# The Great American Baking Show season 5

The fifth season of The Great American Baking Show premiered December 12, 2019 on the ABC network. It is the second season under the title The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition. Emma Bunton and Anthony "Spice" Adams return as hosts. Returning in the judging panel for their third and second seasons, respectively, are Paul Hollywood and Sherry Yard.

## Bakers

| Baker | Hometown |
| Alex Willis | Los Angeles, California |
| Brother Andrew Corriente | Arcadia, California |
| Bianca Jackson | Seattle, Washington |
| Carlos Marquina | Ontario, California |
| Dana Commandatore | Los Angeles, California |
| Helen Pantazis | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Marissa Troeschel | Portland, Oregon |
| Sally Newton | Manhattan, Kansas |
| Sarita Gelner | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Tanya Ott | Bethalto, Illinois |

## Results summary

Elimination chart :
| Baker | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Br. Andrew | | SB | | | | | | WINNER |
| Dana | | | | | SB | | SB | Runner-up |
| Marissa | | | | SB | | SB | | Runner-up |
| Alex | SB | | SB | | | | OUT | |
| Sarita | | | | | | OUT | | |
| Tanya | | | | | OUT | | | |
| Bianca | | | | OUT | | | | |
| Sally | | | OUT | | | | | |
| Carlos | | OUT | | | | | | |
| Helen | OUT | | | | | | | |
Color key:

## Episodes
### Episode 1: Cake

Color key: Eliminated Star Baker Winner
For the signature challenge, the bakers had two hours to make a single-layer olive oil cake. For the technical challenge, Sherry assigned an angel food cake, which the bakers had two and a half hours to complete. For the showstopper, the bakers had three and a half hours to make a chocolate gateau with three layers and chocolate icing.
| Baker | Signature (Olive Oil Cake) | Technical (Angel Food Cake) | Showstopper (Chocolate Gateau) |
| Alex | Thanksgiving Leftovers Cake | 5th | Christmas Fireplace Gateau |
| Br. Andrew | Christmas in California Cake | 3rd | Christmas Present Gateau |
| Bianca | Wintry Apple Pie Olive Oil Cake | 4th | Chocolate Cascades Gateau |
| Carlos | Honey Almond Upside Down Cake | 10th | Santa Lucia Spiced Gateau |
| Dana | Christmas Morning Olive Oil Cake | 2nd | Sicilian Forest Gateau |
| Helen | Morning Noon and Night Cake | 8th | Grandma Anne's Jewel Chocolate Cake |
| Marissa | Ruby Red Grapefruit Thyme Cake | 7th | Winter Forest Chocolate Gateau |
| Sally | Yuzu Ginger Olive Oil Cake | 1st | Chocolate Raspberry Celebration Gateau |
| Sarita | Spiced Pear Olive Oil Cake | 6th | Grand Orange Praline Chocolate Gateau |
| Tanya | Apple a Day Olive Oil Cake | 9th | Fleece Navidad Gateau |

### Episode 2: Bread

For the signature challenge, the bakers had an hour and 45 minutes to make one dozen savory breadsticks. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers had two and a half hours to make a traditional cob loaf. For the showstopper, the bakers had four and a half hours to make a bread sculpture inspired by "The Twelve Days of Christmas", with at least two flavors of bread.
| Baker | Signature (12 Breadsticks) | Technical (Cob Loaf) | Showstopper (Twelve Days of Christmas Bread Sculpture) |
| Alex | Yakitori Breadsticks | 2nd | Christmas Drummer Drumming |
| Br. Andrew | Pantry Breadsticks | 8th | Morning Sweet & Savory Holiday Loaves |
| Bianca | Southern Spicy Cornstix | 1st | Swimmin' in Seattle |
| Carlos | Sweet Potato and Za'atar Breadsticks | 3rd | Nine Ladies Dancing Flamenco |
| Dana | Crispy Carbonara Breadsticks | 5th | Turtle Dove Tattoo Bread |
| Marissa | Egyptian Spiced Grissini | 4th | Swimming Swan |
| Sally | Hot 'n' Crispy Braided Breadsticks | 9th | Golden Ornament Christmas Tree |
| Sarita | Smoky Rosemary and Cheese Grissini | 7th | Swam Family A Swimmin' |
| Tanya | Grissini Caliente | 6th | Perfect Partridge in a Pear Tree |

### Episode 3: Spice

The signature challenge was to bake a dozen cinnamon rolls in two and a half hours, including an icing or drizzle. The technical challenge was to bake a dozen Linzer cookies in an hour and a half. For the signature, bakers had five hours to build a holiday gingerbread scene.
| Baker | Signature (12 Cinnamon Rolls) | Technical (12 Linzer Cookies) | Showstopper (Holiday Gingerbread Scene) |
| Alex | Mom's Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls | 3rd | Santa is Stuck! Present Tower |
| Br. Andrew | Lime and Vietnamese Cinnamon Rolls | 7th | Christmas Mass in a Winter Wonderland |
| Bianca | Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls | 6th | Snowboarding for the Holidays |
| Dana | Dana Banana Cinnamon Rolls | 5th | Christmas in Los Angeles |
| Marissa | Cinnamon Babka Rolls | 2nd | German Christmas Market |
| Sally | Woke Up in Rio Cinnamon Rolls | 8th | Christmas at the Owls' Love Nest |
| Sarita | Sri Lanka Cinnamon Rolls | 4th | Wintry Nature Lodge |
| Tanya | Saturday Morning Breakfast Rolls | 1st | Overnight Delivery |

### Episode 4: Dessert

In the signature challenge, the bakers had an hour and 45 minutes to make madeleines. For the technical, the bakers had to make Queen of Puddings in one hour and 30 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers had four and a half hours to make a cheesecake tower of at least three tiers, with two of the same flavor and one different.
| Baker | Signature (24 Madeleines) | Technical (Queen of Puddings) | Showstopper (Cheesecake Tower) |
| Alex | Christmas Doodle Madeleines | 1st | "Cup of Tea" Cheesecake Tower |
| Br. Andrew | Away From Home Madeleines | 7th | Posh Christmas Cheesecake Tower |
| Bianca | Naughty and Nice Madeleines | 2nd | "Out of This World" Holiday Tiered Cheesecakes |
| Dana | French Manicured Madeleines | 6th | Christina's Christmas Cheesecakes |
| Marissa | Nuts For Tea Madeleines | 5th | Club Car to Vermont |
| Sarita | Afternoon Tea Madeleines | 4th | Winter Garden Cheesecake |
| Tanya | Sugar and Spice Madeleines | 3rd | A Perfect "Pear"ing |

### Episode 5: Pastry

In the signature challenge, the bakers had an hour and 45 minutes to make a citrus tart. For the technical, the bakers had to make hand-raised pies in two hours and 15 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers had four and a half hours to make Napoleons and palmiers.
| Baker | Signature (Citrus Tart) | Technical (6 Hand-Raised Pies) | Showstopper (6 Napoleons & 12 Palmiers) |
| Alex | Japanese Winter Remedy Tart | 1st | Very Berry Holiday Napoleons and Palmiers |
| Br. Andrew | Ginger and Citrus Tart | 2nd | Winter Morning Napoleons and Palmiers |
| Dana | Richmond's Cherry Lime Tart | 4th | Fennel Palmiers and Carmel Latte Napoleons |
| Marissa | Mandar-Lemon Tart | 5th | Sugar on Snow Napoleons and Golden Rugelach Palmiers |
| Sarita | Boxing Day Tart | 3rd | When Flakey is a Good Thing Napoleons and Palmiers |
| Tanya | Shoots for the Stars Clementine Tart | 6th | Keep Calm and Napole-ons |

### Episode 6: Cookie

In the signature challenge, the bakers had two hours and 30 minutes to make winter sugar cookies. For the technical, the bakers had to make fortune cookies in one hour and 30 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers had four and a half hours to make macaron tower.
| Baker | Signature (18 Winter Sugar Cookies) | Technical (12 Almond-Ginger Fortune Cookies) | Showstopper (Macaron Tower) |
| Alex | Snuggly Kitten Sweater Sugar Cookies | 1st | Dark Winter Masquerade Macaron Tower |
| Br. Andrew | Winter Breakfast Sugar Cookies | 4th | Dream Holiday Macaron Tower |
| Dana | Coffee To Go Sugar Cookies | 5th | Monochrome Macaron Tower |
| Marissa | View From the Cabin Window Sugar Cookies | 3rd | New Year's Eve Black & White Ball Macaron Tower |
| Sarita | Ben and Tilly's Lost Mitten Sugar Cookies | 2nd | Cocktail Party Macaron Tower |

### Episode 7: Semi-Finals

In the signature challenge, the bakers had three hours to make two varieties of savory canapés. For the technical, the bakers had to make soufflés in 40 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers had three and a half hours to make an Opera cake.
| Baker | Signature (Canapés) | Technical (4 Soufflés) | Showstopper (Opera Cake) |
| Alex | Thai-Inspired Party Platter | 2nd | Jolita Opera Cake |
| Br. Andrew | Sophisticated Childhood Bites | 4th | Opera for Mom |
| Dana | Italian Comfort Canapés | 1st | Neapolitan Opera Cake |
| Marissa | Feast of Several Fishes | 3rd | Cherries Jubilee Opera Cake |

### Episode 8: Finals

In the signature challenge, the bakers had two hours and 30 minutes to make choux buns. For the technical, the bakers had to make a Fraisier cake in two hours and 30 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers had three and a half hours to make three different kinds of mini-desserts.
| Baker | Signature (24 Choux Buns) | Technical (Fraisier Cake) | Showstopper (Mini-Desserts) |
| Br. Andrew | Filipino American Choux Buns | 2nd | Baking My Way Through Life |
| Dana | Mexican & Californian Choux Buns | 1st | My Favorite Things |
| Marissa | Bollos De Mercado Mexicana Choux Buns | 3rd | A Nutty New Year |

## Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of The Great American Baking Show season 5 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) |
| 1–2 | "Cake and Bread Week" | December 12, 2019 | 0.5/3 | 2.89 |
| 3–4 | "Spice and Dessert Week" | December 19, 2019 | 0.5/3 | 2.67 |
| 5–6 | "Pastry and Cookie Week" | December 26, 2019 | 0.5/3 | 2.75 |
| 7–8 | "Semi-final and Final" | January 2, 2020 | 0.6/3 | 3.54 |