I Applied to The Great American Baking Show

Yup!  You read that right!  I actually applied to The Great American Baking Show and, even though I won’t be on the show, I couldn’t be happier or prouder.  This has been such an exciting step in my personal baking journey, so I want to tell you all about it. And if you’d ever consider applying to the show, let me give you some great tips for making it all the way!

 

This post was originally published on July 1, 2019.  It was updated on September 14, 2023.

 

My Experience with The Great American Baking Show

 

I can’t even believe that I actually got to picture myself on a baking show!  You probably already know that I love The Great British Baking Show (aka The Great British Bake Off) and it inspired my Ham and Brie Bread.  So you can only imagine how exciting it was to be considered as a contestant! They even film the show in THE tent in the UK. Let me tell you everything.

 

Being Discovered

 

One sunny day in April, I was playing at the playground with my son when I got a DM on Instagram.  It was a casting associate for The Great American Baking Show and she loved my bakes and wanted me to apply for the open casting call.  Yeah, I about peed myself too.

Once I confirmed that this was not some crazy person trying to play me, I started freaking out.  My first reaction was to say no, but my family and friends immediately reacted with, “Well, you have to try!”.  I’m lucky to have such supportive family and friends!  My biggest hesitation was that filming would mean being in the UK for a full month.  Figuring out child care would be a hassle, but we decided to cross that bridge when we got to it.

 

 

Filling out the Application

 

It was time to tackle that application.  Phew! The application for The Great American Baking Show was 75 questions and 8 pages long when I printed out my completed form!  These questions are trying to get you to show your personality and how experienced you are. I stayed true to my bubbly self and was honest with what I have and have not baked.

 

I’m hyper-critical of my work and don’t always feel like I’m good enough.  If you can relate, check out this fantastic article by The Fit and Healthy Baker about impostor syndrome.  As I filled out the application, I refused to downplay my accomplishments.  It was a great exercise in taking pride in my growth and accomplishments.  

At the very end of the application, you have to include a short video.  Of course, I was feverish, but I slapped on some make up and filmed myself in my Harry Potter sweatpants (you can’t tell!).  Probably should have put on some better clothes, but what can you do?

 

Skype Interview

 

Not too long after I submitted my application to The Great American Baking Show, I got a phone call from the casting associate I’d been in contact with.  It was time to schedule my Skype interview with one of the producers after I passed a short little baking quiz. The interview was pretty much a summary of my electronic application.  But now they got to see me on camera.

During my interview, the producer told me to get started on pastry because I had pretty much zero experience in this category.  Does my random month of pastries make sense now? It was a much needed kick in the butt to try new skills and tough recipes! (I’m looking at you croissants…)

 

 

A New York Tasting

 

And then I waited.  And waited. I was waiting to see if I would receive an invitation to a tasting in New York on May 30th.  If I didn’t hear back from them by a week prior, I could consider myself out. On Friday May 23rd, I hadn’t heard anything so I patted myself on the back and moved on.  

The next day I made a giant batch of cupcakes for a cookbook I’m working on.  As they were cooling I got THE call! In less than a week, I was going to be presenting three bakes, two of my choice and  basic bread recipe that I had to figure out. AHHH!!! I decided to go with my Coffee Cake Layer Cake and Mint Chocolate Brownies because I felt like I could transport them all the way to NYC.

 

My dad helped drive me up the morning of my tasting.  While I prepped my bakes in the lobby, I got to chat with a few other bakers that were setting up and others that were packing up.  When it was my turn, they brought my bakes to the culinary producer and I came in a bit later, after they had sampled my food.

My bakes were tasty, though sweet, and her only criticism was minor and in regards to styling, which I agreed with.  She asked me about the breadth of my experience and I started to realize that there are sooo many categories of bakes that I need to work on.  The application broke them down into categories: cakes, cookies, bread, pies, tarts, custards & meringues, and pastries.

 

My Journey Ends

 

If I got a high enough score, I’d be invited to film a series of technical challenges in LA the very next weekend.  However, my journey to The Great American Baking Show came to a close after the New York tasting. But, guys, this doesn’t even upset me a bit!!!  I won’t lie, going to that technical challenge and onto the show would have been amazing, but it also would have been a crazy amount of work and time away from my family.

 

And I can’t be upset because I did this.  A stranger found me online and was impressed with my work.  And I had the courage to put myself out there!  I’ve got health issues and anxiety, so charging out of my comfort zone does not typically happen.  At the end of the day, I had a blast going after a dream that I never even considered a possibility.  I will never regret applying to The Great American Baking Show and I will never be upset that I didn’t make it.  

You’ll also start to see a bigger variety of recipes on Bakes & Blunders.  Because I’m OCD, I made a spreadsheet of the baking categories (added an “other” category too) with lists of recipes I want to try.  There’s enough there to last me a few years, but I’ll work my way through them all eventually! (UPDATE: I will never get through this spreadsheet. It has only gotten longer over the years lol)

 

Related Reading: Pink Champagne Cake with Gelatin Bubbles

 

Tips to Get Further

 

While they don’t tell you why you’ve been dropped, I know that my experience is too limited to be competitive on this show.  And that’s okay! If you think you might want to apply to this show, get to work right now. I’m serious! Bake something from each of their categories every week.  Push your limits and grow as a baker.

 

They may find you on Instagram with hashtags like #amateurbaker, #homebaker, or #novicebaker, but why wait for them?  Casting begins every April. Find them and apply immediately! If you don’t already have a passport, get one. The sooner you get started on this, the better your chances are.

I wish I had been bold enough to make these croissants for my tasting.  The brownies were delicious, but they wanted to see a more technical side of my baking.  Since the process is a bit of a rush, I didn’t have time to think things through. If you make it this far, push the envelope!  Playing it too safe will not do you any favors, just as attempting a recipe way beyond your skill level is not a great idea either.

 

Disqualifiers

 

Heads up, though, because you want to make sure you don’t get yourself disqualified.  Here are the ones that I’m aware of:

• You cannot have ever received money in exchange for your bakes.
• You cannot have professional culinary training.  (They didn’t seem to mind the continuing education classes I took at my community college.)
• Do not post anything on social media about your progress.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll be in contact with a casting associate or producer.  If you have any questions, they’ll be great at helping you out.  You certainly don’t want them to disqualify you for something silly like a social media post.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

It’s been less than a year since I launched Bakes & Blunders and I am just floored with the opportunities that this blog has opened for me.  In January, I joined the Sweet Arts Guild which is constantly pushing me to grow as a cake decorator and try out new techniques that I would never consider on my own.  This Spring, I applied to The Great American Baking Show and made it all the way to a Tasting. A few weeks ago, I had a cake featured in a Bridesmaids Brunch styled photo shoot.

Every single one of these accomplishments has been a step outside of my comfort zone.  But if I hadn’t started with taking that first step, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.  To quote Agents of Shield, “The steps you take don’t have to be big, they just need to take you in the right direction.”  Never let fear stop you from pursuing what makes you happy.

 

My Next Step

 

And now I’m going to start selling some of my cakes.  In the Fall, I’ll be open to taking limited orders.  I’m going to take this next stage of my personal baking journey one baby step at a time, so bear with me! My prices will be affordable and economical because I’m going to need you to work with me.  Stay tuned to the Bakes & Blunders Facebook page for more details.

 

2023 Updated

 

It’s been over 4 years since I applied to The Great American Baking Show and things have certainly changed since then. While I was highly encouraged to work on my bakes and try again the next year, I chose to start my home bakery instead.And boy am I glad I made that choice!

My next opportunity to apply would have been the spring of 2020 and we all know how that would’ve gone. I had my home bakery for several years before we moved (#militarylife), but now I just focus on my baking blog and I couldn’t be happier. In the years since my application, I have been able to grow my baking skills considerably. This journey has been exhilarating and I can’t wait to see what the next few years bring me.