Kumari Shreya
‘The Great British Baking Show,’ AKA ‘The Great British Bake Off,’ is a British baking show that provides amateur chefs the chance to show the world what they can do in the kitchen. The participants must participate in three challenges in each episode and provide their expertise on the week’s chosen theme. While an excellent performance might help the competitors claim the title of Star Baker, any misstep may also lead to their elimination. Since its inception in 2010, the show has become viral thanks to its calm and soothing aura.
The skills showcased by the chefs are breathtaking and helped the series gain even more attention. In fact, the show has its dedicated holiday-themed spinoff called ‘The Great British Baking Show: Holidays,’ as well as two US adaptations. If you have just finished binging the cooking show and are eager to enjoy something similar in the genre, these recommendations might be what you need.
8. Baking Impossible (2021- )
Hosted by Justin Willman, Netflix’s ‘Baking Impossible’ combines baking and engineering to present viewers with jaw-dropping creations. The show welcomes various bakers and engineers and teams them up in pairs for the entire season. Working with strangers, the participating teams must complete a weekly challenge to retain their position on the show. Nevertheless, the creativity and expertise shown by the participants will surely make the fans of ‘The Great British Baking Show’ happy.
7. Zumbo’s Just Desserts (2016- )
Moving to the Southern Hemisphere, we have Netflix’s ‘Zumbo’s Just Desserts,’ an Australian baking series that allows aspiring bakers in the country to impress Adriano Zumbo, a celebrated patissier. The talented Rachel Khoo is a host alongside him as they test the participants’ skills.
Over the season, competitors are eliminated one by one until the judges choose the ultimate winner. Just like ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ the Australian series follows amateur cooks competing against each other and proving just how passionate they are about the art of baking.
6. Worst Bakers in America (2016- )
While it is always a delight to watch talented bakers make phenomenal dishes, it is equally captivating to watch some of the worst in the field make a disaster out of a cake. Witnessing the participants of ‘Worst Bakers in America‘ will make you feel better about your existing skills or, in rare cases, a sense of kinship.
Chefs Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale are determined to help the self-proclaimed worst bakers and improve their skills as much as possible. Fans of ‘The Great British Baking Show’ might not see the visually stunning masterpieces they are used to from the British show, but they will remain entertained as the competitors try to become the best from the worst.
5. Nailed It! (2018- )
If you feel that baking is calming, Netflix’s ‘Nailed It!‘ might change your perception. In each episode, three people are asked to compete in two different challenges to show how talented they are at baking. However, our bakers are not the best in the field, and the daunting tasks are enough to throw them into a frenzy.
With $10,000 on the line, only one baker will emerge victorious, while the rest will return empty-handed. ‘Nailed It!’ follows a structure similar to ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ yet the participants’ skill level sets the shows apart. To those looking forward to a little bit of comedy and a ton of disaster in their baking, we highly recommend ‘Nailed It!’
4. Baking It (2021- )
Peacock’s ‘Baking It’ welcomes multiple duos of bakers to participate in a series of challenges. The competing teams must complete several themed tasks to avoid elimination and claim the title of season winner. The comedic duo of Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg hosted the show’s first season. However, the latter was replaced by Amy Poehler in the second iteration.
Like our favorite British baking show, ‘Baking It’ has a different theme each week to maintain a sense of freshness. For those who especially liked the excellent baking skills showcased in ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ the Peacock series will keep you entertained.
3. Baketopia (2021)
If you enjoyed the series of challenges the participating bakers have to go through in each episode of ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ you might enjoy watching ‘Baketopia.’ Hosted by popular YouTuber Rosanna Pansino, the show welcomes a new trio of participants in each episode who must undergo two baking challenges. The first challenge winner wins $1,000 and the Gold Rolling Pin Pin. The bakers then move on to the second task to claim victory and get the grand prize of $10,000, along with the “Baketrophia.”
2. Sugar Rush (2018-2020)
Netflix’s ‘Sugar Rush‘ welcomes four teams of two professional chefs in each episode to compete for $10,000. The participants must go through three different rounds to showcase just how skilled they are in the kitchen. After tasting some delicious cupcakes, mouthwatering confections, and showstopping cakes, judges Candace Nelson and Adriano Zumbo, along with a third guest judge, must choose the ultimate winner.
The format is quite similar to ‘The Great British Baking Show’ with its three-tiered episodes, though the former welcomes different reams in each episode. Given the similarities between the two, we are sure that the admirers of the British show will enjoy ‘Sugar Rush.’
1. Best Baker in America (2017- )
The biggest draw of ‘The Great British Baking Show’ is the participants’ skills and how they are considered some of the best in the country. If you are looking for these elements in a baking series, then ‘Best Baker in America’ might be just what you need. The Food Network show welcomes eight professional and home bakers to participate in a series of challenges throughout the season to claim the $25,000 prize ultimately.
In each episode, competitors must undergo a Skills Challenge and a Master Challenge to secure their place in the competition. The two tasks are based on the episode’s theme and have a winner each. In the season finale, the top three bakers must impress the judges to become the winner. As mentioned before, ‘Best Baker in America’ is quite similar to the British baking series and has everything you enjoy in ‘The Great British Baking Show.’
