Dessert Masters
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | November 12, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Culinary reality television program |
| Parent | Endemol Shine Australia |
Dessert Masters, alternatively titled MasterChef: Dessert Masters, is an Australian culinary reality series created by Endemol Shine Australia that debuted on Network 10 on 12 November 2023. This program is a derivative of MasterChef Australia, which itself is adapted from the UK original, MasterChef. The series features ten expert pastry chefs competing for a grand prize of $100,000. Judging the competition are former MasterChef Australia panelist Melissa Leong alongside renowned international pastry chef Amaury Guichon.
Prior to the initial broadcast, Network 10 announced at their October 2022 upfronts event that a second season had already been greenlit, with Leong and Guichon returning as judges. The follow-up season premiered on 14 October 2024.
Format and reception
The structure of the contest closely follows the format of MasterChef Australia, challenging participants with tasks designed to assess their technical proficiency, inventiveness, and ability to manage time efficiently under pressure. Competitors create desserts of restaurant-caliber quality, ranging from individual plated creations to elaborate showpieces. The program has received acclaim for bringing the art of pastry making to a mainstream television audience, with critics praising Guichon’s mastery and the contestants’ creative flair.
Series 1
The lineup for the inaugural season was revealed on 4 June 2023.
| Contestant | Status |
|---|---|
| Gareth Whitton | Winner 28 November |
| Reynold Poernomo | Runner-up 28 November |
| Jess Liemantara | Third place 28 November |
| Kay-Lene Tan | Eliminated 27 November |
| Kirsten Tibballs | |
| Andy Bowdy | Eliminated 26 November |
| Anna Polyviou | |
| Adriano Zumbo | Eliminated 21 November |
| Morgan Hipworth | Eliminated 19 November |
| Rhiann Mead | Eliminated 14 November |
Series 2
The contestant roster for the second season was partially disclosed in May 2024, with the full cast announced on 15 August 2024.
| Contestant | Status |
|---|---|
| John Demetrios | Winner 24 November |
| Emelia Jackson | Runner-up 24 November |
| Christy Tania | Third place 24 November |
| Reece Hignell | Eliminated 18 November |
| Jana Lai | |
| Alisha Henderson | Eliminated 17 November |
| Darren Purchese | |
| Dan Pasquali | Eliminated 11 November |
| Donato Toce | Eliminated 4 November |
| Katherine Sabbath | Eliminated 28 October |
Episodes and ratings
- Colour key:
- – Peak viewership for the series
- – Lowest audience figures during the series
Series 1
| Ep#/Wk-Ep# | Airdate | Episode title / event | Viewership (five metro cities) | Nightly rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ||||
| 1/01-1 | Sunday, 12 November 2023 | Series Premiere: Immunity Pin Challenge - Your Dessert Masterpiece — Ten leading Australian pastry chefs competed for the Dessert Masters crown and a $100,000 prize. The initial task was to create a dessert reflecting their personal style within three hours. Kirsten’s daring pistachio and raspberry entremet succeeded, while Reynold’s impeccable "Monochrome" secured the season’s sole immunity pin. | 477,000 | #6 |
| 2/01-2 | Monday, 13 November 2023 | Immunity Challenge: Deceptive Desserts — Contestants crafted desserts designed to deceive within a three-hour timeframe. Andy and Anna tied as winners, each earning immunity for the next elimination round. | 477,000 | #10 |
| 3/01-3 | Tuesday, 14 November 2023 | Elimination Challenge: Smashing Desserts — All chefs except immune Andy and Anna prepared smashed desserts. Jess secured safety with flavor despite a weak smash; Rhiann was eliminated due to lack of refinement. | 451,000 | #8 |
| 4/01-4 | Wednesday, 15 November 2023 | Team Relay Challenge — Three teams created maple syrup-themed desserts in relay format. The Green team (Andy, Anna, Reynold) overcame minor difficulties to win immunity; other teams faced challenges with teamwork. | 372,000 | #11 |
| Week 2 | ||||
| 5/02-1 | Sunday, 19 November 2023 | Elimination Challenge: Frozen Mystery Box — Non-immune chefs produced frozen desserts featuring ingredients such as rosella, chilli, beetroot or berry liqueur. Kay-Lene excelled; Morgan was eliminated after his sorbet melted. | 342,000 | #12 |
| 6/02-2 | Monday, 20 November 2023 | Chocolate Immunity Challenge — Competitors had two-and-a-half hours to create chocolate-based desserts. Kirsten narrowly defeated Gareth to claim the final immunity pin of the season. | 449,000 | #10 |
| 7/02-3 | Tuesday, 21 November 2023 | Elimination Challenge: Cinema-Inspired Desserts — Judges evaluated desserts inspired by films. Jess’s "Humblebee" earned top marks; Adriano was eliminated due to structural flaws despite strong flavor. | 412,000 | #10 |
| Week 3 (Finale Week) | ||||
| 8/03-1 | Sunday, 26 November 2023 | Double Elimination Challenge: Christmas Desserts — Chefs created Christmas-themed desserts using assigned fruits. Reynold utilized his immunity pin following a mishap; Andy and Anna were eliminated for minor mistakes. | 441,000 | #7 |
| 9/03-2 | Monday, 27 November 2023 | Semi-Final Challenge — In a nature-inspired dessert task, Kirsten was eliminated after her birdcage structure collapsed alongside Kay-Lene’s unbalanced creation. Gareth, Jess and Reynold advanced to the final round. | 471,000 | #7 |
| 10/03-3 | Tuesday, 28 November 2023 | Grand Finale — Finalists presented a two-course dessert meal for judges and guests. Gareth’s rhubarb tart paired with chocolate mousse secured him the Dessert Masters title and $100,000 prize. | 465,000 | #10 |
| Winner Announcement – Gareth Whitton was crowned Dessert Masters champion and awarded the $100,000 grand prize. | 556,000 | #8 | ||
Series 2
| Ep#/Wk-Ep# | Original airdate | Episode title / event | Viewership | Evening rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ||||
| 1/01-1 | Monday, 14 October 2024 | Series Launch: Your Dessert Masterpiece Secret SOS Box Challenge - A group of ten pastry chefs competed for the $100,000 grand prize and the Dessert Masters crown. John secured the secret SOS box, earning an advantage for upcoming rounds. | 467,000 | #10 |
| 2/02-2 | Monday, 21 October 2024 | Movement Immunity Challenge - Contestants crafted desserts inspired by motion. Christy’s Rubik's Cube creation won her immunity. | 366,000 | #15 |
| 3/03-3 | Monday, 28 October 2024 | Smoke and Mirrors Mystery Box Elimination Challenge - Participants prepared illusionary desserts. Standouts included Jana’s Vegemite jar and Darren’s avocado toast. Katherine was sent home despite fulfilling the brief due to lackluster flavors. | #13 | |
| Week 2 | ||||
| 4/02-1 | Sunday, 3 November 2024 | Team Relay | 331,000 | #12 |
| 5/02-2 | Monday, 4 November 2024 | Australian Country Classics Elimination Challenge | 311,000 | #21 |
| Week 3 | ||||
| 6/03-1 | Sunday, 10 November 2024 | Theatre Immunity Challenge | 299,000 | #13 |
| 7/03-2 | Monday, 11 November 2024 | Culinary Techniques Elimination Challenge | 369,000 | #16 |
| Week 4 | ||||
| 8/04-1 | Sunday, 17 November 2024 | Fizzy Drink Mystery Box Elimination Challenge | 353,000 | #13 |
| 9/04-2 | Monday, 18 November 2024 | Semi Final | 349,000 | #15 |
| Week 5 (Grand Finale) | ||||
| 10/05-1 | Sunday, 24 November 2024 | Grand Finale | 415,000 | #15 |
Brazil
In August of 2024, Endemol Shine Brasil announced a Brazilian version named MasterChef Confeitaria, scheduled to debut on Band. This represents the inaugural international adaptation of the franchise focused on Brazil’s dessert culinary scene.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2020s Australian reality television series
- 2023 Australian television series debuts
- MasterChef Australia
- Australian cooking television series
- Television series by Endemol Shine Australia
- Television shows set in Melbourne
- Australian English-language television shows
- Australian television spinoffs
- Australian television series based on British television series
- Reality television spinoffs
- Network 10 original programming