DeAndre Jordan Takes Vegan Talents to ‘The Great American Baking Show’ Holiday Special in London

Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan, known for his prowess on the basketball court, took his talents to the kitchen for “The Great American Baking Show” holiday special. Jordan, who adopted a plant-based diet five years ago for environmental and nutritional reasons, showcased his baking skills on the spin-off of “The Great British Bake Off.”

The NBA champion, fresh off celebrating the title with the Nuggets, found himself outside London, using applesauce as an egg substitute and worrying about his batter rising on a tight deadline. Despite having no prior baking experience, Jordan approached the challenge with enthusiasm.

“I was afraid it was gonna take my (stuff) forever to set and rise,” he admitted, attributing the concern to the use of unfamiliar ingredients.

Jordan spent a week in the English countryside, competing against a cast of professional performers, including comedians and actors. As the only athlete in the lineup, he stood out and brought a unique perspective to the competition.

The show’s producers approached Jordan due to his own vegan cooking program called “Cooking Clean,” and despite his lack of baking experience, he embraced the opportunity. Jordan, who has been working on Season 2 of his cooking show, expressed that he enjoyed the experience, met interesting people, and made new friends during the filming.

For the “showstopper” challenge, where contestants create a personalized, multilayered novelty sponge cake, Jordan drew inspiration from his childhood and chose a handheld Game Boy. Staying true to his plant-based lifestyle, he crafted a vegan chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream filling.

Despite the challenges, Jordan’s vegan creations, including sufganiyot donuts and a vegan buttercream, earned praise from judges and castmates alike. His wife, who accompanied him on the trip, sampled the finished products and enjoyed the experience of exploring the English countryside.

Reflecting on the baking challenges, Jordan acknowledged the difficulty of baking and gained newfound respect for bakers. He hopes that his appearance on the show will be fun and informative for viewers who follow a vegan lifestyle.

While Jordan hasn’t baked since the show, he mentioned feeling inspired to try his hand at baking again, possibly during the holidays. As he considers future culinary endeavors, he has learned valuable lessons from his baking experience, including the importance of moderation with ginger in recipes.