey, they said it looks effortless and is packed with flavor.
Results: The mentors discuss all the dishes, and here are the results:
- Top Kitchen – Stefanie from Home Bakers, Aubrey from Professional Bakers, and Chloe from Social Media Bakers
- Middle Kitchen – Zoha from Social Media Bakers, and Jeff and Deirdra from Home Bakers
- Basement Kitchen – Chad from Professional Bakers and Nikki from Social Media Bakers
FOXBased on that, we see Maricsa from the Professional Bakers being eliminated tonight. What do you think of the results on “Next Level Baker” tonight?
