So, the Sorting Hat has spoken, the wands have been waved, and enough flobberworms have been fashioned out of fondant to feed a small dragon. It all comes down to this: the grand finale of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking. This Thursday, in an episode aptly titled “The Great Hall,” one pastry chef will rise above the rest to claim the coveted Golden Snitch Whisk — or whatever appropriately themed prize they’ve conjured up — and be crowned the ultimate Wizard of Baking.
For their final challenge, the remaining bakers will face the daunting task of constructing a six-foot showpiece inspired by iconic events that have taken place within Hogwarts’ Great Hall. Think Yule Balls, Sorting Ceremonies, maybe even a rogue troll incident rendered in sugar and spice. These edible behemoths must also incorporate two magical effects – because why not? – and, lest we forget this is a baking competition, two distinct tasting elements. Just imagine the structural integrity required to pull that off. One can only hope they’ve mastered the levitation charm for this one.
Presiding over this sugary spectacle will be our regular judges, Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef, joined by returning guest judges and Harry Potter film alumni Warwick Davis, Evanna Lynch, and Bonnie Wright. One assumes they’ll be looking for technical precision, magical ingenuity, and a flavor profile that doesn’t taste like a poorly brewed Polyjuice Potion. And, adding a dash more pressure to the cauldron, the final bake-off will unfold before a live audience of Harry Potter fans, eager to witness some edible magic and perhaps snag a stray sugar-spun Thestral wing.
“The Great Hall” finale airs this Thursday on Food Network at 8:00 PM.
