# The Great American Baking Show

The Great American Baking Show is an American cooking competition television series and an adaptation of The Great British Bake Off (which is aired in the United States under the title The Great British Baking Show). Its first season aired on ABC under the title The Great Holiday Baking Show. The show is the second licensed adaptation of the GBBO format in the United States. In 2013, CBS produced one season of The American Baking Competition, which was hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, with Paul Hollywood and Mexican-American chef Marcela Valladolid as judges.
The first two seasons were hosted by Nia Vardalos and Ian Gomez, with Mary Berry from the original GBBO series and American pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini as judges. The third season was hosted by cookbook author Ayesha Curry and former football player Anthony Adams. Iuzzini returned as judge and was joined by original GBBO judge Paul Hollywood. The season was pulled off the schedule following sexual harassment allegations against judge Iuzzini, who was officially fired from the show and ABC. Curry and Iuzzini did not return for the fourth season.
On May 4, 2018, the show was renewed for a fourth season. Emma Bunton and Sherry Yard were hired as replacement host and judge, respectively. On August 1, 2019, the show was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on December 12, 2019.
On May 3, 2022, it was announced that The Roku Channel would be airing a new season of the show, with Paul Hollywood returning as judge, along with Prue Leith from GBBO. Roku also announced plans to air The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday, featuring celebrities competing to raise money for charity. All six episodes of the new season of the show premiered on May 5, 2023. The Roku Channel ordered a seventh season of this series, which premiered on May 24, 2024.

## Hosts and judges

Current :
| Hosts/Judges | Season | Season | Season | Season | Season | Season | Season |
| Hosts/Judges | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Zach Cherry | | | | | | Host | Host |
| Casey Wilson | | | | | | | Host |
| Paul Hollywood | | | Judge | Judge | Judge | Judge | Judge |
| Prue Leith | | | | | | Judge | Judge |
Former :
| Hosts/Judges | Season | Season | Season | Season | Season | Season |
| Hosts/Judges | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Nia Vardalos | Host | Host | | | | |
| Ian Gomez | Host | Host | | | | |
| Ayesha Curry | | | Host | | | |
| Anthony Adams | | | Host | Host | Host | |
| Emma Bunton | | | | Host | Host | |
| Ellie Kemper | | | | | | Host |
| Mary Berry | Judge | Judge | | | | |
| Johnny Iuzzini | Judge | Judge | Judge | | | |
| Sherry Yard | | | | Judge | Judge | |

## Season overview

| Season | Episodes | Premiere | Finale | Winner | Runner(s)-up | Average viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 4 | November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30) | December 21, 2015 (2015-12-21) | Lauren Katz | Nicole Silva | 3.97 |
| 1 | 4 | November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30) | December 21, 2015 (2015-12-21) | Lauren Katz | Tim Samson | 3.97 |
| 2 | 8 | December 1, 2016 (2016-12-01) | January 12, 2017 (2017-01-12) | Amanda Faber | Stephanie Chen | 4.39 |
| 3 | 2 (4 unaired) | December 7, 2017 (2017-12-07) | N/A | Vallery Lomas | Cindy Maliniak | 3.84 |
| 3 | 2 (4 unaired) | December 7, 2017 (2017-12-07) | N/A | Vallery Lomas | Molly Brodak | 3.84 |
| 4 | 6 | December 6, 2018 (2018-12-06) | December 20, 2018 (2018-12-20) | Tina Zaccardi | Amanda Nguyen | 3.44 |
| 4 | 6 | December 6, 2018 (2018-12-06) | December 20, 2018 (2018-12-20) | Tina Zaccardi | Andrea Maranville | 3.44 |
| 5 | 8 | December 12, 2019 (2019-12-12) | January 2, 2020 (2020-01-02) | Br. Andrew Corriente, OFM Cap. | Dana Commandatore | |
| 5 | 8 | December 12, 2019 (2019-12-12) | January 2, 2020 (2020-01-02) | Br. Andrew Corriente, OFM Cap. | Marissa Troeschel | |
| 6 | 6 | May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) | May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) | Martin Sorge | Dyana O'Brien | |
| 6 | 6 | May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) | May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) | Martin Sorge | Sarah Chang | |
| 7 | 6 | May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24) | May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24) | Mackenzie Rubish | Ronald "RJ" Winter | |
| 7 | 6 | May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24) | May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24) | Mackenzie Rubish | Nicole Aufderhar | |

### Season 1 (2015)

Season 1 aired under the title The Great Holiday Baking Show and marked a return of the GBBO format to American television after the cancellation of the series by CBS in late 2013 after one season when it originally aired under the title The American Baking Competition. Six bakers participated in the first ABC season. The season was won by Lauren Katz, beating out Nicole Silva and Tim Samson in the finale.

### Season 2 (2016–17)

Season 2 returned the following year as The Great American Baking Show with ten bakers and an eight-week competition. The season was won by Amanda Faber, with Stephanie Chen as the runner-up.

### Season 3 (2017)

The third season began airing December 7, 2017, with a two-hour premiere. It is the first season hosted by Ayesha Curry and Anthony Adams and for judge Paul Hollywood who last appeared on the 2013 CBS version of the show. This season, baker Antoinette Love, who withdrew following a family death, returned to the competition. The season was withdrawn from ABC's schedule on December 13, 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct by judge Johnny Iuzzini. ABC announced that it would not air the remaining episodes. On December 21, 2017, the day the season finale would have been broadcast, ABC announced that Vallery Lomas won the competition with Cindy Maliniak and Molly Brodak finishing as runners-up.

### Season 4 (2018)

The fourth season premiered December 6, 2018, under the title The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition. Anthony Adams returned for his second season as host, with former Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton as new host. Joining Paul Hollywood on the judging panel is American pastry chef and restaurateur, Sherry Yard. The season was won by Tina Zaccardi. Amanda Nguyen and Andrea Maranville finished as runners-up.

### Season 5 (2019)

The fifth season premiered December 12, 2019, with hosts Emma Bunton and Anthony Adams and judges Paul Hollywood and Sherry Yard, returning for the second Holiday Edition.
The contestants entering the tent are Dana Commandatore, Sarita Gelner, Bianca Jackson, Carlos Marquina, Sally Newton, Tanya Clark Ott, Helen Spencer Pantazis, Marissa Troeschel, Alex Willis, and Friar, Brother Andrew. The season was won by Brother Andrew. Dana Commandatore and Marissa Troeschel finished as runners-up.

### Celebrity Holiday (2022)

Star Baker
| Signature Challenge | Technical Challenge | Showstopper Challenge | Contestants | Airdate |
| 8 Cream Puff Holiday Characters | Meringue Holiday Wreath | Favorite Holiday Memory Cake | D'Arcy Carden | December 2, 2022 |
| 8 Cream Puff Holiday Characters | Meringue Holiday Wreath | Favorite Holiday Memory Cake | Liza Koshy | December 2, 2022 |
| 8 Cream Puff Holiday Characters | Meringue Holiday Wreath | Favorite Holiday Memory Cake | Marshawn Lynch | December 2, 2022 |
| 8 Cream Puff Holiday Characters | Meringue Holiday Wreath | Favorite Holiday Memory Cake | Nat Faxon | December 2, 2022 |
| 8 Cream Puff Holiday Characters | Meringue Holiday Wreath | Favorite Holiday Memory Cake | Chloe Fineman | December 2, 2022 |
| 8 Cream Puff Holiday Characters | Meringue Holiday Wreath | Favorite Holiday Memory Cake | Joel Kim Booster | December 2, 2022 |

### Season 6 (2023)

The sixth season of the show premiered on The Roku Channel on May 5, 2023, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hosts Ellie Kemper and Zach Cherry. The nine contestants entering the tent are Martin Sorge, Nirali Chauhan, Stacie Nakamoto, Dyana O'Brien, Susan Simpson, Karis Stucker, Jonathan Gottfried, Sarah Chang and Sean Liu.

### Celebrity Holiday (2023)

The second installment of The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday premiered on The Roku Channel on November 10, 2023, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry. Star Baker
| Signature Challenge | Technical Challenge | Showstopper Challenge | Contestants | Airdate |
| 12 Christmas Memory Sandwich cookies | Sufganiyah | Favorite Childhood Toy Cake | Arturo Castro | November 10, 2023 |
| 12 Christmas Memory Sandwich cookies | Sufganiyah | Favorite Childhood Toy Cake | DeAndre Jordan | November 10, 2023 |
| 12 Christmas Memory Sandwich cookies | Sufganiyah | Favorite Childhood Toy Cake | Joel McHale | November 10, 2023 |
| 12 Christmas Memory Sandwich cookies | Sufganiyah | Favorite Childhood Toy Cake | Heather McMahan | November 10, 2023 |
| 12 Christmas Memory Sandwich cookies | Sufganiyah | Favorite Childhood Toy Cake | Ego Nwodim | November 10, 2023 |
| 12 Christmas Memory Sandwich cookies | Sufganiyah | Favorite Childhood Toy Cake | Phoebe Robinson | November 10, 2023 |

### Season 7 (2024)

The seventh season of the show premiered on The Roku Channel on May 24, 2024, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry. The eight contestants entering the tent are Chris Curcuru, Brad Gessner, Mackenzie Rubish, Ronald "RJ" Winter, Nicole Aufderhar, Ruoyun Zheng, Victoria Walters, and Jennifer Reyes.

### Celebrity Holiday (2024)

The third installment of The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday premiered on The Roku Channel on November 21, 2024, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry. The contestants were Anthony Anderson, Rob Riggle, Vanessa Bayer, Loni Love, and Susie Essman.

### Celebrity Big Game (2025)

The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Big Game premiered on The Roku Channel on February 3, 2025, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry. The contestants were DK Metcalf, Amy Smart, Arik Armstead, Katie Nolan, and Tony Gonzalez.