The first winner of FOX’s Next Level Baker reflects on resilience, creativity, and finding joy under pressure
When FOX announced Next Level Baker, many Gordon Ramsay fans wondered how the fiery chef would approach this holiday baking competition. Alongside Carla Hall and Candace Nelson, the three culinary mentors helped all the competitors rise to the occasion. For Next Level Baker winner Stefani Embree, she believes that her positive attitude, paired with her ability to pivot, helped her earn the win.
Similar to Next Level Chef, Next Level Baker required the contestants to think on their feet. It was more than baking impeccable treats under time constraints. From the unpredictable platform to the resources in each kitchen, this experience was far different from baking in the real world.
For the winner, Stefani Embree, she seemed to find ways to stay centered throughout the competition. Even when a bake went sideways or she did not have the equipment, she was determined to find a solution. Her finale cake had both impeccable flavor and a spirited design. It would be a centerpiece of any holiday dessert table.
Recently, Stefani Embree graciously answered some questions for FlickDirect about her Next Level Baker experience.
When asked about why she wanted to participate in the FOX baking competition, she said,” Participating in Next Level Baker was truly the experience of a lifetime. I’ve watched baking competitions for years and often wondered if I had the courage or ability to step into that arena myself. This opportunity came completely out of the blue. I wasn’t actively seeking it, but it genuinely felt like God placed it in my path. After talking it through with my husband, who is my biggest encourager, I knew it was the next right step for me.”
While winning is the ultimate achievement, her goal was a broader one. She said, “My goal going into the competition was to give it my all while staying true to who I am, and to show my kids that being brave and sharing your talents with others is always worth it. I feel like I achieved far more than I ever imagined. Winning was incredible, of course, but just as meaningful were the friendships I formed and the connections I made with people I never would have met otherwise.”
Throughout Next Level Baker, Stefani had swings from being in the top kitchen to falling to the basement kitchen. Although the competition was unpredictable, her ups and downs showed her resiliency.
Stefani felt the macaron challenge best represented her baking style, and it was her favorite bake. Even though her previous bake was disappointing, the platform gave her a gift, and she was excited to unwrap it.
Stefani said, “I love making macarons, and when I saw those ingredients come down on the platform, I knew it was my moment to go all in. It was definitely a risky choice, given the equipment and time constraints, but I loved pushing myself creatively and technically. Making something that Chef Ramsay described as “good enough to be a gift,” especially in the most dismal kitchen, was incredibly rewarding. For me, that challenge was also a reminder that I can choose to have joy regardless of the circumstances I find myself in.”
In contrast, Stefani would love a do-over on the ginger round, her worst bake. Between the time constraints and the heat, her execution was poor. But she believes it was a good learning experience.
Stefani believes those highs and lows were vital to her success. More importantly, she said a good attitude is essential to her daily life.
“The ups and downs I experienced played a huge role in shaping how I baked, the attitude I chose to have regardless of where I was placed, and my ability to not let past mistakes dictate what came next. Of course, I would have loved for everything I made to be “top kitchen” quality, but it was actually the basement bake that showed me I truly had what it takes to go all the way to the finale. I'm thankful to have experienced both.”
Although the basement is meant to be a challenge, with its minimal equipment, Stefani found that she struggled in the middle of the kitchen. Since she did not cook there till the finale, she felt disoriented in the space, which took up precious time in the jammed-packed finale.
At the same time, she felt that all the kitchens had challenges. “The top kitchen came with its own challenges as well, but was definitely my favorite in terms of setup. The most difficult part there was the expectation and pressure that came with it, much of which was self-imposed. It really felt like a ‘the more you have, the more is expected of you’ kitchen, which is probably another good life lesson in itself.”
Any Next Level Chef and Next Level Baker fan understands that the platform is meant to play havoc with the chefs. It shows who pushes creativity with the ingredients that they have.
Stefani found the platform “wild.” She explained, “I had watched all the previous seasons of Next Level Chef while preparing for Next Level Baker, but nothing truly prepares you for the moment that platform starts to descend. Time moves incredibly fast, and it feels like your mind is running a million miles per second. Precision becomes a real challenge when you’re racing the clock and adapting on the fly.”
“One of Chef Ramsay’s favorite words is 'pivot’, and I always made sure I had a pivot plan in place in case something started to go sideways. I’ve always been someone who can think on my feet and adapt quickly, trusting that if I work hard and stay focused, things will come together. Over the years, I’ve also learned that things aren’t always going to go right, and in those moments it’s important not to get stuck, but to move forward and keep pushing. Ultimately, that mindset, along with giving it to God, helped me stay calm under pressure and keep moving ahead, even when the twists tried to throw me off.”
While Chef Ramsay often has “spirited” feedback on his culinary competitions, he seemed a little less feisty on Next Level Baker. When asked which mentor was the most difficult to impress, Stefani said that they all had high expectations.
Specifically, she said, “That’s a tough question, because they’re all so different and each brings something truly special to the table. Getting the opportunity to work with and be mentored by all of them was an incredible privilege. I baked with Gordon the most, which I’m honestly still reeling over; that alone was a dream come true. I also had the chance to bake with Candace, which was such a treat. I’ve followed her journey and admired her for so many years, so working alongside her felt incredibly meaningful. I didn’t bake with Carla until the finale, so in some ways she may have been the most difficult for me personally to impress, simply because we hadn’t had that time together beforehand.”
Even though it was a fast-paced competition, Stefani felt that the finale was “the wildest experience of my life.” She explained, “It was incredibly challenging, exhausting, and rewarding all at once. I hope the judges saw not only the large, beautiful cake I was able to create with three distinct flavor profiles, but also the way I stayed mostly calm under pressure and encouraged my competitors to do their very best as well.”
Now that she has been crowned the first Next Level Baker winner, Stefani has a lot on her agenda, but she is still figuring out what is next.
“I currently own a brick-and-mortar bakery called OKC Sweets in Oklahoma City, and I'm incredibly proud of the team we’ve built and the community we get to serve. I hope that this win helps make OKC Sweets a true destination- somewhere people are excited to visit because of the show and the story behind it.”
In addition to her business, Stefani is open to new opportunities. Specifically, she would like to support, encourage, and mentor other bakers. Wherever this journey takes her, Stefani knows that it is an exciting time, and she looks forward to connecting with people in meaningful ways.
Want to catch up with Next Level Baker? All episodes can be streamed on Hulu. And, a new season of Next Level Chef returns to FOX in 2026.
Tags: next level baker, stefani embree, gordon ramsay, fox, holiday baking, okc sweets, hulu
