‘Zumbo’s Just Desserts’: A Baking Competition Like No Other

This New Year’s holiday get inspired to make all the party goodies with Zumbo’s Just Desserts, an addictive baking competition show straight from Down Under. This Australian, Seven Network original is based off of the unthinkable creations of baker Adriano Zumbo. If you don’t know that name it makes sense, but he is super famous in the dessert world of Australia. It’s like that in theme-based reality TV—there’s always some super famous person in that field you have never heard of. Like when guest photographers are brought on America’s Next Top Model—the models start gasping and getting hype and you’re like… who? That said, I say addictive because it’s not just binge-worthy, you literally crash once the TV is turned off. I know what you are thinking—baking shows are pretty corny, and usually try too hard to seem interesting. Not this time. The best part of this show is how they structure the weekly “tasks” as they call it. The premise of the show is master baker and dessert creator Adriano Zumbo has invited 12 amateur bakers to compete for $100,000, the chance for one of their desserts featured in Zumbo’s stores, and to be named champion of Zumbo’s Just Desserts.

Now, this is no ordinary competition. Contestants are given a “Sweet Sensations” challenge that entails the hosts Adriano Zumbo and co-star, Rachel Khoo (British cook and broadcaster) challenging the bakers to a specific baking task. For example, create a dessert that represents romance. The judges (being the hosts…