Zumbo's Just Desserts is an Australian baking reality competition television program on the Seven Network. The program was developed by the creators of My Kitchen Rules. The program is hosted by Adriano Zumbo and Rachel Khoo, with Gigi Falanga as assistant. The series was won by Kate who received $100,000 prize money.
In January 2016, it was reported that the Seven Network was preparing to launch a then unnamed baking program, very similar to The Great Australian Bake Off. The following month, the title of the program was revealed along with naming Zumbo as host. Khoo was named as co-host in April 2016. In June 2016, Falanga was announced as joining the program as assistant and timekeeper and promos were released, advising the show would air after the 2016 Summer Olympics.
'Dessert Of The Day'.
Won the 'Zumbo Test'.
Lost the 'Zumbo Test'.
Eliminated.
Won 'Golden Ticket' to the Grand Final.
Sent to the Semi-Final.
Series Runner-up
Series Winner
Episode 1
Airdate — 22 August 2016
Sweet Sensations — The Dessert Makers had to create a dessert that reflected themselves.
Zumbo Test — The bottom two contestants had to recreate Zumbo's dessert dome. The lower scoring contestant is then eliminated.
Episode 2
Airdate — 23 August 2016
Sweet Sensations — The Dessert Makers had to create a franken-dessert, a combination of two desserts in one.
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate the FrankenZumbo, made from five different desserts. The lower scoring contestant would be eliminated.
Episode 3
Airdate — 24 August 2016
Sweet Sensations — The Dessert Makers had to make a romantic dessert with chocolate as the main ingredient.
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate Zumbo's love themed Croquembouche, the Lovenbouche. The lower scoring contestant would be eliminated.
Episode 4
Airdate — 29 August 2016
Sweet Sensations — Each Dessert Maker had to create a cake suited for a kids party, with little Zumbinos (kids) to taste the cakes
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate Zumbo's school desk inspired cake named "back-to-school". The lower scoring team was eliminated
Episode 5
Airdate — 30 August 2016
Sweet Sensations — The Dessert Makers had to create a dessert that defies gravity
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate Zumbo's Willy Wonka inspired dessert named "Hat Trick". The lower scoring contestant was elimininated.
Episode 6
Airdate — 5 September 2016
Sweet Sensations — The dessert makers had to make Australia's favourite biscuit, Arnott's biscuit, into a delicious dessert.
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate six out of 12 (three each) Zumbo created biscuits named "Epic Biscuit Time". The contestant who scored lowest was eliminated.
Episode 7
Airdate — 6 September 2016
Sweet Sensations — The dessert makers had to create a dessert inspired by fire
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate Zumbo's "Ice" Dessert. The lower scoring contestant was eliminated
Episode 8
Airdate — 12 September 2016
Sweet Sensations — The dessert makers had to create a reimagining of a classic aussie dessert
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate Zumbo's Frosty Fruit iceblock inspired dessert named "Frosty Fruit Tart". The lower scoring contestant was eliminated.
Episode 9
Airdate — 13 September 2016
Sweet Sensations — The dessert makers had to create a dessert inspired by fruit
Zumbo Test — The bottom two had to recreate Zumbo's flower inspired dessert named "Nancy's Garden", named after Zumbo's mum. The lower scoring contestant was eliminated.
Episode 10
Airdate — 19 September 2016
Sweet Sensations — The dessert makers had to create the most luxurious high tea, three portions of three different lavish and extravagant desserts. The top two contestants were sent to the Zumbo Test with the bottom contestant sent to the Semi-final
Zumbo Test — The top two had to recreate Zumbo's dessert in form of a bathtub called Golden Duckie. The higher scoring contestant was given a golden ticket, sending them straight to the Grand Final. The lower scoring contestants were sent to the Semi-final
Episode 11
Airdate — 20 September 2016
Sweet Sensations — The dessert makers had to create a dessert that measured at least 30cm high without any inedible structure included.
Zumbo Test — The dessert makers had to recreat Zumbo's eight vanilla layered cake the size of a matchbox named "V8 Vanilla Cake". The higher scoring contestant was sent to the Grand Final, the lower scoring contestant was eliminated.
Grand Finale
Episode 12
Airdate — 27 September 2016
Detail — Unlike former episodes, the final two took part in the Zumbo Test first and the Sweet Sensations last.
Final Zumbo Test — The final two contestants had to recreate Zumbo's dessert named "Sugar & Spice"
Final Sweet Sensations — The final two had to create a dessert inspired by their favourite fairytale. The higher scoring contestant would be announced Winner of Zumbo's Just Desserts.
The series aired after the Seven Network's coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games on 22 August 2016.
Ratings data is from OzTAM and represents the average viewership from the 5 largest Australian metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide).