Plot Synopsis

A group of America's most elite bakers compete in BEST BAKER IN AMERICA, a competition reality series. In this series, the bakers must showcase their baking skills and creativity, as they are tasked with challenges that not only test their technical proficiency, but also their ability to execute under pressure, while under the watchful eyes of the judges: FOOD NETWORK STAR winner Jason Smith and Food Network's Marcela Valladolid. In each one-hour episode, the competitors compete in two rounds, including a Skills Challenge that tests their mastery of the essential technical skills of baking, followed by a Master Challenge that tests their prowess in working with specific flavors and ingredients to create the most authentic and delicious versions of classic baked delights. In the end, the judges help determine which baker moves one step closer to winning $25,000 and earning the title of Best Baker in America! The bakers competing for the title of Best Baker in America in Season 1 are: Brittani Brooker (Charlotte, NC - Executive Pastry Chef); Andy Chlebana (Plainfield, IL - Pastry Chef & Culinary Professor); Dwayne Ingraham (Oxford, MS - Professional Chef); Margarita Kallas-Lee (Los Angeles, CA - Pastry Chef); Adalberto Diaz Labrada (Salt Lake City, UT - Executive Pastry Chef); Susan Mijeres (San Antonio, TX - Pastry Chef); Thiago Silva (Boston, MA - Culinary Director); Cheryl Storms (San Diego, CA - Pastry Chef Consultant).

Season 2 of BEST BAKER IN AMERICA premiered on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network, with nine world-class bakers competing for bragging rights and a cash prize. Scott Conant hosts the competition as bakers from across the country are put to the test in each episode to create elegant and delicious versions of classic baked goods, including a Skills Challenge that tests their mastery of the essential technical skills of baking, followed by a Master Challenge that tests the baker's prowess working with specific flavors and ingredients. Returning judges Jason Smith and Marcela Valladolid are joined by rotating guest judges, including baking digital influencers Yolanda Gampp, Joshua John Russell and Gemma Stafford, and prominent cake and pastry experts Florian Bellanger, Shinmin Li, Sherry Yard and Zac Young, to determine which bakers possess the artistry and creativity needed to advance through seven episodes, with one baker earning the grand prize of $25,000 and the title of Best Baker in America! Bakers for Season 2 include: Becca Craig (Philadelphia, PA - Executive Cake Chef); Kym DeLost (Chicago, IL - Pastry Chef)); Jeremy Fogg (New Orleans, LA - Pastry Chef); Frania Mendivil (Los Angeles, CA - Executive Pastry Chef); Leigh Omilinsky (Chicago, IL - Pastry Chef); Lasheeda Perry (Atlanta, GA - Executive Pastry Chef); Max Santiago (Miami, FL - Executive Pastry Chef); Jean-Francois Suteau (White Sulphur Springs, WV - Executive Pastry Chef); Adam Young (Mystic, CT - Bakery Owner and Head Pastry Chef). In the season opener, "Cake, Glorious Cake," Scott tasks the bakers with baking perfect Petit Fours in the first Skills Challenge. In the Master Challenge, the bakers must create a mind-bending cake for fifty people using vanilla as the featured flavor. After deliberating with judges Marcela Valladolid, Jason Smith and guest judge Gemma Stafford, one baker is eliminated.

The third season of BEST BAKER IN AMERICA premiered on Monday, May 13, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network, with Scott Conant returning to host. Nine professional bakers battle it out over seven episodes with challenges designed to put their baking skills and technical proficiency to the test for a chance to walk away with $25,000 and the coveted title. During each episode the bakers must create elegant and delicious baked goods through two rounds - a Skills Challenge that tests their mastery of the essential technical skills of baking, followed by a Master Challenge that tests the bakers' prowess working with specific flavors and ingredients. Returning judges Jason Smith and Marcela Valladolid are joined by special guest pastry experts each episode, including Florian Bellanger, Elizabeth Chambers, Valerie Gordon, Shinmin Li, Nancy Silverton, Sherry Yard and Zac Young, to determine which baker possesses the artistry and creativity needed to earn the grand prize and be crowned Best Baker in America! Bakers for Season 3 include: Casey Renee (Pastry Chef at Whitfield at Ace Hotel Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA); Edet Okon (Freelance Cake Artist and Owner of Edet Okon; Houston, TX); Eric Keppler (Executive Pastry Chef at Four Seasons Hotel - Silicon Valley; Palo Alto, CA); Jeffrey De Leon (Pastry Chef Consulta; Los Angeles, CA); Joshua Livsey (Executive Pastry Chef at Harvest Restaurant; Cambridge, MA); Julie Franceschini (Executive Pastry Chef at Cafe Boulud West Palm Beach; West Palm Beach, FL); Marian Mulero (Pastry Chef at Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove; Miami, FL); Michael Russ II (Executive Pastry Chef at The Wolf; Oakland, CA); and Yolanda Diaz (Executive Pastry Chef at Geraldine's at Hotel Van Zandt; Austin, TX).

Season 4 of BEST BAKER IN AMERICA debuted on Monday, May 3, 2021 from 9-10:30pm ET/PT on Food Network. Carla Hall hosts all the action, tasking the bakers over eight episodes with challenges designed to put their baking skills and technical proficiency to the test for a chance to walk away with $25,000 and the coveted title. During each episode the bakers must create elegant and delicious baked goods from different states across the country in two rounds - a Master Challenge that tests their mastery of the essential baking techniques and prowess working with specific flavors and ingredients. The least successful bakers in the Master Challenge must go head-to-head in a Bake-Off round where they have a chance to save themselves from elimination. Judges Gesine Prado and Jason Smith decide which bakers possess the artistry and creativity to advance in the competition. Only one will rise to the top to earn the grand prize and be crowned Best Baker in America! This season's baking challenges focus on creating unique versions of classic American desserts from different states. The ten bakers from different states, gather in the season premiere to begin their first challenge designed to test their limits. They are first challenged to whip up a Kentucky May Day piecaken with bourbon as the feature flavor. For the second challenge, the bakers' talents are tested in a challenge inspired by Florida's signature key lime pie. Other episodes during the season challenge the bakers' abilities to create sweet treats from the mid-Atlantic, Rocky Mountains, Northern Plains, Midwest, the Pacific, and more. Gesine Prado and Jason Smith will deliberate to determine who gets eliminated and who will be crowned the newest winner of Best Baker in America! Season 4 bakers include: Caitlyn Cox (Nashville, TN); Yassmeen Haskins Jackson (Baltimore, MD); Jackie Joseph (Louisville, KY); Clarice Lam (Brooklyn, NY); Aaron Manuyag (Tucson, AZ); Caryn Martinez (Columbus, OH); Felicia Mayden (Chicago, IL); Michele Pompei (Walla Walla, WA); Miranda Prince (Las Vegas, NV); and Katrina Tayo (Las Vegas, NV).
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On Monday, June 7, 2021 from 9-11pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "Southwest and Pacific," the two-hour Season 4 finale of BEST BAKER IN AMERICA. In the semifinal (9pm), host Carla Hall challenges the bakers to get creative with Nevada's famous Basque cake using Southwest chile peppers as the featured flavor. Then they must turn flan and biscochitos, the official state cookie of New Mexico, into one highly original and decadent dessert. In the final (10pm), the bakers have to turn California's chiffon cake into a tsunami cake with lemons and avocado, and judges Gesine Prado and Jason Smith join Carla to choose the competition's winner after seeing -- and tasting -- the bakers' 2-foot-tall Hawaiian dessert showpieces.