The Great American Baking Show Season 9

Complete season breakdown

Every episode and bake

The fourth Roku season is normalized to five episodes and fifteen challenges. Cake, cookies, and bread lead directly into a patissier semifinal and a final featuring meringue bombes, entremets, and topsy-turvy cakes.

1. Episode 1 · Cakes

   Cake Week

   May 10, 2026

   Cake Week opens with upright striped layer cakes, tests molten chocolate centers, and ends with large cakes whose decoration is inspired by nature.

   • Signature

     Vertical layer cake

     Build a tall cake whose narrow sponge layers stand vertically, producing a clear striped cross-section when sliced.

   • Technical

     Four molten chocolate lava cakes

     Bake four matching individual chocolate cakes with set exteriors and hot liquid centers that release on the plate.

   • Showstopper

     Nature-inspired cake

     Create an ambitious decorated cake based on a natural subject, combining convincing detail with a fully realized flavor design.

   Episode source 1Episode source 2Episode source 3

2. Episode 2 · Cookies

   Cookie Week

   May 17, 2026

   Cookie Week covers filled macarons, chocolate-and-vanilla pinwheels, and an interactive three-dimensional cookie replica of a childhood toy.

   • Signature

     Eighteen filled macarons

     Produce eighteen filled macarons with uniform shells, distinct feet, and a flavor combination of the baker's choice.

   • Technical

     Eight pinwheel cookies

     Make eight matching pinwheel cookies with a crisp spiral, controlled spread, and properly tempered chocolate decoration.

   • Showstopper

     Interactive childhood-toy cookie replica

     Construct a three-dimensional cookie version of a childhood toy and include an edible interactive or moving element.

   Episode source 1Episode source 2Episode source 3

3. Episode 3 · Bread

   Bread Week

   May 24, 2026

   Bread Week begins with olive-oil-rich focaccia, twists a chocolate-orange couronne, and finishes with an edible bread basket holding two dozen rolls.

   • Signature

     Focaccia

     Bake a flavored focaccia with a well-fermented crumb, crisp base, generous olive oil, and purposeful toppings.

   • Technical

     Chocolate-orange couronne

     Shape a twisted couronne with an even chocolate-orange filling, visible layers, and a clean ring form.

   • Showstopper

     Bread basket with twelve sweet and twelve savory rolls

     Build an edible bread basket and fill it with twelve sweet plus twelve savory rolls, keeping every component distinct and baked through.

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

4. Episode 4 · Semi-final

   Patissier Week (Pastry Week / Semi-Final)

   May 31, 2026

   The semifinal calls for highly decorated custard pies, miniature Gateau Saint-Honore, and a two-tier joconde imprime display built around patterned sponge and mousse.

   • Signature

     High-design custard pie

     Create a baked custard pie with an elaborate decorative top while keeping the filling smooth and the pastry crisp.

   • Technical

     Six mini Gateau Saint-Honore

     Reproduce six miniature Gateau Saint-Honore with pastry bases, caramel-topped choux, and neatly piped cream.

   • Showstopper

     Two-tier joconde imprime

     Build a two-tier mousse centerpiece wrapped in patterned joconde imprime, with sharp layers and a stable, polished assembly.

   Episode source 1Episode source 2Episode source 3

5. Episode 5 · Final

   Finals

   Jun 7, 2026

   The finalists bake meringue bombes, assemble raspberry-pistachio entremets, and complete the season with three-tier topsy-turvy celebration cakes.

   • Signature

     Five meringue bombes

     Make five individual baked-meringue bombes with crisp shells, complementary interiors, and a consistent finish.

   • Technical

     Six raspberry and pistachio entremets

     Reproduce six identical entremets with precise raspberry and pistachio layers, a smooth glaze, and clean presentation.

   • Showstopper

     Three-tier topsy-turvy cake

     Construct a celebratory three-tier cake with deliberately angled tiers, secure internal support, and multiple coordinated flavors.

   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 3

Rosemary Tomato Focaccia

A generous sheet of olive-oil focaccia with a crisp base, airy crumb, cherry tomatoes, rosemary, and flaky salt.

Time

55 min

Makes

One 23 x 33 cm focaccia, serving 10

Level

Medium

▶View ingredients and method

Ingredients

• 500 g strong bread flour
• 7 g instant yeast
• 10 g fine salt
• 400 ml lukewarm water
• 75 ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 180 g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 rosemary sprigs, leaves picked
• 1 teaspoon flaky salt

Method

1. Mix the flour, yeast, fine salt, water, and 25 ml olive oil until no dry flour remains. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
2. With a wet hand, stretch one side of the dough up and fold it over the center. Turn the bowl and repeat three more times. Cover for 20 minutes, then repeat the folds once.
3. Let the dough rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until doubled and visibly bubbly.
4. Pour 25 ml olive oil into a 23 x 33 cm metal pan. Ease in the dough, turn it once to coat, and gently stretch it toward the corners. Cover and proof for 35 to 45 minutes.
5. Heat the oven to 220 C, or 200 C fan. Oil the fingertips and press deep dimples across the dough. Add the tomatoes and rosemary, then drizzle with the remaining oil and sprinkle with flaky salt.
6. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until deeply golden. Lift from the pan onto a rack and cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

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

The high-hydration dough should remain sticky; use wet or oiled hands instead of adding flour.

Recrisp leftovers in a 190 C oven for five minutes.

Open the full recipe →

Episode guide sources

Challenge details verified 2026-07-14. therokuchannel.roku.com, anchor.fm, tvmaze.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 9, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.

Season fact sources

en.wikipedia.org, paloaltoonline.com.