Great Chocolate Showdown episode 8: The finale

Season 1 of Great Chocolate Showdown has finally come to an end and the finale was the most intense episode yet. It’s the finale! It’s going to be stressful! It also didn’t help that instead of doing two challenges, the bakers only had one chance to impress the judges. It was like having one project be the difference between graduating from high school or not.

But what was the challenge? The remaining bakers, T, Casey, and Renu, had to create their own personal bakeshop display. It had to feature a centerpiece, chocolate bonbons, six chocolate confections, and a dessert inspired by the first dessert they made on the show. Their creations also had to follow an overall theme of their choice.

Oh, and they didn’t have t do it alone because three of the eliminated bakers came back to be their baking assistants! It was a wonderful surprise. Fadi, Kathy, and Venessa showed up and were teamed with Casey, T, and Renu, respectively.

Ok, let’s talk about what they made.

Great Chocolate Showdown finale lead to some amazing creations

First up, T! His theme was Baroque circus meets quaint French patisserie (he named his bake shop Cirque du Souffle!) and he made six entremets with tropical layers, pineapple yuzu bonbons that I might sell my soul for, a recreation of his blood orange tart, and an extraordinary ruby raspberry lime ganache macaron tower.

For Casey’s final challenge, she took inspiration from flavors her family loves and her art school background. She made a cookies and milk white chocolate cheesecake, carrot caramel pie bonbons that were the cutest chocolates to ever exist, a strawberry chocolate mousse palette that was a piece of art on its own, and a coconut macaroon sketch cake that would impress any Jewish bubbe at Passover.

Last, but certainly not least, Renu! Her theme was structural elegance and she made passionfruit tarts with white chocolate mousse (I might have drooled when these were shown on screen), raspberry crunch bonbons, a cardamom pistachio redemption cake, and the most amazing chocolate centerpiece with profiteroles.

It would be difficult to destroy such a beautiful chocolate sculpture, but I would totally do it just so I could eat it.

While the final results were extraordinary, it was no easy task and there were certainly missteps and mistakes along the way. That’s what made it so stressful to watch!

But who won??

I do not envy the judges making this decision. How do you compare a beautiful cake to a chocolate sculpture to a macaron tower?! But they did make a decision and Casey was the winner!

I cannot wait for season 2 and since the show is already airing on Food Network Canada, I’m hoping it’s not too long of a wait before we can watch it on The CW.

What did you think of the finale of Great Chocolate Showdown? Did your fave win? Let us know in the comments below!