Next Level Baker Crowns Its First Champion
After weeks of sugar-fueled showdowns, Next Level Baker ended in a nail-biter that crowned its inaugural champion. Here’s how the final bake went down—and who rose to the top.
FOX wrapped Season 1 of its new holiday baking face-off, Next Level Baker, and yes, we have a winner. If you missed the finale and just want the headline: a home baker took the whole thing. Honestly, kind of the perfect ending for a show that put amateurs and pros in the same kitchen and told them to duke it out.
And the winner is...
Stefanie Embree, a home baker from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was crowned the first-ever Next Level Baker champion on December 18, 2025. She did not sneak in under the radar either. Week after week, she kept showing up with the kind of ideas and execution that make the pros sweat, and the finale sealed it.
"A home baker did this...it shows you can do anything."
How the finale went down
Six bakers made it to the finish line, then got hit with a classic pressure-cooker: build a three-tier cake where every layer has its own distinct flavor profile, and make it precise enough to impress a very particular judging panel. Speaking of, Gordon Ramsay was on hand, joined by Carla Hall and Candace Nelson — a fun mix you do not usually see on FOX. Stefanie’s final cake checked the boxes on flavor, design, and technique, and that combo put her over the top.
What she won
Embree took home a $25,000 grand prize plus a premium cookware package — not a bad haul for someone who does not bake in a professional kitchen for a living.
Why this win matters
The whole setup of Next Level Baker was amateurs vs. professionals on a national stage, which is a great way to create chaos and also expose who can think on their feet. Stefanie’s run was about consistency and creativity under pressure, and her win is one of those neat reminders that passion and repetition can outpace formal training. Viewers clearly felt that too — it is the kind of finale finish that sends a lot of people back to their mixers with a little more confidence.
Finale cheat sheet
- Show: Next Level Baker Season 1 (FOX; holiday baking series)
- Winner: Stefanie Embree (home baker, Oklahoma City, OK)
- Finale date: December 18, 2025
- Final challenge: Three-tier cake; each tier required its own distinct flavor
- Judges: Gordon Ramsay, Carla Hall, Candace Nelson
- Prizes: $25,000 plus a premium cookware package
- Why she won: Creativity, clean execution, and steady performances all season