Next Level Baker 

Cooking in front of Gordon Ramsay isn’t something most bakers ever experience — and winning his competition is even rarer. But that’s exactly what Stefanie Embree did when she stepped into the spotlight on Next Level Baker, competing under the pressure of a national television audience and one of the most demanding chefs in the world. 

Fueled by hard work, preparation, and a heaping tablespoon of faith, the Edmond-based baker rose to the “top floor” to win the first-ever Next Level Baker title, plus $25,000 and a HexClad prize package that truly put the icing on the cake. 

The first call came quietly in April. A casting scout had spotted Embree on social media and encouraged her to apply for a new baking spinoff of Ramsay’s popular competition format. Embree hesitated, then leaned into a year she describes as willingly walking through whatever doors God might open. 

The interview process moved quickly at first, then slowed to silence. But while she waited, OKC Sweets hit a perfect storm of timing and momentum. As the Thunder entered the playoffs, Embree and her team rolled out themed treats that took off almost overnight. 

“The month of June was just wild,” she said. “Lines out the door, down the street. We had players’ moms coming in for cakes. It really bonded us to the OKC community.” In the middle of the waiting, Embree experienced a moment she still smiles about. After church one Sunday, her family stopped for Chinese food. She opened a fortune cookie. 

“It said, ‘You will have an incredible culinary experience during your travels,’” she said. “That seemed to me like a little God wink.” 

And she was right. In August, the phone rang. At the end of a routine call outlining possible next steps, the producer paused and said, “Congratulations, you’re going to Ireland.” 

Filming lasted about a week and a half, with four straight days of competition. Embree prepared by watching every episode of Next Level Chef to understand the rhythm and pressures of the format. She also spent hours baking beyond her usual specialties, sharpening skills she rarely uses in her shop. 

“I wanted to feel confident no matter what I was handed,” she said. She also prayed constantly, her commitment and excitement mirrored by her supportive husband. “He said, ‘You absolutely should do this.’ He had confidence in me even when I didn’t.” 

The competition placed bakers in vertically stacked kitchens, from a bare-bones basement to a fully equipped top floor. Embree spent most of the season alongside Gordon Ramsay, who surprised her with his hands-on encouragement. 

“He really is a mentor on this show,” she said. “If he gives you advice, you should listen.” 

After a discouraging bake sent her back to the basement, Ramsay gave her a simple directive. “Forget what just happened,” he told her. “Now we move forward.” 

With limited ingredients, Embree chose to make macarons, a staple at OKC Sweets. Hearing Ramsay say they were “good enough to be a gift” was a full circle moment for Embree. 

She won the competition, but the lesson lingered longer. “Sometimes you’re in the basement in life, too,” Embree said. “I’ve come to realize, true joy is not circumstantial.” 

She extends this encouragement to others: “If you have a passion for something and are gifted in an area, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. We get in our own heads, or compare ourselves to others, which we know is the thief of joy. Focus on what you do well and allow yourself to find joy in the journey.” 

When asked about what her future might hold, Stefanie said, “I’m so excited to find out.” 

To learn more, go to @stefanieembree on Instagram.