-(WIND HOWLING) -(GENTLE, FESTIVE MUSIC)
(TO THE TUNE OF 'THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS')
(PING)
-Whoa! -I messed up my cake!
When was the last time you used one of these?
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)
Flavor? Dude...
Your cakes are burning!
Grab something!
I hate these ovens!
The air is sweet in the top kitchen.
Ho, ho, ho!
(LAUGHING)
(LAUGHTER AND CHEERING)
(SINGING ALONG)
Merry Christmas guys and good (JINGLE) night!
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)
(SOFT FESTIVE MUSIC)
(UPLIFTING MUSIC)
-(CHEERING AND LAUGHTER) -What?!
Come in you guys. Welcome.
-(CARLA) Come on in! -(BAKERS CHEERING)
This feels like being a kid on Christmas morning.
(LAUGHING)
I grew up watching baking shows
and now it's me.
(BOTH) Oh, my God!
(ZOHA) I see the mentors and my heart is...
(HEARTBEAT THUMPING)
Happy holidays!
I'm having an out-of-body experience.
I literally cannot believe I'm here.
Welcome to our first ever Next Level Baker!
-(GORDON) Come on! Come on! -(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
This is my absolute favorite time of year.
The best season for some amazing baking.
-(GORDON) Right? -(BAKERS AGREEING)
Now, everyone says
that our kitchens are intimidating,
so why don't we fill this place up with some holiday cheer?
-Woo! -Yes!
On the count of three.
(MENTORS) One, two, three...
Let's go!
(WILD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
-(DRAMATIC MUSIC) -(GORDON) Amazing!
C'mon! How cool is this?
That is beautiful.
The tower is nothing short of magical.
And then you add twinkly lights?!
I'm just obsessed.
Joining me for this amazing season
are two giants in the world of baking.
First is someone you all know and love, an acclaimed chef,
best-selling author, and the host of some of your favorite
baking competitions - give it up for Carla Hall, c'mon!
-(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) -Yes, yes, yes!
(WINSTON) I am extremely happy to see Carla Hall.
I watch her on TV all the time.
I wanna have a conversation, pick her brain.
I'm an avid watcher of Next Level Chef,
so I can't wait to see what you all do at Next Level Baking.
This is going to be sweet and lovely.
Now on my other side, she's a prolific entrepreneur
and creator of one of the most successful
cupcake brands in history,
the founder of Sprinkle Cupcakes.
Give it up for Candace Nelson everybody. c'mon!
Sprinkle me, sprinkle me, sprinkle ME!
I am all about baking all year round, but am especially excited
to kick this off for the holidays.
(CHLOE) Candace is my baking entrepreneur idol.
She was the woman who created
the cupcake vending machine.
I am just in awe of her. She's incredible.
(GORDON) Listen up all of you, you've been chosen
from the nation's top professional bakers,
those incredible, influential social media stars,
and the finest home bakers in the country.
Over the next three weeks,
Candace, Carla and myself will be pushing
all of you harder than you've ever been pushed before.
But remember, no matter how talented you are,
where you bake will seriously affect how you bake.
Bakers on the top level will be
working with state-of-the-art equipment and prime ingredients.
But wind up in the basement...
..and you will be faced with substandard tools
and bottom-of-the-barrel ingredients.
-(GROANING) -(GORDON) Here's the good news.
The baker who pulls it off
will be walking away with an amazing holiday bonus
-of $25,000.
-(CARLA) Talk about it, Gordon! -(12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS REPRISE)
Plus an incredible Hexclad prize package.
(BAKERS MARVELING)
Most importantly, our winner will be crowned
our first ever Next Level Baker.
(EXCITED CHEERING)
-Who's it gonna be? -Me!
-Let's get it. -The holidays are when families
come together to celebrate
and enjoy incredible baked goods.
-Yeah. -(GORDON) So, listen up.
For your first challenge you'll have 60 minutes
to create a delicious family holiday favorite.
You'll be using one of the most
versatile ingredients on the planet...
-Chocolate! C'mon! -(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Who doesn't love chocolate?
Crazy people, that's who!
I don't see any crazy people out there.
-No. -(GORDON) Take a look over here.
Under this tree are three wrapped presents.
Inside each one is the level on which your group
will be starting the competition.
Home Bakers, you're up first.
Choose one person to come up and pick out a present.
-Go Jeff! -C'mon, Jeff. No pressure!
-Pick the basement. -(MUTTERING APPROVAL)
-Okay! -Humble.
Look at you, thinking that's a Tiffany box!
(LAUGHTER)
Right, Social Media Chefs.
-Who's gonna grab a present? -Chloe, you got it.
C'mon Chloe, pick good!
I already know the big one is scary...
-(GORDON) Ah, ha-ha. -No basement.
(CHLOE) ..so I just go with my safest bet...
(SOFTLY) Top floor, top floor, top floor.
..and I'm hoping that it's a Christmas miracle.
(GORDON) Pros, probably need two of you.
(LAUGHTER)
Right, time for the unveiling.
Pros, lift up your box, find out what level you're cooking on.
(SOFTLY) Top level, top level, top level...
-(GORDON) Middle kitchen. -Let's go!
That is good!
Not bad at all!
-Oh, my. -Oh, lord.
Social Media Stars, you got the medium present.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
-(WILD SHRIEKING) -(GORDON) Top kitchen.
(CHUCKLING) Yes!
I really needed this.
(ZOHA) Yay!
-I'm so sorry! -Home Chefs unveil.
We know where you're going, but let's confirm it.
(MICHAEL) Basement kitchen...
I guess horrible things come in small packages!
Listen up. At the end of this first bake,
one Pro...
one Social Media...
and one Home Baker
will be heading home for the holidays.
(QUIETLY) Jeez!
Did this just get real for some of you?
All of you, head to the elevator.
We'll meet you in your kitchens shortly.
(EXCITED CHATTER)
Oh, my gosh!
(FESTIVE MUSIC)
-We're out here! -Good luck, chefs.
Ohh... okay.
-Alright, let's go! -(ENCOURAGING APPLAUSE)
(STEFANIE) Oh my gosh, you guys!
-(SPOOKY MUSIC) -Look at that doll!
The very first thing I see is this little creepy doll...
(LAUGHS) saying welcome to the basement.
-Happy Christmas! -Look at this mess.
Pretty much everything in the basement
feels kinda like that doll.
These are all bent.
(DEIRDRA) Everything is so wonky!
I mean, it's kinda fun to explore such a...
.."vintage" place.
They didn't even clean the grease off.
(DEIRDRA) I guess that's our job.
-(UPBEAT HIP HOP MUSIC) -(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Oh my God...
(WINSTON) We got good stuff.
I'm sad to not be at the top level,
but this middle kitchen is a step up from my bakery.
-So I'm ready to go. -I wanna live in here.
Two of these...
(PING)
-(NIKKI) Oh, my God. -(JUSTIN) Oh yeah!
-(UPBEAT MUSIC) -(GIGGLING AND GUSHING)
I have won the lottery.
We have everything we need.
(NIKKI) Everything is state-of-the-art.
Some of this stuff, I don't even know how to use it.
So take me to the top
and leave me there.
It's so Christmassy. Oh, my God!
(EXCITED GIGGLING)
Nikki, Zoha, Justin, Chloe!
(ZOHA, EMOTIONAL) Hi.
Alright. I am so excited for you all.
You cannot forget... grab the chocolate on top.
-(ELEVATOR PINGS) -They're coming.
-Oh, my God! -(SHRIEKING)
(CHEERING)
(CANDACE) Hi Bakers! Hi, everybody.
The challenge is chocolate.
Chocolate's my love language,
so you guys gotta speak it to me.
(GASPS) Yay!
-(JEFF) Oh, hey! -(GORDON) Let's go, c'mon!
Are we good? Do not be put off by the basement.
Now we may be down, but we're not out. Right?
-Exactly. -When that platform comes down,
we're gonna get what they don't want.
But I've seen food come out of this basement, Michelin Star.
(CLAPS) Right. Line up against that elevator. Let's go, guys!
There's something quite unique about chocolate
'cause there are so many avenues.
Whether it's the usual finishes, the chocolate frosting,
the center... there's always a showstopper
with chocolate desserts.
(CANDACE) Stay until you see the platform light up green.
Green means go.
(CARLA) Here it comes, guys.
(BIG OPERATIC MUSIC)
Woo-hoo!
(CARLA) Wait for it to turn green.
-(PLATFORM BLEEPS) -(CARLA) Go!
(CLAPPING) C'mon! Yes. Get in there.
We are on the top level
with all the really fancy ingredients.
(CARLA) Get your chocolate.
I saw some like really, really crappy chocolate, and then boom!
There is some quality milk chocolate over there.
-Zoha, get your chocolate! -(TENSE MUSIC)
(SIGHS) I'm lookin' at the ingredients but I am at a blank.
No, no, no...
Ten seconds. Make sure you take the entire thing.
What's... What I gotta get?
Nikki, don't leave it up there, c'mon!
-You got enough stuff? -I...
(NIKKI) Holy cow, I did not get enough.
That platform, it come fast and it leave fast.
(DRAMATIC BEAT)
(NIKKI) Oh, lord.
(DRAMATIC BEAT)
(CANDACE) Here comes that platform.
(GASPS)
-(PLATFORM BLEEPS) -(CANDACE) Go, go, go!
-(CARLA CLAPPING) -Oh my God, I gotta get 'em...
I know the people upstairs
have already grabbed all the good stuff,
but I quickly see the Mexican spiced chocolate...
-Mexican chocolate... -(CHAD) That's you.
(MARICSA) Because I'm Mexican- American I feel my ancestors
brought this down literally from the heavens, for me.
-I definitely want you! -(CANDACE) Five seconds!
-My God. -Platform won't be here forever.
I dunno what I want, I dunno what's happening.
Alright, that's it! That's what we got.
(AUBREY) It's crazy!
(GORDON, CLAPS) Go, guys! Let's go!
Go, go, go! Chocolate first.
(MICHAEL) Because we're at the bottom,
the only thing left is chocolate syrup.
Oh, c'mon!
(GORDON) Chocolate syrup. Oh, my God.
I knew it was gonna be bad
because the vultures are picking higher up
and I got scraps.
-Sure you want chocolate powder? -Yes.
I'm not going to serve the mentors chocolate milk.
So this has to be turned into something else.
(GORDON) Grab, grab, grab... Well done.
(EXCITED SQUEALS)
Your 60 minutes starts right now.
Alright Zoha, I see you are meticulously separating
your frozen cherries.
I wish I had fresh cherries, I don't love the frozen.
-Yeah. -It went by really fast.
Alright, tell me what you prepped.
Okay, I got semi-sweet chocolate chips, cherries,
so I'm gonna make a Black Forest Swiss Roll.
I'm from Pakistan
and we have Black Forest cakes in every bakery.
I wanna make a grown-up, better version of it.
-(GENTLE MUSIC) -When I decided to leave
my very well-paying job and start baking
my dad was very much like, "Don't leave your job!"
But to have one million plus followers,
I still can't believe it.
I love being a mom,
but content creation with a baby
is definitely very different.
-(BABY SQUEALING) -I love you.
His name is Makael and he's a cutie.
It's been a day when I'm with him!
So you're going to put a whipped cream topping into a cake
that has to cool completely before it comes together?
Wish me luck!
-Hey, Nikki. -Hey.
-So tell me what you got. -I got the chocolate bar.
(CARLA) Okay.
So I'm thinking a German Chocolate Cake.
But I needed evaporated milk.
-Okay. -So now I'm in trouble.
You can have a plan in your head, but I think
to see something that could turn into something else...
-Uh-huh. -..is how you play the game.
You're right about that.
-Alright, Justin. -Hello.
Tell me what you grabbed.
A whole lot. I wasn't thinkin'.
Dark chocolate and strawberries.
I'm gonna do a chocolate mousse
with a strawberry compote as a insert.
You need to add some acid to balance all those flavors.
-Okay. -I'm just sayin'.
-Stressin' me out now! -I don't mean to stress you out!
-I got you. -Okay.
The mentors are expecting good desserts, holiday cheer.
I gotta pull my A-game.
Being a social media baker,
I celebrate all the holidays
and Christmas is my favorite.
My family, we have traditions
like we wake up super early, like 5am.
We always eat cinnamon rolls
and then we wait to see what Santa brought us.
(CHUCKLING) Yes, I'm 22 and I still get up for Santa.
Um, it never has to end.
-Oh, I'm stressed. -That's okay.
You got chocolate on your face, you look delicious.
-Oh my God, of course I do! -(LAUGHTER)
-(CARLA) 50 minutes to go. -Holy crap.
Startin' to smell like the holidays.
Woo! Look at that peanut butter.
I thought I was gonna have
to make this from scratch here.
Aubrey, what do you have in store for us?
I'm gonna fold, actually, all these goodies
into the peanut butter and make a filling.
It'll basically be like brownie, filling, brownie.
(CLAPPING) This. Is. Pro. Work.
If you're serving the best
you better have your (JINGLE) together.
(CHAD) Okay, moving right along.
Chad, how're you doing?
I'm gonna do a nice white chocolate whipped ganache
and then a traditional pecan pie filling.
Probably throw a little raspberry compote in.
Love the idea of the acidity from the raspberries
to balance the white chocolate, and that pecan pie filling
-is pure nostalgia. -Thank you, Chef.
-Hi, Maricsa. -Hello, Candace!
-Do you have a plan? -Uh yes, I do.
I'm making brownies. This is very nostalgic to me
and my mother means the world to me.
Hopefully she sees it and she's like, "Ah!"
A little bit of her today.
(GENTLE MUSIC)
My earliest holiday baking memory
is probably helping my mom make tamales.
I have a fun job, I get to taste pastries all day.
My bakery has three James Beard nominations - I was a finalist.
If I win, I'm hoping that I get to go back home
and celebrate with my mom and my dad.
I'm gonna be emotional 'cause I love my parents.
They'll come in, help me just doing dishes.
I'm here for them.
My parents are like my super heroes.
You need to wow us with the flavor
because someone is going home.
Mom, don't hate me if I don't make it to the next one.
(GORDON) Guys, I know the ingredients
weren't the best down here, but...
..if you want to get that top-flight kitchen,
you gotta cook your way outta there.
This is crazy.
Stefanie, what'd you get chocolate-wise?
-Chocolate kisses. -Love it, you gonna melt them?
I might make a little ganache out of 'em.
That's a toughie, be careful. How will you finish them off?
This is gonna be like a wreath cake.
Focus on getting it absolutely beautifully done.
(STEFANIE) Thank you.
Michael, tell me about this dish, what're you gonna do?
Almost like a marshmallow fluff,
Florentine sandwich. Might be kinda fun.
The love of baking comes from where? How did we start?
When my wife was ill, she passed away...
-I'm sorry. -..I used to bake her something.
-For her, while she was ill. -Yeah. After she passed away
I kinda kept doin' it.
-(GENTLE MUSIC) -I started baking when my wife
Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I wanted to cheer her up.
Every holiday, after Christmas,
she'd donate to different charities.
So if I won that $25,000
I would follow in her footsteps and donate.
(VALIANT MUSIC)
Alright guys, here comes your first holiday surprise.
Who's coming down our chimney?
-Happy Holidays! Ho, ho, ho! -Oh my God.
Everyone grab one stocking. Hurry up, hurry up!
It's gonna keep going. Hurry up, grab something.
(SANTA, CHUCKLING) Ho, ho! Well done.
(CARLA) You all must use
one ingredient that is in your stocking in your bake.
(NIKKI) Okay. Girl, you must have been nice.
Santa has delivered.
What did you get you were so excited about?
-Drink whip. -Okay.
This is like evaporated milk.
Look at you! Look at you pivot. Don't forget to taste.
-There's a lot of sweetness. -Right.
Ho, ho, ho!
(CANDACE) A very special guest has arrived.
-Ho, ho, ho. -Oh, my God!
Everyone must grab one stocking. Go grab your stocking!
-Quickly, quickly! -There's an ingredient in there
that you must use in your bake.
-Oh my God! -(MUSIC ENDS)
Oh, hell no. Black truffle.
What the hell am I doin' with this?!
(GORDON) Look who's coming down. Turn around. Hey!
-(EXCITED CHATTER) -Great, let's go.
Grab a stocking, let's go! Grab a stocking!
Father Christmas, thank you so much!
-Merry Christmas! -Ho, ho, ho, off you go!
That kinda works, that kinda works.
Deirdra, what did you grab in the stocking?
Dolce de Leche. I was trying to do cookie crumble in between.
I might just heat up the almonds with the Dolce de Leche
to add as a layer of the trifle.
Gotcha. When's the last time you used one of these?
Honestly? I bet it's gonna whip it pretty fast.
-It might help with heavy cream. -Yes.
(CARLA) Forty minutes left!
Let me check on my cake.
(URGENT MUSIC)
(JINGLE) I'm gonna have to make my cake again.
My cake is raw.
I messed up my cake!
I think it is slightly underdone.
(CARLA) Oh, no!
Zoha, do you have to make it over?
Do you want to pivot? You have 40 minutes left.
I'm gonna just make this as soon as I can.
Time was always of the essence,
but it's really of the essence now.
I can't waste a single breath.
So stressed out.
(TENSE MUSIC BUILDS, ENDS)
(CARLA) Thirty five minutes!
-So stressed out. -(CARLA) What, why?
First, think how quickly you got that in the oven
and got it made. You got this.
I know. I have to make it even quicker now.
Yep. You absolutely have this.
(CANDACE) Thirty minutes, everyone.
-(UPBEAT MUSIC) -Jeez-a-la-weez-a!
(CANDACE) Winston, what do we got?
I'm gettin' some truffle in there.
Struggling with what I'ma do but I'ma figure it out.
I'm worried about the truffle
because I've never used it in a dessert before
but it's also something I really like to eat.
-You're gonna pull this off! -Gonna be Jamaican magic.
-It's gonna be Jamaican magic. -Jamaican magic, yah man.
(REGGAE MUSIC)
I am the proudest Jamaican you will find on this earth.
In my family, at Christmas time, one of the things I remember
the most is we had a very small Christmas tree.
It was so short we had to put it on cinder blocks
that was wrapped in Christmas paper.
So whenever time I smell a plastic Christmas tree
it brings me right back to my childhood days. (LAUGHS)
I'll save some of that for dinner later.
(LAUGHTER)
You gotta get those bakes in so they have time to cool.
-(SIGHS ANXIOUSLY) -(URGENT MUSIC)
Someone's got an oven open, you know that?
Maricsa, your oven's open.
The last thing we need is any heat loss from this oven.
It needs to bake!
(MARICSA) This is not the time for mistakes.
(CARLA) Last five minutes, y'all.
Show us what you're made of, make it beautiful.
And don't forget about a little salt.
I call salt compliments. Y'all know why?
-Why? -Because if you don't use it,
you ain't... gone git...
-..no compliments! -(NERVOUS CHUCKLE) Hear this?
Has to be the quickest Swiss roll I've ever made in my life.
(CARLA) Zoha, it's coming together!
Would your followers not like that?
-(LAUGHTER) -My followers are really nice.
Guys, three minutes to go.
-Deirdra, you good? -Yeah.
-Oh, c'mon! -Did you break it?
-Yep. -Bring it home, Michael.
-C'mon, you got that. -Well, best I can do here.
(CARLA, CLAPPING) Two. Minutes. Left.
Decorate that plate. Make it look nice.
One of you is headed home for the holidays, let it not be you.
That looks terrible. I'm just disappointed.
Platform's moving, guys.
Festive spirit on there, good. Platform's here!
(STEFANIE) Oh, it's here!
(GORDON) Go, go, go...
On we go! Well done.
Good job, man. Good job.
Good job!
Here comes that platform! You don't wanna miss it.
Bugger!
My brownies are hot.
Platform is here. Get those desserts on!
C'mon guys, don't let me down. Chad, get on there now!
-Whoa! -Maricsa, you've gotta go!
You never plate it on the platform.
-Get it on there! -Thank you for that.
-Okay, bye! -See ya!
-(URGENT MUSIC) -The platform is coming, guys.
Platform is here. Everybody, get your dish on there!
Get your dishes on there.
Justin, where's your other one? It's gotta go!
-(JUSTIN) Good lord! -(CARLA) C'mon, c'mon!
Woo! Y'all did it! It's not easy.
No, this was no cake walk.
(ELEVATOR PINGS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(GORDON) First off, well done, all of you.
We are excited to try your holiday-inspired bakes.
-This is how excited I am. -I love that.
-(LAUGHTER) -Shall we start in the basement
-with the Home Bakers? -(CARLA) Yes.
(GORDON) This is Stefanie's Sugar Cookie Cake
with a chocolate ganache, with the little kisses.
That's a gorgeous buttercream from chocolate... kisses?
Yeah. Soft, buttery, rich.
I'm shocked this was cooked in the basement. It's gorgeous.
So this is Michael's take on Florentines,
dipped in a chocolate and caramel sauce,
garnished with a sort of festive sprig of rosemary.
I would have loved the rosemary to be candied or something.
Yeah. The rosemary reminds me of a Christmas tree,
I'm not gonna lie.
This is Jeff's Chocolate Tart. Very dense.
(CARLA) Yes. Just a little under-baked.
(GORDON) Next up, Deirdra's Brown Butter Brownie Trifle.
In her stocking, she got some Dolce de Leche.
-You can taste it on top. -Yep.
(CARLA) The flavors are nice.
I wanted a more salt because it was really sweet.
(GORDON) Yeah, what a shame. Middle floor?
-(CANDACE) I was with the Pros. -(SOFTLY) It'll be okay.
So first up, we have Chad's Pecan Pie
and a white chocolate mascarpone mousse.
(GENTLE EXOTIC MUSIC)
For me, pecan pie says the holidays.
-Absolutely. -Pastry's cooked beautifully.
-(CANDACE) Really nice. -Very good.
-(CARLA) Wow. -Next up,
we have Maricsa's Brownies.
(GORDON) What is that on top?
Chocolate spiced whipped cream and puffed rice.
It does taste a little bit under.
You can tell it was still piping hot when the cream went on.
Yeah, put it on the side next time.
Next up, we have Aubrey's
Fudge Brownie Peanut Butter Bar Crunch.
-(CANDACE) Very peanutty. -Very, very.
(CANDACE) Could use a glass of milk with this.
-(CARLA) Need it. -(GORDON) Mm-hmm.
Finally, this is Winston's Chocolate Trifle
with Jamaican spiced chocolate mousse and some truffle.
-Truffle. Oh! -Some!
(CANDACE) Just a touch.
(CHUCKLING) I know...
-(CARLA) Woo! -You find that cake in there?
You get it? Did you get to the bottom?
I'm (JINGLE) scared to go to the bottom of that.
(LAUGHTER)
My palate's blown out by the truffle
so it's hard to navigate anywhere else.
-Shall we move to the top level? -Shall we?
(CARLA) With the Social Media chefs.
Alright, so first up is Zoha's Black Forest Swiss Roll.
This was Zoha's second cake.
Let's see if we have that roll.
(TENSE MUSIC)
-And we do! -(GORDON) Incredible.
-(CARLA) A perfect slice. -This is the second one.
With 35 minutes left she made another cake.
-Is that ganache? -(CARLA) Yep, it's a ganache.
-That's delicious. -That's really nice.
Good comeback.
Next up is Justin's
Dark Chocolate Mousse with sweetened strawberries.
Mm-hmm.
-The mousse is so rich. -(CARLA) It's very rich.
There's no balance.
(CANDACE) At minimum it needs to look good.
But it doesn't look that elegant, what a shame.
Alright, so we have Chloe's Chocolate Ganache-Filled Tart.
The pastry crust is delicious.
Nice and crisp.
And the chocolate works really well.
(CARLA) Lastly, we have Nikki's German Chocolate Cake.
It's with coconut pecan frosting, very classic.
Mm-hmm. A German Chocolate Cake is sweet - this is sweet.
But maybe a hit more of salt to balance that out.
Yeah. Listen, the sponge is delicious.
Just be careful. The sweetness, wow!
(GORDON) Great first tasting.
Candace and Carla and I have a lot to discuss.
Excuse us. Thank you.
-That was brutal. -Sixty minutes?
Yeah.
Zoha was in a tizzy the entire time,
but I thought the roulade really turned out well.
It was an honor to bake with you guys, it was so much fun.
Maricsa's Spiced Brownie would have been amazing
if it had just a little bit more time in the oven.
-Yes! -(GORDON) It's a shame.
Unfortunately, we have to pick our bottom three.
One from each kitchen. Are we in agreement? Shall we?
-Yes. -Yeah.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Each and every one of you made an incredible
first effort today, so keep your heads up high.
However, one baker from each level, sadly,
will be going home tonight.
It wasn't easy, let me tell you.
The first individual heading home is...
(MUSIC BUILDS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC ENDS)
(DRAMATIC BEAT)
One baker from each level, sadly,
will be going home tonight.
The bakers heading home are...
(HI-ENERGY SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
-Michael. -Alright.
Justin.
And Winston.
Michael, Justin, Winston, say goodbye to your teams,
and please enjoy the holidays with your families.
-And thank you, guys. -(CARLA) Thank you, guys.
-Whoop, whoop, whoop. -(UPLIFTING MUSIC)
(WINSTON) I'm going to keep representing, keep pushing.
Better watch out for this Jamaican boy.
(CARLA) Shake it off.
Let's bring some holiday spirit back, okay?
(LIGHT FESTIVE MUSIC)
Because three of you have just earned
cooking in that top level kitchen in the next challenge.
Those bakers are...
-Chad. -(CANDACE) Alright, Chad.
-Stefanie! -(CHEERING)
-And finally, Zoha! -(CHEERING)
-(GORDON) Great job. -Well done, you three.
Alright, three of you
earned your way to the middle level.
Those bakers are...
Nikki.
Deirdra.
And Chloe. Well done.
-Of course, that means Aubrey... -Yeah.
..Jeff and Maricsa,
you'll be cooking down in that dreaded basement.
-(DRAMATIC BEAT) -Ready for your next challenge?
(BAKERS) Yes.
You know what my favorite part of the holiday season is?
It's all of the fabulous parties.
(GORDON) Absolutely. You may have guessed it!
Your next challenge is all about baking with alcohol.
Here's the good news. The big man himself
has sent his trusted scout elves
to spread some incredible festive cheer
and holiday magic. How cool is that?
Amazing? Okay.
And Gordon, just so you know,
Santa sent a special scout elf to keep an eye out on you.
Come on, seriously?
He wants to make sure you end up on the nice list this year.
-It hasn't happened... -(CANDACE) Naughty.
-..in 57 Christmases. -(LAUGHTER)
-Tsk, tsk. -(GORDON) Right.
-Let's get to it, shall we? -(JEFF) Yeah.
You'll have 75 minutes tonight
to create an exciting bake with alcohol.
This is a competition. One of you will be leaving
after this bake. Make sure it's not you.
Head to the elevator, we'll see you shortly. Good luck!
-(CHAD) Thanks, chefs. -(CARLA) Thank you.
(GORDON) Great job. Stefanie, well done.
(STEFANIE) Seventy-five minutes! (LAUGHS)
-(DEIRDRA) Feels like a luxury. -(STEFANIE) I know!
-(FESTIVE MUSIC) -(ELEVATOR RUMBLING)
-(STEFANIE) Okay. -(ZOHA) Alright!
-(CHAD) Let's do it! -Wow...
(ZOHA) Let's do this. -Holy smokes! What is this?
Our own oven?!
This is like the nicest kitchen
I've ever been in in my life.
-(CHLOE) Wow! -Not too bad.
I can handle this.
(WHIMSICAL MUSIC)
Okay, there are a lot of elves!
(PLAYFUL FESTIVE MUSIC)
(MARICSA) Look at these cuties!
(NERVOUS CHUCKLE) My sister does elf on a shelf
for my nephew and my niece.
And he's done a lot of silly, funny things.
I'm not stoked to be in this kitchen
but I'm hoping the elves can create some magic in here.
(GIGGLING) I can't wait to use you, you little funny thing.
(PING)
-Good luck! -(CANDACE) Hi, bakers!
-How are we feeling? -A little scared, I feel like.
There's nowhere to go but up.
-Yeah. -That is true.
-(PING) -Oh, we're back together again!
Nikki, when that platform comes down,
-I need you to get some stuff. -I'm ready.
(PING)
Right. Let's go.
-Feeling good? -Yes.
You've got the pick of the litter.
Okay so be smart, right?
Let's go. Line up against the door.
Let's go!
Seventy-five minutes to create
an exciting, boozy, Christmas treat.
Three, two, one...
Let's go!
-(URGENT MUSIC) -Look at that, okay.
So we're gonna go here, oh.
Do you guys see the alcohol-free?
Obviously, I'm Muslim. I don't drink alcohol.
So I do not know what alcohol tastes like...
(STEFANIE) Here's alcohol-free, right there.
..but I'm somehow gonna make it work.
(GORDON) There you go, you got it.
(BLEEP)
(CARLA) Okay, it's coming. It's coming, y'all.
Go! C'mon!
Remember, pick balance. Think about acid.
Think about how you're gonna balance
-that alcohol. -Oh yeah.
(NIKKI) I'm feelin' really good.
One thing I do know is booze.
-Still grab things. -Ooh, cream cheese!
-Okay, can you grab something? -Got it!
It helps that you're tall, girl. Yes!
-(DEIRDRA) A long arm. Woo! -(CARLA) Okay.
(CANDACE) Make sure you grab an alcohol
off the top of the platform.
Green, green, green! Go, go, go!
-Okay, that's it? -Uh, is that a beer?
I... I think so!
(NIKKI) I don't ever drink beer, so this
is probably worst-case scenario for me.
(CANDACE) Just grab what you can.
You're gonna make magic out of it.
Booze-filled chocolate? Going, going... gone.
(AUBREY) Oh my God, I don't even know what I grabbed.
(MARICSA) I don't know what to do with this beer.
The panic of this beer has set in
and is not letting go of me.
(MUSIC ENDS)
-(DRAMATIC WHOOSH) -(CANDACE) Alright, bakers.
Your time starts... now!
(URGENT MUSIC)
(CHAD) Anybody seen the teaspoon?
(AUBREY) No, I don't have one.
-Alright, Maricsa. -Hello.
How are you feeling?
I got alcohol-free stout.
It is not something that I drink normally.
-Right. -So it's a little nerve-racking
but I'm thinking fruitcake.
I'm going to do a wreath Pâte à Choux.
And you're gonna have enough time to do that?
-I'm hoping so. (NERVOUS LAUGH) -Okay, sounds good.
I'm not lookin' to go home
and I'm not lookin' to be at the bottom like last time.
(CANDACE) That's right. Bakers!
(CLAPPING) Let's get to work. Let's go!
Jeff, what are we planning to do with that box wine?
I'm planning to make a mulled wine sauce
to go over an apple cake.
Okay. Box wine looks scary, but you got a plan.
I think we're gonna get out of the basement with this one.
-Alright, Aubrey. -I'm gonna do a crostata...
-Okay. -..and an apple pear butter.
Calvados is made with apples.
Love that.
(WHIMSICAL MUSIC)
-(CHLOE) Hello! -(CARLA) Hello, Miss Chloe.
I'm gonna be making spice cakes.
-Okay. -And to that I'm going to add
a cranberry compote and make an Irish cream liqueur buttercream.
-How's it going? -My buttercream's ending up
a bit grittier than it should.
You used room-temperature butter?
-I did. -Cold butter's better.
That will give your butter stability.
-Fifty minutes left. -Cold butter...
Nikki, I see you prepped more items this time.
-What did you grab? -Amaretto.
Okay, so what're you making with this?
I'm gonna make a eggnog parfait with a ginger snap base.
What makes your eggnog noggy?
That booze I put in there and I'll put a little bit more--
It doesn't take too much.
You just need a tiny, tiny bit.
We are encouraged to taste, aren't we?
-Yeah. -What 'bout tha'?
Okay, girl. Get it, girl!
C'mon, you're encouraged to... (LAUGHING)
Hey, I asked first.
(FESTIVE MUSIC) I am Nikki J.
The diva, the queen, the 60-year-old powerhouse.
I have been going viral
before viral was even cool.
My daughter's wedding cake went viral during the wedding.
And overnight I got orders
from so many celebrities.
Babe, I'm the queen of social media.
I'm the queen of the bakery. I was just born a queen.
I dunno why my mama didn't name me Queen.
-(GORDON) Carla! -Oh God! Yes?
Jeez, we good?
-How's it going down there? -Lemme tell you,
we have some really great stuff.
And what about the boozy celebration?
Nikki's celebrating more than anybody.
-She loves a boozy jam. -I love that!
-Yeah, drinking and thinking. -Love that. Thank you.
-(GASP) -(DRAMATIC BEAT)
Zoha, tell me about the dish. What're you doing?
I'm gonna do a chocolate pecan caramel tart.
Hopefully there'll be tempered chocolate decoration.
Gotcha. Smart, smart, smart. Right, Chad!
-Yes, chef. -Let's go, my man.
I'm gonna do a Port wine-braised apple tatin.
Working on my poaching liquid right now.
You've got cooking apples, right?
-Yes. -Traditionally, we use
cooking apples for purees. But hey, all is not lost.
And where have you seen this before?
I've dreamed about it so let's see what we can do here.
Well, let's hope this is a happy dream.
Right, Stefanie. What is it?
Okay, this cake is a festive eggnog cake.
It's got a little bit of the bourbon in the cake.
-How many layers? -Shooting for three.
-You're gonna get three done? -I think so.
-Love it, love it... -I'm going for it.
Give an insight to Stefanie's household at the holidays.
-I have four kids... -Decadent!
..and it's really, really fun.
-(UPBEAT MUSIC) -I'm completely self-taught.
When my kids were young I would watch baking shows
and I realized, "Oh my goodness, I love to bake!"
And I was like, maybe this is a gift.
I was encouraged by family and friends
to start a home bakery business.
And then all of a sudden, I had strangers wanting to order.
My husband and I had always talked about opening a bakery.
We sold our house to finance the business
and moved our family into a teeny tiny rental for a year.
We have this big, beautiful, chaotic family.
It has been a wild ride.
But honestly, it's all been worth it.
-(PLAYFUL MUSIC) -(MARICSA) This is so messy.
My hands are gonna be green.
Pâte à Choux is temperamental.
Usually, they look tall and puffy.
I would get it in the oven soon though, if you're not.
If they don't have enough time in the oven,
they're gonna sink. Frick it.
-(UPBEAT MUSIC) -(GORDON) Twenty minutes to go.
Twenty minutes to go.
-(STEFANIE) So pretty! -Stefanie, we good?
Yeah. I used a little bit of bourbon in the compote.
Absolutely incredible. Good luck.
(CHAD) Oh yeah, baby.
What the...
I pick up my apples with a spoon
and quickly realize that I've...
they're disintegrating.
-(TENSE MUSIC) -Oh, no, no.
That's (JINGLE) perfect.
Such a stupid mistake.
(MUSIC BUILDS, ENDS)
(DRAMATIC BEAT)
(FESTIVE MUSIC)
-(DEPLETED SIGH) -(GORDON) Chad, you good?
-I (BLEEP) my apples up. -You've what?!
They have disintegrated in my poaching liquid, chef.
Remember I said earlier, they're for just purees.
They do just all of a sudden go.
I know. I'm turning it into a pear tatin.
A pear tatin?
Same concept. I won't over-poach this.
This is obviously going down to the wire.
I know I need every single second to poach these pears.
(STRESSED SIGH) A little scared.
Y'all looking good! Chloe, punchin' out her cakes.
My buttercream's moved out. (GRUNTS)
(CARLA) Nice! I love it.
Big, beautiful, buttercream baby.
-(TENSE MUSIC) -(CANDACE) Maricsa.
We're crisping them up now?
Yes. I'm just trying to crisp them at this point.
-Okay. -I swear I'm better than this!
(FRUSTRATED SIGH)
My pastry is sinking and my heart is sinking with it.
Guys, let's start plating!
Two. Minutes. Left.
The platform waits for no one.
-(GORDON) Platform's going. -(NERVOUS GASP)
Sixty seconds to go, guys. Platform's gone.
Get everything on those plates. And make it beautiful, yes?
-(STEFANIE) Let's go. -Bring it on, guys!
-(WITHERING GASP) -(CANDACE) Platform is moving.
No time to waste.
Get your bakes on the platform. Let's go, go, go!
Aubrey, 10 seconds!
-(URGENT MUSIC) -Good grief!
-Well done, bakers. -(AUBREY) Ahh!
(CARLA) Make it nice!
(NIKKI) I'm gonna add ginger snaps.
-I stuck it in like a cocktail. -Looks like a cocktail.
(CARLA) Alright, the platform is coming.
Where are we? Oh, my God.
-Okay, alright. -(BAKERS) Woo! Hey girl!
Go ahead, girls. Go ahead.
-You deserve a drink. -(NIKKI) Oh, my God.
Literally, could I drink some of that?
Please pass it around!
Alright chefs, we're here.
-(GORDON) Okay guys, go, go. -(STEFANIE) Zoha, c'mon, c'mon!
(GORDON) You're gonna miss that platform. Gotta go.
Five seconds. Four, three, two, one... and go.
-Well done! -(STEFANIE) That's beautiful.
Wow.
(DRAMATIC FESTIVE MUSIC)
(MUSIC SOFTENS)
These incredible holiday-inspired bakes
look festive and exactly what you want to see
for the holidays. But sadly,
we do have to send somebody home.
Right, shall we start at the very top on my level?
-(CARLA) Yes. -First off with Stefanie.
Stefanie used bourbon.
It was inspired by Eggnog Funfetti Cake.
Get it, girl.
Okay Stefanie, look at you.
Uppin' the game! Okay, sorry.
(LAUGHTER)
-Dig in, please. -(LIGHT MUSIC)
-I hope it tastes good. -It will, I'm sure.
The crumb is so... tender.
Mm-hmm, it's inspiring.
The amount of work that went into this across 75 minutes
is exceptional, great start. Right, next up.
Zoha made a Chocolate and Caramel Pecan Tartlet
with non-alcoholic rum.
There's an ooey-gooey quality to this
that is also very decadent, yet so refined.
(GORDON) Last up, it's Chad's take on a Pear Tarte Tatin.
I'm not gonna lie, it looks like a Pear Tata-taco.
(GORDON) This young man pivoted.
Had a slight problem with the original apples, went to pear.
Well, those pears... Sounds like they're undercooked.
-Yeah, they look a little hard. -(CANDACE) A little crunchy?
(GORDON) Middle level, what've you got?
(CARLA) These are Nikki's Amaretto Eggnog Parfaits.
That's a boozy bite!
-Yeah, a lotta booze. -A lotta booze.
(GORDON) A lotta sugar.
The ginger snaps, did we make these on top?
-We did not make these. -What a shame.
(CARLA) These are from Chloe.
Spice Cakes with Irish liqueur buttercream
made to look like a hot toddy.
They look beautiful.
-And they taste elegant. -(CARLA) Next up,
Spiced Apple Cupcakes cooked by Deirdra.
I mean, a cupcake at first glance seems very simplistic
but you really made it artful.
-Thank you. -(GORDON) Yeah.
Come on down to the basement.
Look at these! What is that?
(LAUGHTER)
We're gonna start with Maricsa's Pâte à Choux Wreathes
with stout fig compote.
-(GORDON) Are they undercooked? -(CARLA) Yeah.
(GORDON) Damn.
-This one falls flat, sadly. -Literally.
The choux pastry is literally undercooked.
(CANDACE) Next up, Jeff's Apple Cake with Mulled Wine Sauce.
(GORDON) Looks festive.
He grabbed the bag wine, which I thought
was kind of a scary grab, but he worked it out.
It's taking bad ingredients
and turning it into something amazing.
(SOFTLY) Thank you.
(CANDACE) Last up, this is a Calvados Apple Pear Crostata.
It looks beautiful. Rustic, full of charm.
-(CARLA) Wow. -And it feels so effortless...
Yes!
..but just is packed with flavor.
We've got a lot to talk about, let me tell you.
We need a moment. Thank you.
-(LIGHT MUSIC) -(NIKKI) Oh, God.
Stunning, stunning... What a way to celebrate
-the holidays. -It really was.
I feel I've gotta step up my game now
because you're whippin' out three-tiered cakes.
Are you kiddin' me? What you made?!
-I'm like... -A crostata?
-Clearly some weren't as good. -Yep.
I did the best with what I was given.
I'm still so nervous.
Sorry to see any baker go but... it is a competition.
I make all these things at home, but in the thousands.
I think that threw me for like the biggest loop.
-(MUSIC ENDS) -(SHARP EXHALE)
(CANDACE) There was one bake
from each today that stood out from the crowd.
Those three bakers are headed to the top level
in the next challenge, and those are...
Stefanie.
-Aubrey. -(GASPS) Wha'? Okay, cool.
-And Chloe. -(GORDON) Well done, guys.
(CANDACE) Well done.
This is the greatest Christmas gift
I ever could have asked for.
Now three of you all are safe and have earned
a spot in the middle kitchen.
Those bakers are...
-Zoha! -(SIGH OF RELIEF)
Deirdra!
-And Jeff! -(GORDON) Well done.
(APPLAUSE)
Jeff gettin' out of the basement!
-Finally. -(LAUGHTER)
Which means, unfortunately...
Maricsa.
Chad.
And Nikki.
Sadly, one of you is heading home
early for the holidays.
(CHAD) Holy smokes.
It could be the end.
The baker leaving us today is...
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
..Maricsa.
I'm excited to spend the holidays with my family.
(EMOTIONAL) I'm ready to be cozy and drinking eggnog with them.
Wish your husband and your parents a happy holiday for us.
Take care. Safe travels back.
-(FESTIVE MUSIC) -Wow.
What a competition this is turning out to be.
Get some rest! Because things are about to get spicy.
-(GORDON) Well done. -(CARLA) Alright!
(ZOHA) Bye!
(GORDON) Next time, on Next Level Baker...
(CHEERING)
It's like Rockefeller Plaza... in here.
(CANDACE) Go, go, go! These desserts need to be perfect.
(GORDON) Damn, damn, damn. One wrong move
and everything's gonna come crashing down.
-(GASPS) -You in trouble.
Ready for the perfect thing for egg whites?
-(LAUGHTER) -Where'd it go?
Somebody poach your whipped cream?
Oh, no, no!
(SOBBING) That was not good. It was so bad.
Do I go home now?
(CAROLERS) ♪ Oh Christmas tree
♪ Oh Christmas tree... ♪
Seriously? What the (JINGLE) is going on?!
(SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING)