| Alt Name: | Cake Boss: Next Great Baker |
| Presenter: | Buddy Valastro |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 4 |
| Num Episodes: | 41 |
| List Episodes: | List of Next Great Baker episodes |
| Runtime: | 42 minutes |
| Network: | TLC |
| Last Aired: | [1] |
| Related: | Cake Boss Kitchen Boss Ultimate Cake Off |
Next Great Baker (also known as Cake Boss: Next Great Baker) is an American television series that airs on TLC, hosted by Buddy Valastro, the star of his own reality series, Cake Boss. The show features contestants participating in challenges that test their edible art baking and decorating skills. Each week, a contestant will be eliminated; the last contestant standing will win a grand prize package that varies by season. Other prizes for winning a challenge or the week's competition are also offered during the series.[2]
Each round has three stages:
See main article: List of Next Great Baker episodes.
See main article: Next Great Baker (season 1). The first season of Next Great Baker was taped inside a special kitchen studio set up at the Hudson County Community College Culinary Arts Institute in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was televised from December 6, 2010 to January 24, 2011 on TLC. Dana Herbert, the last contestant standing out of a field of ten contestants, won $50,000 cash, a Chevrolet Cruze and an apprenticeship at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. Following his win, Dana was featured in some episodes of Cake Boss, but he had had his own bakery before his appearance on the show.
See main article: Next Great Baker (season 2). The second season of Next Great Baker was set at the new Carlo's Bakery facility at Lackawanna Center in Jersey City, and was televised from November 28, 2011 to January 30, 2012 on TLC. Marissa Lopez, the last contestant standing out of a field of 13 contestants, won $100,000 cash and a four-page spread in Brides magazine,[3] along with an opportunity to work beside Buddy in the bakery.[4] As of 2020, she is the manager of Carlo's Bakery Ridgewood, New Jersey.[5]
See main article: Next Great Baker (season 3). Season 3 premiered on Monday, November 26, 2012.[6] 13 contestants compete for $100,000, a spread in redbook magazine and to work with Buddy. The winner was Ashley Holt. She now owns her own bakery called Sugar Monster. She previously worked at Buddy's bakery and appears on Buddy's other show, Cake Boss from Season 5. She announced her withdrawal from the bakery on Season 6. (Ep. 28: Up, Up and Away)
See main article: Next Great Baker (season 4). Season 4 premiered on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.[7] This season, contestants competed in pairs.[8] Ten pairs total vied for a $100,000 grand prize and an opportunity to work for Buddy Valastro at the new Carlo's Bakery at Las Vegas's The Venetian. Chocolatier Jacques Torres and Magnolia Bakery chief Bobbie Lloyd were permanent judges for season four alongside Buddy.[9] Co-workers Al Watson and Lia Weber were the winners.[10]
| Country/Region | Name | Network(s) | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arab World | Arab Baker حلواني العرب | Dubai TV MBC 1 SBC TV Abu Dhabi TV | ||
| Brazil | Batalha dos Confeiteiros Battle of the Bakers | RecordTV Discovery Home & Health |
| |
| Batalha dos Cozinheiros Battle of the Cooks | Season 1, 2016: André Neto & Adelino Bilhalva | |||
(Except Brazil) | El desafío de Buddy: Latinoamérica Buddy's Challenge: Latin America | Discovery Home & Health |
| |
| United States | Next Great Baker | TLC |
|