The Great American Baking Show Season 3

Complete season breakdown

Every episode and bake

The normalized third season covers only the two episodes ABC aired on December 7, 2017: Cake Week and Morning Treats Week. Four further filmed episodes were not broadcast, so their challenges are deliberately excluded from this guide even though later summaries disclosed the season's final result.

1. Episode 1 · Cakes

   Cake Week

   Dec 7, 2017

   The abbreviated season begins with lightly frosted naked cakes, individual lamingtons, and decorative holiday Swiss rolls with clearly defined spirals.

   • Signature

     Naked cake

     Bake a cake in two hours with its layers and sides intentionally left partly exposed rather than completely covered in frosting.

   • Technical

     Nine white chocolate lamingtons

     Follow Paul Hollywood's brief for nine matching lamingtons coated in white chocolate and coconut.

   • Showstopper

     Holiday Swiss roll

     Use two and a half hours to bake and decorate a holiday Swiss roll with an even spiral of filling through the sponge.

   Episode source 1Episode source 2Episode source 3

2. Episode 2 · Morning treats

   Morning Treats Week

   Dec 7, 2017

   The second and final aired episode tests filled yeasted doughnuts, laminated savory hand pies, and a centerpiece sweet loaf with a visible internal spiral.

   • Signature

     Twelve filled yeasted doughnuts

     Bake or fry one dozen yeasted doughnuts in two and a half hours, filling them with a flavor chosen by the baker.

   • Technical

     Eight savory breakfast hand pies

     Produce eight identical savory breakfast pies with distinct flaky pastry layers and evenly portioned filling.

   • Showstopper

     Centerpiece sweet loaf

     Create a decorative sweet bread centerpiece whose cut slices reveal a clear spiral through the loaf.

   Make our home version →Episode source 1Episode source 2Episode source 3

Inspired by the briefs

Bake it at home

These are original Baking Show Guide adaptations for a home kitchen. They are inspired by the challenge briefs, not the contestants' recipes or an official recipe from the show.

Inspired by Episode 2

Orange Cranberry Filled Doughnuts

Soft yeasted doughnuts rolled in orange sugar and filled with a tart cranberry jam that can be made while the dough rises.

Time

1 hr 5 min

Makes

12 doughnuts

Level

Medium

▶View ingredients and method

Ingredients

• 240 ml whole milk, lukewarm
• 7 g instant yeast
• 50 g granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 75 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 500 g bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 8 g fine salt
• 300 g fresh or frozen cranberries
• 140 g granulated sugar, for the filling
• 120 ml orange juice
• Finely grated zest of 1 orange
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Neutral oil, for deep-frying
• 100 g granulated sugar, for coating
• Finely grated zest of 1 additional orange

Method

1. Whisk the milk, yeast, and 50 g sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs, melted butter, and vanilla, then stir in the flour and salt to form a soft dough.
2. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and leave to rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until doubled.
3. Meanwhile, combine the cranberries, 140 g sugar, orange juice, first portion of orange zest, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring and crushing the berries, until thick and jammy. Blend or press through a sieve if a smooth filling is preferred, then cool completely.
4. Roll the risen dough on a lightly floured surface to 1.5 cm thick. Cut twelve rounds with a 7 cm cutter and transfer them to individual squares of baking paper. Cover and proof for 30 to 40 minutes, until puffy.
5. Heat 7 cm of neutral oil in a deep, heavy pan to 175 C. Mix the 100 g coating sugar with the zest of the second orange in a shallow bowl.
6. Fry the doughnuts in batches for about 90 seconds per side, keeping the oil between 170 C and 180 C. Drain briefly on a rack, then roll in the orange sugar while warm.
7. Spoon the cooled cranberry filling into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip. Pierce the side of each cooled doughnut and pipe in enough filling to make it feel noticeably heavier without splitting it.

This is an original Baking Show Guide adaptation, not a contestant recipe or an official show recipe.

Use a deep-fry thermometer and never fill the pan more than halfway with oil.

The doughnuts are best on the day they are fried; refrigerate any leftovers because of the fruit filling.

Open the full recipe →

Episode guide sources

Challenge details verified 2026-07-14. web.archive.org, en.wikipedia.org, culturess.com.

Season result

The winner stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.

See every Great American Baking Showwinner, season by season →

Full cast

Everyone recorded for Season 3, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.

Season fact sources

en.wikipedia.org, tvline.com, variety.com.