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00:00One next level baker a Gordon gave to me.
00:14I messed up my cake.
00:18What was the last time you wanted to eat?
00:22Flavor? Dude.
00:28Your cakes are burning.
00:32Grab something.
00:34I hate these ovens.
00:36The air is sweet in the top kitchen.
00:40Oh, ho, ho.
00:44Four leg events.
00:46Three leg toys.
00:48Tuesday, Tuesday.
00:52One next level baker.
00:56Merry Christmas, guys.
00:58And good night.
01:00All right.
01:02Come on in, guys.
01:04You're welcome.
01:06All right.
01:07This just feels like being a kid on Christmas morning.
01:12I grew up watching baking shows.
01:14And now it's me.
01:16Oh, my God.
01:18Oh, my God.
01:20I see the mentors and my heart is...
01:22Happy holidays.
01:24I'm having an out of body experience.
01:26I literally cannot believe I'm here right now.
01:28Welcome to our first ever next level baker.
01:30Come on.
01:32Come on.
01:34Come on.
01:35This is my absolute favorite time of the year.
01:36The best season for some amazing baking.
01:38Right?
01:39Yes.
01:40Absolutely.
01:41Now, everyone says that our kitchens are intimidating.
01:42So, let's go.
01:43Let's go.
01:44Let's go.
01:45Let's go.
01:46Let's go.
01:47Let's go.
01:48Come on.
01:49Come on.
01:52This is my absolute favorite time of the year.
01:54The best season for some amazing baking.
01:57Right?
01:58Yes.
01:59Absolutely.
02:00Now, everyone says that our kitchens are intimidating.
02:03So, why don't we fill this place up with some holiday cheer.
02:06Woo!
02:07Yes.
02:08Yes.
02:09On the count of three.
02:10One.
02:11Two.
02:12Three.
02:13Let's go.
02:15Woo!
02:16Woo!
02:20Amazing.
02:22Come on.
02:23How cool is this?
02:24That is beautiful.
02:25The tower is nothing short of magical.
02:29And then you add twinkly lights.
02:31I'm just obsessed.
02:32Joining me for this amazing season are two giants
02:35in the world of baking.
02:37First is someone you all know and love.
02:39An acclaimed chef, best-selling author,
02:41and the host of some of your favorite baking competitions.
02:44Give it up for Carla Hall.
02:45Come on.
02:46Yes.
02:47Yes.
02:48Yes.
02:49I am extremely happy to see Carla Hall.
02:51I watch her on TV all the time.
02:53I want to have a conversation with her and just pick her brain.
02:55I'm an avid watcher of Next Level Chef.
02:58So, I can't wait to see what you all do at Next Level Baking.
03:02This is going to be sweet and lovely.
03:05Now, on my other side, she's a prolific entrepreneur
03:09and the creator of one of the most successful cupcake brands in history.
03:12The founder of Sprinkle Cupcakes.
03:14Get up for Candice Nelson, everybody.
03:16Come on.
03:17Sprinkle me.
03:18Sprinkle me.
03:19Sprinkle me.
03:20I am all about baking all year round,
03:22but I am especially excited to kick this off for the holidays.
03:26Candice is my baking entrepreneur idol.
03:29She was the woman who created the cupcake vending machine.
03:32I am just in awe of her.
03:33She's incredible.
03:34Now, listen up, all of you.
03:35You've been chosen from the nation's top professional bakers.
03:38Those incredible, influential social media stars.
03:41And, of course, the finest home bakers in the country.
03:44Over the next three weeks, Candice, Carla, and myself
03:47will be pushing all of you harder than you've ever been pushed before.
03:50But remember, no matter how talented you are,
03:54where you bake will seriously affect how you bake.
03:59Bakers on the top level will be working with state-of-the-art equipment
04:03and prime ingredients.
04:06But wind up in the basement,
04:08and you will be faced with substandard tools
04:11and bottom-of-the-barrel ingredients.
04:14And here's the good news.
04:16The baker who pulls it off will be walking away
04:18with an amazing holiday bonus of $25,000.
04:22Talk about it, Lauren.
04:24That's good.
04:25Plus an incredible Hexlad prize package.
04:28Oh, yeah.
04:29But most importantly, our winner will be crowned
04:32our first ever Next Level Baker.
04:35Whoo!
04:36Who's he going to be?
04:37Me.
04:38Let's get it.
04:39The holidays are when families come together
04:42to celebrate and enjoy incredible baked goods.
04:45Yeah.
04:46So listen up for your first challenge.
04:47You'll have 60 minutes to create
04:49a delicious family holiday favorite.
04:52And you'll be using one of the most versatile ingredients
04:56on the planet.
04:58Chocolate.
04:59Whoo!
05:00Come on.
05:01Who doesn't love chocolate?
05:02Crazy people.
05:03That's who.
05:04I don't see any crazy people out there.
05:06No.
05:07Take a look over here.
05:08Under this tree are three wrapped presents.
05:11Inside each one is the level on which your group
05:13will be starting the competition.
05:15Home bakers, you're up first.
05:17Choose one person to come up and pick out a present.
05:20Go, Jeff.
05:21Come on, Jeff.
05:22Get a good one.
05:23No pressure.
05:24Pick the basement.
05:25Love that.
05:26Humble.
05:27Love that.
05:28Look at you thinking that's a Tiffany box.
05:32Right.
05:33Social media chefs, who's coming up to grab a present?
05:35Chloe, you got it.
05:36Come on, Chloe.
05:37Pick good.
05:38I already know the big one, scary.
05:40No basement.
05:41So I just go with my safest bet.
05:43Top floor.
05:44Top floor.
05:45And I'm hoping that it's a Christmas miracle.
05:47Uh, pros.
05:48Probably need two of you.
05:49Yeah.
05:50Yeah.
05:56Right.
05:57Time for the unveiling.
05:58Pros.
05:59Lift up your box.
06:00Find out what level you're cooking on.
06:02Top level.
06:03Top level.
06:04Top level.
06:05Middle kitchen.
06:06Go!
06:07That is good.
06:08Not at all.
06:09Oh, my.
06:10Oh, Lord.
06:11Social media.
06:12Stars.
06:13You got the medium present.
06:15Oh.
06:16Ah!
06:17Top kitchen.
06:21Yes!
06:22I really needed this.
06:24Yes!
06:25I'm so sorry.
06:26Home chefs, unveil.
06:28We know where you're going, but let's confirm it.
06:30Very sweet kitchen.
06:31I guess horrible things come in small packages.
06:35Listen up.
06:36At the end of this first bake, one pro, one social media,
06:41and one home baker will be heading home for the holidays.
06:45Jeez.
06:46Did, uh, this just get real for some of you?
06:48Oh, yeah.
06:49Yeah.
06:50All of you head to the elevator.
06:51We'll meet you in your kitchens shortly.
06:53Good job, Chloe.
06:54Oh!
06:55Oh, my gosh.
07:01We're all here.
07:02Good luck, chefs.
07:04Oh, my gosh.
07:05You guys.
07:06Look at that doll.
07:07Oh, my gosh.
07:08The very first thing I see is this little cookie doll saying welcome to the basement.
07:21Happy Christmas.
07:22Look at this mess.
07:23Pretty much everything in the basement feels kind of like that doll.
07:27These are all bent.
07:28Everything is so wonky.
07:29I mean, it's kind of fun to explore such a vintage place.
07:37They didn't even clean the grease off.
07:39That's our job.
07:43Let's go.
07:44Good luck.
07:45Good luck.
07:46Oh, my gosh.
07:47You got good stuff.
07:48I'm sad to not be at the top level, but this middle kitchen is still a step up from my bakery,
07:52so I'm ready to go.
07:54I want to live in here.
07:55You have two of these.
07:56Oh, my God.
07:57Oh, yeah.
07:58Oh, my God.
07:59I have won the lottery.
08:03We have everything we need.
08:05Everything is state of the art.
08:08Some of this stuff, I don't even know how to use it.
08:11So take me to the top and leave me there.
08:15It's so Christmassy.
08:16Oh, my God.
08:17Oh, my God.
08:22Nikki Doha.
08:24Justin Chloe.
08:25Hi.
08:26Oh, my God.
08:27Hi.
08:28How are you?
08:29Hi.
08:30Oh, my God.
08:31I am so excited for you all.
08:32You cannot forget.
08:33Grab the chocolate on top.
08:36They're coming.
08:37Oh, my God.
08:38Oh, my God.
08:39Oh.
08:40Hi, Bakers.
08:41Hi, everybody.
08:43How are you doing?
08:44The challenge is chocolate.
08:46Chocolate's my love language.
08:47You guys got to speak it to me.
08:51Yes.
08:52Go.
08:53Come on.
08:54Are we good?
08:55Do not be put off by the basement.
08:57Oh.
08:58Now, we may be down, but we're not out, right?
08:59Exactly.
09:00When that platform comes down, we're going to get what they don't want.
09:03But I've seen food come out of this basement.
09:05Michelin star.
09:06Right.
09:07Line up against that elevator.
09:08Let's go, guys.
09:09There's something quite unique about chocolate,
09:11because there are so many avenues.
09:13Whether it's the beautiful finishes, the chocolate frosting,
09:16the center, there's always a showstopper with chocolate desserts.
09:21Stay until you see the platform light up green.
09:24Green means go.
09:26Here it comes, guys.
09:28Wait for it to turn green.
09:37Go.
09:38Come on.
09:39Yes.
09:40Get in there.
09:41We are on the top level with all of the really fancy ingredients.
09:46Get your chocolate.
09:47I saw some, like, really, really crappy chocolate,
09:50and then, boom, there is some quality milk chocolate over there.
09:54Zoha, get your chocolate.
09:56Uh, I'm looking at the ingredients, but I am at a blank.
10:00No, no, no.
10:01Okay, ten seconds.
10:03Make sure you're taking the entire thing.
10:05Okay, what's going on?
10:06What I got to get?
10:07Nikki, don't leave it up there.
10:08Come on.
10:09Oh.
10:10You got all that stuff?
10:11Uh, holy cow.
10:13I did not get enough.
10:14That platform, it come fast, and it leave fast.
10:19Oh, Lord.
10:21Here comes that platform.
10:26What's happening, guys?
10:27Go, go, go, go, go!
10:30Oh, my God.
10:31Oh, my God.
10:32Oh, my God.
10:33I know that the people upstairs have already grabbed all of the good stuff,
10:36but I quickly see the Mexican spice chocolate.
10:38Mexican chocolate.
10:39That's you.
10:40Because I'm Mexican-American, I feel like my ancestors, like, brought this down literally from the heavens for me.
10:45I definitely want you.
10:47Five seconds.
10:48Oh, my God.
10:49Platform won't be here forever.
10:50I don't know what I want.
10:51I don't know what's happening.
10:52All right, that's it.
10:53That's what we got.
10:54It's crazy.
10:55Go, guys.
10:56Let's go.
10:57Go, go, go.
10:58Chocolate first.
10:59Because we're at the bottom, the only thing left is chocolate syrup.
11:03Oh, come on.
11:04Chocolate syrup.
11:05Oh, my God.
11:06I knew it was going to be bad, because the vultures are picking higher up, and I got scraps.
11:11You want the chocolate powder?
11:12Are you sure?
11:13Yes.
11:14It's not going to serve the mentors chocolate milk, so this has to be turned into something
11:19else.
11:20Grab, grab, grab, grab, grab.
11:22Well done.
11:26Your 60 minutes starts right now.
11:29All right, Zoha, I see that you are meticulously separating your frozen cherries.
11:35I wish I had gotten, like, fresh cherries.
11:37I don't love the frozen.
11:38Yeah.
11:39It went by really fast.
11:40All right.
11:41Tell me what you prepped.
11:42I got semi-sweet chocolate chips, cherries.
11:44Yeah.
11:45So I'm going to make a black forest Swiss roll.
11:47I'm from Pakistan, and we have black forest cakes in every bakery.
11:50Yeah.
11:51And I want to make a grown-up, better version of it.
11:54When I decided to leave my very well-paying job and start baking, my dad was very much like,
12:01don't leave your job.
12:03But to have one million-plus followers, I still can't believe it.
12:07I love being a mom.
12:08But content creation with a baby is definitely very different.
12:14His name is Mikhail, and he's a cutie.
12:16It's been a day, but I miss him.
12:19Wish me luck.
12:20So you are going to put a whipped cream topping into a cake that has to cool completely before it comes together.
12:26Wish me luck.
12:28Hey, Nikki.
12:29Hey.
12:30So tell me what you got.
12:31I got the chocolate bar.
12:33Okay.
12:34So I'm thinking a German chocolate cake.
12:37But I needed evaporated milk.
12:39Okay.
12:40So now I'm in trouble.
12:41You could have a plan in your head, but I think to see something that could turn into something else is how you play the game.
12:47Get right about that.
12:48All right, Justin.
12:49Hello.
12:50Tell me what you grabbed, first of all.
12:51A whole lot.
12:52I wasn't thinking.
12:53Dark chocolate and strawberries.
12:55So I'm going to do chocolate mousse with a strawberry compo as an insert.
13:00So you need to add some acid to balance all those flavors.
13:02Okay.
13:03I'm just saying.
13:04You're stressing me out now.
13:05I don't need to stress you out.
13:06I got you.
13:07Okay.
13:08The mentors, they're expecting good desserts.
13:09They're expecting holiday cheer.
13:10I got to pull my A game.
13:13So being a social media baker, I celebrate all the holidays and Christmas was my favorite.
13:18My family, we have traditions like we wake up super early, like 5 a.m.
13:22And then we always eat cinnamon rolls and then we wait to see what Santa brought us.
13:27Yes, I'm 22 and I still get up for Santa.
13:30Um, it never has to end.
13:33Oh, I'm stressed.
13:34That's okay.
13:35You got chocolate on your face.
13:36You look delicious.
13:37Oh my God, of course I do.
13:38Fifty minutes to go, bakers.
13:40Holy crap.
13:41Starting to smell like the holidays.
13:43Woo!
13:44Look at that peanut butter.
13:45I thought I was going to have to make this from scratch here.
13:47Aubrey, what do you have in store for us?
13:50I'm going to fold actually all these goodies into the peanut butter and make a filling.
13:54So it'll basically be like brownie filling brownie.
13:57This is pro work.
13:59If you're serving the best, you better have your together.
14:02Okay, moving right along.
14:04Chad, how you doing?
14:06I'm going to do a nice white chocolate whipped ganache and then a traditional pecan pie filling.
14:11Probably throw a little bit of raspberry compote in there.
14:13Love the idea of the acidity from the raspberries to bounce the white chocolate.
14:16And that pecan pie filling is pure nostalgia.
14:19Thank you, chef.
14:20Hi, Marixa.
14:21Hello, Candace.
14:22Do you have a plan?
14:23Uh, yes, I do.
14:24I'm making brownies.
14:25This is very much nostalgic to me and my mother means the world to me.
14:28So hopefully she sees this and she's like, ah, a little bit of her today.
14:32My earliest holiday baking memory is probably helping my mom make tamales.
14:37Now I have a fun job.
14:38I get to taste pastries all day.
14:40At my bakery, we have three James Reardon nominations.
14:42I was a finalist.
14:43If I win, I'm hoping that I get to go back home and like celebrate with my mom and my dad.
14:48I'm going to be emotional because I love my parents.
14:51They'll like come in and help me just doing dishes.
14:53I'm here for them.
14:54My parents are like my superheroes.
14:57You need to wow us with the flavor because someone is going home.
15:02Um, don't hate me if I don't make it to the next one.
15:05Guys, I know the ingredients weren't the best down here.
15:08But if you want to get to that top flight kitchen, then you've got to cook your way out of there.
15:13Now this is crazy.
15:14Stephanie.
15:15What'd you get, chocolate rice?
15:16I got chocolate kisses.
15:17Like that.
15:18You're going to melt them?
15:19So I might make a little ganache out of them.
15:20That's a toughie.
15:21Be careful.
15:22How are you going to finish them off?
15:23Yeah, so this is going to be like a wreath cake.
15:25Focus.
15:26Getting it absolutely beautifully done.
15:28Right, uh, Michael.
15:29So tell me about this dish.
15:30What are you going to do?
15:31I'm almost thinking about making, like, almost like a marshmallow fluff.
15:33Okay, sounds a nice idea.
15:34The love of baking comes from where?
15:36How did we start?
15:37When my wife was ill, she passed away.
15:38I'm sorry.
15:39I used to bake or something.
15:40For her?
15:41While she was ill?
15:42Yeah.
15:43After she passed away, I kind of kept doing it.
15:45I started baking when my wife Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer.
15:50I wanted to cheer her up.
15:52Every holiday after Christmas, she would donate to different charities.
15:57And so if I won that $25,000, I would follow it in footsteps and donate.
16:04All right, guys, here comes your first holiday surprise.
16:09Who's coming down on a chimney?
16:11Ho, ho, ho.
16:13Everyone grab one stocking.
16:16Hurry up, hurry up.
16:17It's going to keep going.
16:18Hurry up, grab something.
16:19Ho, ho.
16:20Oh, y'all.
16:21You all must use one ingredient that is in your stocking in your bake.
16:25Okay.
16:26Girl, you must have been nice.
16:28Santa has delivered.
16:30What did you get that you were so excited about?
16:32Drink whip.
16:33Okay.
16:34This is like evaporated milk.
16:36Look at you.
16:37Look at you pivot.
16:38Now, don't forget to taste.
16:40It's just a lot of sweetness.
16:41Right.
16:42Ho, ho, ho.
16:43A very special guest has arrived.
16:45Ho, ho, ho.
16:46Oh, my God.
16:47Everyone must grab one stocking.
16:48No, grab your stocking.
16:49Quickly, quickly.
16:50There's some ingredient in there that you must use in your bake.
16:57Oh, my God.
16:58Oh, hell, nah.
16:59Black truffle.
17:00What the hell am I doing with this?
17:02Look who's coming down.
17:03Turn around.
17:04Hey.
17:05Quick, let's go.
17:06Grab a stocking.
17:07Let's go.
17:08Grab a stocking.
17:09Father Christmas, thank you so much.
17:11Ho, ho, ho.
17:12Off you go.
17:13That kind of works.
17:14That kind of works.
17:15Deirdre, what did you grab in the stocking?
17:17I got dolce de leche.
17:18I was trying to do cookie crumble in between.
17:21I think I might just heat up the almonds with the dolce de leche to add a layer of the trifle.
17:26Gotcha.
17:27When's the last time you eat one of these?
17:28Honestly, I feel like it's gonna whip it pretty fast.
17:30Like, might help with the heavy cream.
17:3240 minutes left.
17:33Let me check on my cake.
17:38I'm gonna have to make my cake again.
17:39My cake is raw.
17:41I messed up my cake.
17:42I think it was slightly underdone.
17:44Oh, no.
17:45So hot.
17:46Do you have to make it over?
17:48Do you want to pivot?
17:49You have 40 minutes left.
17:50I'm gonna just make this as soon as I can.
17:52Time was always of the essence, but it's really of the essence right now.
17:55I can't waste a single breath.
17:57So stressed out.
18:0335 minutes.
18:04So stressed out.
18:06Why?
18:07First of all, think about how quickly you got that in the oven and you got it made.
18:10You got this.
18:11Oh, I have to make it even quicker now.
18:12Yep.
18:13You absolutely have this.
18:1430 minutes, everyone.
18:16Geeza, Louisa!
18:17Winston, what do we got?
18:20I'm getting some truffle in there.
18:21Struggling with what I'm gonna do, but I'm gonna figure it out.
18:24I'm worried about the truffle because I've never used it in a dessert before, but it's
18:27also something that I really like to eat.
18:29You're gonna pull this off?
18:30It's gonna be Jamaican magic.
18:31It's gonna be Jamaican magic.
18:32Jamaican magic.
18:33Yeah, ma'am.
18:34I am the proudest Jamaican you will find on this earth.
18:39In my family, at Christmas time, one of the things I remember the most is we had a very
18:44small Christmas tree, and it was so short that we had to put it on cinder blocks that
18:48was wrapped in Christmas paper.
18:50So whenever time I smell a plastic Christmas tree, it brings me right back to my childhood
18:54days.
18:55Save some of that for dinner later, too.
18:58We gotta get those bakes in so they have time to cool.
19:05Someone's got an oven open.
19:07You know that?
19:08Marexa, your oven's open.
19:09The last thing we need is any heat loss from this oven needs to bake.
19:14This is not the time for mistakes.
19:16Last five minutes, y'all.
19:18Show us what you're made of.
19:19Make it beautiful.
19:20And don't forget about a little salt.
19:21I call salt compliments.
19:22Y'all know why?
19:23Why?
19:24Because if you don't use it, you ain't.
19:26Don't get it.
19:27No compliments.
19:28It's going to be the quickest roll I've ever made in my life.
19:32Zoha, it's coming together.
19:34Would your followers not like that?
19:36My followers are really nice.
19:39Guys, three minutes to go.
19:41Did it really good?
19:42Yeah.
19:43Oh, come on.
19:44Did you break it?
19:45Yep.
19:46Bring it home, Michael.
19:47Come on, you got that.
19:48All right, well, best I can do here.
19:49Two minutes left.
19:51Decorate that plate.
19:52Make it look nice.
19:53One of you is headed home for the holidays.
19:55Let it not be you.
19:57It looks terrible.
19:58I'm just disappointed.
19:59Platform's moving, guys.
20:00Festive spirit on there.
20:01Good.
20:02Platform's here.
20:03Oh, it's here.
20:04It's here.
20:05Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
20:07Oh, we go.
20:08Well done.
20:09Good job, man.
20:10Good job.
20:11Good job.
20:12Here comes that platform.
20:14You don't want to miss it.
20:16Bugger.
20:17My brownies are hot.
20:18Hopefully, don't turn everything on top in the soup.
20:20Platform is here.
20:21Get those desserts on.
20:22Whoo.
20:23Come on, guys.
20:24Don't let me down.
20:25Chad, get on there now.
20:26Whoa.
20:27Mercy, you gotta go.
20:28Anyone ever plated on the platform?
20:29Get it on there.
20:30Thank you for that.
20:31Okay, bye.
20:32See ya.
20:33The platform is coming, guys.
20:35The platform is here.
20:36Everybody, get your dish on there.
20:38Get your dishes on there.
20:39Justin, where's your other one?
20:41It's gonna go.
20:42It's gonna go.
20:43Oh, come on.
20:44You look good.
20:45You look good.
20:46Whoo.
20:47Y'all did it.
20:48It's not easy.
20:49No, this was no cakewalk.
21:02Right, first off, well done, all of you.
21:04We are excited to try your holiday-inspired bakes.
21:08This is how excited I am.
21:09I love that.
21:11Should we start in the basement with the home bakers?
21:13Yes.
21:14Um, this is Stephanie's sugar cookie cake
21:17with a chocolate ganache with the little kisses.
21:19It's a gorgeous buttercream from chocolate kisses.
21:22Yeah.
21:23Soft, buttery, rich.
21:25I'm actually shocked that this was cooked in the basement.
21:27Mm-hmm.
21:28It's gorgeous.
21:29So this is Michael's taken Florentines,
21:31dipped in a chocolate and caramel sauce,
21:33garnished it a sort of festive sprig of rosemary.
21:36I would have loved the rosemary to be candied or something.
21:39Yeah.
21:40The rosemary reminds me of a little bit of a Christmas tree.
21:42I'm not gonna lie.
21:43This is Jeff's chocolate tart.
21:46Very dense.
21:47Yes.
21:48It's a little under-baked.
21:49Mm-hmm.
21:50Next up, Deirdre's brown butter brownie trifle.
21:54Mm-hmm.
21:55In her stocking, she got some dulce de leche.
21:58Oh.
21:59Mm-hmm.
22:00Yep.
22:01The flavors are nice.
22:02I wanted a little more salt because it's really sweet.
22:03Yeah.
22:04What a shame.
22:05Middle floor.
22:06It's working with the pros.
22:07Okay.
22:08So first up, we have Chad's pecan pie.
22:11Mm-hmm.
22:12And a white chocolate mascarpone mousse.
22:16For me, pecan pie says the holidays.
22:19Absolutely.
22:20Pastries cooked beautifully.
22:21Really nice.
22:22Very good.
22:23Wow.
22:24Next up, we have Marixa's brownies.
22:26And what is that on top?
22:27Chocolate spice whipped cream and puffed rice.
22:29It does taste a little bit under.
22:32And you can tell that it was still piping hot when the cream went on.
22:35Yeah.
22:36Put that on the side next time.
22:37Next up, we have Aubrey's fudge brownie peanut butter bar crunch.
22:46Very peanut-y.
22:47Very.
22:48Very.
22:49Could use a glass of milk with this.
22:50Need it.
22:51Mm-hmm.
22:52Finally, this is Winston's chocolate trifle with Jamaican spice chocolate mousse and some truffle.
22:58Some.
22:59Oh.
23:00Just a touch.
23:01I know.
23:04Ooh.
23:05Find that cake in there?
23:06Did you get it?
23:07Did you get to the bottom?
23:08I'm scared to go to the bottom of that one.
23:10My palate's blown out by the truffle, so it's hard to navigate anywhere else.
23:14Okay, shall we move to the top level?
23:15Shall we?
23:16With the social media chefs.
23:18All right, so first up is Zoha's Black Forest Swiss Roll.
23:21Mm-hmm.
23:22This was Zoha's second cake.
23:27Let's see if we have that roll.
23:31Wow.
23:32And we do.
23:33That looks incredible.
23:34Perfect slice.
23:35This is the second one.
23:36With like 35 minutes left, she made another cake.
23:38Is it a ganache?
23:39Yep, it's a ganache.
23:41That's delicious.
23:42That's really nice.
23:43Good comeback.
23:44Next up is Justin's dark chocolate mousse with sweetened strawberries.
23:50Mm-hmm.
23:54The mousse is so rich.
23:55It's very rich.
23:56There's no balance.
23:57Yeah.
23:58At a minimum, it needs to look good.
23:59But it doesn't look that elegant.
24:01What a shame.
24:02All right, so we have Chloe's chocolate ganache filled tart.
24:05The pastry crust is delicious.
24:08Mm-hmm.
24:09Nice and crisp.
24:10And the chocolate works really well.
24:12Lastly, we have Nicky's German chocolate cake.
24:15It's a coconut pecan frosting.
24:17Very classic.
24:18Mm-hmm.
24:19The German chocolate cake is sweet.
24:20This is sweet.
24:21But maybe a hit more salt to balance that out.
24:24Yeah.
24:25Listen, the sponge is delicious.
24:26Just be careful.
24:27The sweetness.
24:28Wow.
24:29Great first tasting.
24:30Candice and Carla and I have a lot to discuss.
24:32Excuse us.
24:34Mm-hmm.
24:35That was brutal.
24:3660 minutes.
24:37Yeah.
24:38Because I think it's setting.
24:39So I was in a tizzy the entire time.
24:41But I thought the roulette really turned out well.
24:43It was an honor to bake with you guys.
24:45It was so much fun.
24:46Oh, no.
24:47Merrick says spiced brownie would have been amazing
24:49if it had just had a little bit more time in the oven.
24:51Yeah.
24:52Yes.
24:53It's a shame that unfortunately we have to pick our bottom three.
24:55Mm-hmm.
24:56One from each kitchen.
24:57Are we in agreement?
24:58Yes.
24:59Shall we?
25:00Yeah.
25:01Each and every one of you made an incredible first effort
25:06today.
25:07So keep your heads up high.
25:09However, one baker from each level sadly
25:12will be going home tonight.
25:14It wasn't easy, let me tell you.
25:16The first individual heading home is...
25:19Michael.
25:20All right.
25:21Justin.
25:22And Winston.
25:25Michael, Justin, Winston.
25:26Say goodbye to your teams.
25:27And please enjoy the holidays with your families.
25:28Thank you, guys.
25:29Thank you, guys.
25:35I'm going to keep representing.
25:36Keep pushing.
25:37Better watch out for this Jamaican boy.
25:39Shake it off.
25:40Let's bring some holiday spirit back.
25:42All right.
25:43All right.
25:44And Winston
25:48Michael Justin Winston say goodbye to your teams and please enjoy the holidays with your families. Thank you guys. Thank you guys
25:58I'm going to keep representing keep pushing better watch out for this Jamaican boy
26:06Shake it off. Let's bring some holiday spirit back, okay
26:10Because three of you have just earned
26:14Cooking in that top-level kitchen in the next challenge those bakers are
26:23All right, Chad
26:25And finally so
26:29Great job well done you three all right three of you earned your way to the middle level those bakers are
26:38Nikki
26:40Deirdre and Chloe
26:43Oh
26:45Well done, of course that means Aubrey Jeff and Marixa you'll be cooking down in that dreaded basements
26:53Right ready for your next challenge
26:56You know what my favorite part of the holiday season is
26:59It's all of the fabulous parties
27:02Absolutely, you may have guessed it. Your next challenge is all about baking
27:08With alcohol
27:14Here's the good news the big man himself has sent his trusted Scout elves to spread some incredible festive cheer and holiday magic
27:25How cool is that
27:27Okay, and Gordon just so you know Santa sent a special Scout elf to keep an eye out on you
27:34Come on seriously
27:36He wants to make sure you end up on the nice list this year
27:38It hasn't happened
27:40Naughty
27:42In 57 Christmases
27:44Right let's get to it shall we
27:46Yeah, you'll have 75 minutes tonight to create an exciting bake with alcohol
27:52This is a competition one of you will be leaving after this bake make sure it's not you head the elevator. We'll see you shortly. Good luck
27:59Thank chefs
28:01Great job. Stephanie. Well done
28:0375 minutes
28:05Feels like a luxury. I know
28:13Okay, let's get it
28:15Let's do this. Holy smokes. What is this?
28:17Our own oven. This is like the nicest kitchen I've ever been in in my life
28:25I can handle this
28:29Okay, there are a lot of elves
28:35Look at these cuties
28:37My sister does elf on a shelf for my nephew and my niece and he's done a lot of like silly funny things
28:44I'm not stoked to be in this kitchen, but I'm hoping that the elves can create some magic in here
28:50I can't wait to use you
28:52Little funny thing
28:54Good luck
28:56Hi Baker
28:57Hello
28:59How are we feeling a little scared? I feel like there's nowhere to go?
29:02Yeah
29:03That is true
29:05Oh, we're back together again
29:07Nikki, when that platform comes down, I need you to get some stuff
29:11I'm ready
29:12I'm ready
29:14Right, let's go
29:16Feeling good?
29:17Yes
29:18You've got the pick of the litter
29:19Okay, so be smart
29:20Right, let's go line up against the door
29:22Well, let's go
29:2475 minutes to create an exciting boozy Christmas treat
29:31Three, two, one
29:33Let's go
29:35Look at that
29:36Okay, so
29:38We're gonna go here
29:39Oh
29:40You guys see the alcohol free?
29:41Alcohol free
29:42Obviously, I'm Muslim
29:43I don't drink alcohol
29:44So I do not know what alcohol tastes like
29:47Here's alcohol free
29:48Right there
29:49But I'm somehow gonna make it work
29:50There you go
29:51You got it
29:55Okay, it's coming
29:56It's coming, y'all
29:57Go
29:58Come on
29:59Remember
30:00Pick balance
30:01Think about acid
30:02Think about
30:03How you're gonna balance that alcohol
30:05I'm feeling really good
30:06One thing I do know
30:08Is booze
30:09Still grab things
30:10Ooh
30:11Okay, grab
30:12Can you grab something?
30:13It helps that you're tall, girl
30:14Yes
30:15Long arms
30:16Okay
30:17Make sure you grab an alcohol
30:18Off the top of the platform
30:19Green, green, green
30:20Go, go, go
30:23Okay, that's it
30:24Oh, is that a beer?
30:25Yeah
30:26I think so
30:27I don't ever drink beer
30:29So this is probably worst case scenario for me
30:32Just grab what you can
30:33You're gonna make magic out of it
30:35Booze filled chocolate
30:37Going, going, gone
30:39Oh my god
30:40I don't even know what I grabbed
30:41I don't know what to do with this beer
30:44The panic of this beer has set in
30:46And is like not letting go of me
30:54All right, bakers
30:55Your time starts now
31:00Does anybody see the teaspoon?
31:01No, I don't have one
31:04All right, Marixa
31:05Hello
31:06How are you feeling?
31:07I got alcohol-free stout
31:09Okay
31:10It is not something that I drink normally
31:11Right
31:12So it's a little nerve-wracking
31:13But I'm thinking fruitcake
31:15I'm gonna do like a wreath
31:16Um, pat-a-shoot
31:17And you're gonna have enough time to do that?
31:19I'm hoping so, Candace
31:21Okay, sounds good
31:22I'm not looking to go home
31:23And I'm not looking to be at the bottom like I was last time
31:25That's right
31:26Bakers
31:27Let's get to work
31:28Let's go
31:30All right, Jeff
31:31What are we planning to do with that boxed wine?
31:33I'm planning to make a mold wine sauce to go over an apple cake
31:37Okay
31:38All right
31:39Boxed wine looks scary, but you got a plan
31:40I think we're gonna get out of the basement with this one
31:43All right, Aubrey
31:44I'm gonna do a crostata
31:45Okay
31:46And an apple pear butter, basically
31:48Calvados is made with apples
31:51I love that
31:53Hello
31:54Hello, Miss Chloe
31:56So I'm gonna be making spice cakes
31:58Okay
31:59And to that I'm going to add a cranberry compote
32:01And make an Irish cream liqueur buttercream
32:04How's it going?
32:05My buttercream's ending up a little bit grittier than it should
32:07Okay, did you use room temperature butter?
32:09I did
32:10Cold butter's better
32:11That will give your butter stability
32:1250 minutes left
32:14Cold butter
32:15All right, Nikki
32:16I see that you grabbed more items this time
32:18What did you grab?
32:19Almaretta
32:20Okay, so what are you making with this?
32:21I'm gonna make a eggnog parfait
32:24With the ginger snap base
32:26What makes your eggnog muggy?
32:28Uh, that booze I put in there
32:30And I'll put a little bit more nutmeg
32:31It doesn't take too much
32:32So you just need a tiny, tiny bit
32:35We are encouraged to taste, aren't we?
32:38Yeah, we are
32:39What about that?
32:40Okay, girl, get it, girl
32:42Come on, you're encouraged to taste
32:44Hey, I asked first
32:45I am Nikki J, the diva, the queen, the 60-year-old powerhouse
32:51I have been going viral before viral was even cool
32:56My daughter's wedding cake went viral during the wedding
33:00And overnight, I got orders from so many celebrities
33:05Baby, I'm the queen of social media
33:07I'm the queen of the bakery
33:09I was just born a queen
33:10I don't know why my mama didn't name me queen
33:13Carla!
33:14Oh, God, yeah?
33:15Geez, we good?
33:17How's it going down there?
33:18Let me tell you
33:19We have some really great stuff
33:20And what about the boozy celebration?
33:22Nikki's celebrating more than anybody
33:23She loves a boozy jam
33:25I love that
33:26Yeah, drinking and thinking
33:27Love that, thank you
33:32Zohar, tell me about the dish
33:33What are you doing?
33:34So I'm going to do a chocolate pecan caramel tart
33:37And hopefully there will be some tempered chocolate decoration
33:40Gotcha, smart, smart, smart
33:42Right, Chad
33:43Yes, Chef
33:44Let's go, my man
33:45So I'm going to do a port wine grazed apple titan
33:47Working on my poaching liquid right now
33:49Right, and you've got cooking apples, right?
33:51Yes
33:52Traditionally, we're using those cooking apples for purees
33:54But hey, all has got lost
33:56And where have you seen this before?
33:57I mean, I've dreamed about it
33:58So let's see what we can do here
34:00Well, let's hope this is a happy dream
34:04Right, Stephanie, what is it?
34:06Okay, so this cake is a festive eggnog cake
34:08It's got a little bit of the bourbon in the cake
34:10How many layers you're doing?
34:11Shooting for three
34:12And you're going to get three done?
34:13I think so
34:14Love it, love it, love it
34:15I'm going for it
34:16Give me an insight to Stephanie's household around the holidays
34:18I have four kids
34:19And it's just
34:20It's really, really fun
34:21I'm completely self-taught
34:24When my kids were young
34:25I would watch baking shows
34:26And I realized
34:27Oh my goodness
34:28I love to bake
34:29And I was like
34:30Maybe this is a gift
34:31I was encouraged by family and friends
34:34To start a home bakery business
34:36And then all of a sudden
34:37I had strangers wanting to order
34:39My husband and I
34:40Had always talked about opening a bakery
34:42We sold our house to finance the business
34:45And moved our family into like a teeny tiny rental for a year
34:49We have this big, beautiful, chaotic family
34:52It has been a wild ride
34:54But honestly, it's all been worth it
34:59This is so messy
35:00My hands are going to be green
35:02Had a shoe is temperamental
35:04Usually they look tall and puffy
35:06I would get in the oven soon though if you're not
35:08If they don't have enough time in the oven
35:11They're going to sink
35:12Frick it
35:1620 minutes to go
35:1720 minutes to go
35:19So pretty
35:20Stephanie, we good?
35:21Yeah
35:22So I use a little bit of bourbon in the compost
35:24Absolutely incredible
35:25Good luck
35:29Oh yeah, baby
35:34What the?
35:35I pick up my apples
35:37With a spoon
35:38And quickly realize that I've
35:40They're disintegrated
35:42Oh, no, no
35:44That's perfect
35:46Such a stupid mistake
35:58God
35:59You good?
36:00I my apples up
36:01You what?
36:02They have disintegrated in my poaching liquid, chef
36:04Remember I said to you earlier
36:05They're just purees
36:06So they do just all of a sudden go
36:08I know
36:09I'm turning it into a pear titan
36:11A pear titan
36:12Same concept I want over poachers
36:14This is obviously going down to the wire
36:17I know I need every single second to poach these pears
36:22A little scared
36:24Y'all are looking good
36:26Chloe punching out her cakes
36:28My buttercream smoothed out
36:29Nice
36:30I love it
36:31Beautiful buttercream baby
36:34Arexa
36:35Yep, we're deflate city
36:36Are we crisping them up now?
36:37Yes
36:38I'm just trying to crisp them
36:39Okay
36:40At this point
36:41I swear I'm better than this
36:42Oh
36:43My pastry is sinking
36:44And my heart is sinking with it
36:46Guys, let's start plating
36:47Two minutes left
36:49The platform waits for no one
36:51The platform's going
36:5360 seconds to go, guys
36:55The platform's gone
36:56Get everything on those plates
36:58And make it beautiful
36:59Yes
37:00Let's go
37:01Bring it home, guys
37:02Ah
37:03The platform is moving
37:04No time to waste
37:05Get your bakes on the platform
37:06Let's go, go, go
37:08Aubrey, 10 seconds
37:10Good grief
37:12Well done, baby girls
37:14I'm a straight on door
37:15Let me go
37:16Make it nice
37:18I'm gonna add ginger snaps
37:20I stuck it in like a cocktail
37:21Yeah, it looks like a cocktail
37:22All right
37:23The platform is coming
37:24Wait, where are we?
37:25Oh my God
37:26Okay
37:27All right
37:28Oh, it's my girl
37:29Go ahead, girl
37:30Go ahead
37:31You deserve a drink
37:32Oh my God
37:33Literally, I was like
37:34Can I drink some without this?
37:35He's passing around
37:36All right, chefs
37:37We're here
37:38Okay, guys
37:39We're gonna go
37:40Come on, come on
37:41We're gonna miss that platform
37:42We're gonna go
37:43I don't have pretty chocolate
37:44Five seconds
37:45Four
37:46Go, let's go
37:47Three, two
37:48One
37:49And go
37:50Well done
37:51That's beautiful
37:52Wow
38:03These incredible holiday inspired bakes
38:06Look festive
38:07And exactly what you want to see
38:08For the holidays
38:10But sadly
38:11We do have to send somebody home
38:13Right
38:14Shall we start at the very top
38:16On my level
38:17First off, a Stephanie
38:18Stephanie used bourbon
38:20It was inspired by eggnog funfetti cake
38:23Get it, girl
38:24Okay, Stephanie
38:25Look at you
38:26Open the game
38:27Okay, sorry
38:28Dig in, please
38:30I hope it tastes good
38:32It will, I'm sure
38:34I'm sure
38:35The crumb is so tender
38:38Mm-hmm
38:39It's inspiring
38:40The amount of work that went into this
38:41Across 75 minutes
38:42Is exceptional
38:43Great start
38:44Right, next up
38:45Zohar made a chocolate and caramel pecan tartlet
38:49With non-alcoholic rum
38:51There's an ooey gooey quality to this
38:53That is also just very decadent
38:55Yet so refined
38:56Last up, it's Chad's take on a pear tata tan
38:59I'm not gonna lie, it looks like a pear tata taco
39:02And this young man pivoted
39:04Had a slight problem with the original apples
39:06Went to pear
39:08Oh, those pears
39:09That sounds like they're undercooked
39:11Yeah, they look a little firm
39:13A little crunchy
39:14Middle level, what have you got?
39:15These are Nikki's amaretto eggnog parfaits
39:18That's a boozy bite
39:20Yeah, a lot of booze
39:21A lot of booze
39:22A lot of sugar
39:23The ginger snaps
39:24Did we make these on top?
39:26We did not make these
39:27What a shame
39:29These are from Chloe
39:30Spiced cakes with Irish liqueur buttercream
39:32Made to look like a hot toddy
39:35They look beautiful
39:36And they taste elegant
39:38Next up
39:39Spiced apple cupcakes
39:41Cooked by Deirdre
39:42I mean a cupcake
39:43At first glance
39:44Seems very simplistic
39:45But you really made it artful
39:48Yeah
39:49Yeah
39:50Come on down to the basement
39:51Look at these
39:52Oh no
39:53What is that?
39:55Oh
39:57We're going to start with Murex's pâte à choux wreath
40:00With stout fig compote
40:02Are they undercooked?
40:03Yeah
40:04Damn
40:05This one falls flat, sadly
40:07Literally
40:08The sheet pastry is undercooked
40:10Next up is Jeff's apple cake
40:13With mulled wine sauce
40:14Looks festive
40:15He grabbed the bagged wine
40:17Which I thought was kind of a scary grab
40:19But he worked it out
40:20It's taking bad ingredients
40:21Mm-hmm
40:22And turning it into something amazing
40:23Mm-hmm
40:24Thank you
40:25Last up
40:26This is a Calvados apple pear crostata
40:28It looks beautiful
40:29Rustic
40:30Full of charm
40:31Wow
40:32And it feels so effortless
40:33Yes
40:34But just is packed with flavor
40:35We've got a lot to talk about
40:38Let me tell you
40:39We need a moment
40:40Thank you
40:41Oh gosh
40:43Stunning, stunning, stunning
40:45What a way to celebrate the holidays
40:46It really was
40:47I feel like I gotta step up my game now
40:49Because you're whipping out
40:50Are you kidding me?
40:51Are you kidding me?
40:52What you made?
40:53I'm like
40:54A crostata
40:55There were clear to some that weren't as good
40:56Yep
40:57I did the best with what I was given
40:58I'm still so nervous
40:59Sorry to see any baker go
41:01But it is a competition
41:02I make all these things at home
41:04But I make them in the thousands
41:05I think that threw me for life's biggest loop
41:11Oof
41:12There was one bake
41:14From each today that stood out from the crowd
41:16Those three bakers are headed to the top level
41:19In the next challenge
41:20And those are
41:22Stephanie
41:23Aubrey
41:24What?
41:25Okay
41:26Cool
41:27And Chloe
41:28Well done guys
41:29Well done
41:30This is the greatest Christmas gift I ever could have asked for
41:33Now three of you all are safe
41:35And have earned a spot in the middle kitchen
41:38Those bakers are
41:40Zoha
41:41Deirdre
41:43And Jeff
41:44Well done
41:45Jeff getting out of the basement
41:48Finally
41:49Which means unfortunately
41:51Marixa
41:52Chad
41:53And Nikki
41:54Sadly one of you is heading home early for the holidays
41:59Holy smokes
42:00It could be the end
42:02The baker leaving us today is
42:11Marixa
42:14I'm excited to like spend the holidays with my family
42:16I'm ready to be cozy and drinking eggnog with them
42:20Wish your husband and your parents a happy holiday for us
42:23Take care, safe travels back
42:25Wow, what a competition this is turning out to be
42:29Get some rest because things are about to get spicy
42:34Well done
42:35Nice
42:36Nice
42:37Next time on Next Level Baker
42:40Woo
42:41It's like Rockefeller Plaza in here
42:43Go, go, go, go, go
42:44These desserts need to be perfect
42:46Damn, damn, damn
42:47One wrong move and everything is going to come crashing down
42:50Woo
42:51You in trouble
42:52Are you ready for the perfect thing for egg wipes?
42:55Oh no, where'd it go?
42:56Somebody post your whipped cream?
42:57Oh no, no, no, no, no
42:59That was not good
43:01It was so bad
43:02Do I go home now?
43:04Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree
43:07Seriously?
43:08What the?
43:09What's going on?
43:10What's going on?
43:11What's going on?
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