Bakers vs. Fakers (2016 - 2017)

Classic brownies must be combined with aromatic ginger; crackers must be used in desserts.

Bakers and fakers pour their hearts out as the sudsy surprise ingredient of beer must be used in their chocolate chip cookie creations. Then, contestants attempt to make "scents" of their dishes in round two, as fresh herbs must be utilized. Host Buddy Valastro is joined by judges Damaris Phillips and Zac Young, who will choose a winner to take home the green.

Pro and amateur bakers must cobble together a gooey treat by using cheese in fruit cobblers. In round two, judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Paulette Goto and host Buddy Valastro find the challenge is twice as nice when rice must be used to find the sweet spot in the winning dish.

The proof is in the pudding for host Buddy Valastro and judges Damaris Phillips and Natalie Sideserf! Pro and amateur bakers alike make hard choices when bread pudding must be infused with hard candies. Then, contestants try not to get boxed-in, as breakfast cereal must be re-purposed into dessert delicacies.

Contestants turn lemons into lemon bars, and host Buddy Valastro and judges Nancy Fuller and Zac Young get a caffeinated kick as the surprise ingredient of coffee is steeped into the lemony treats. The next round is full of twists, as pretzels challenge the bakers and fakers to avoid getting too salty.

Pro and amateur bakers face a deep-fried dilemma as the mighty doughnut must be rolled up with the crunchy surprise ingredient of potato chips. Host Buddy Valastro and judges Damiano Carrara and Zac Young get cultured in round two, as yogurt must be smoothed into the winning dessert.

Good ideas pop up as a cheesecake battle challenges bakers and fakers to augment their desserts with the surprise ingredient of popcorn. Then, host Buddy Valastro and judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Daphne Oz must find a winner when marshmallows create sticky situations for the remaining bakers.