The wait is finally over: the full line up for the 2024 MasterChef Australia spin-off series, MasterChef Dessert Masters, has been announced.

The initial competitors were announced earlier this year, and included season six MasterChef Australia alumna Emilia Jackson, Newcastle-based baker Reece Hignell, who first entered the MasterChef kitchen in the 10th season, as well as British chef, author and television personality Darren Purchese and Sydney’s cake queen Katherine Sabbath.

Announced in August, the final contestants who will enter the MasterChef Dessert Masters kitchen will include:

• Sweet Bakes creator Alisha Henderson
• Pastry chef and artisanal dessert store GLACÉ owner Christy Tania
• The Great Australian Bake Off runner-up Dan Pasquali
• Gelato Messina Chief Creative Chef Donato Toce
• Pastry Chef instructor Jana Lai
• Omnia Executive Pastry Chef John Demetrios

The 2023 MasterChef Dessert Masters series was met with great acclaim, and saw some of Australia’s top pastry chefs, chocolate connoisseurs and baking experts battle it out for the top prize.

Gareth Whitton of Tarts Anon fame took home the inaugural crown in an experience he described as incredible.

“It was pretty stressful and exhausting… but I was keen to do it, just knowing how much of an impact it had on our business the first time around,” Gareth said.

The 2023 judges, veteran MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong and French-Swiss pastry chef Amaury Guichon have also both been confirmed as returning once again.

The premiere date for the 2024 Dessert Masters series is yet to be confirmed by Channel 10, however it’s anticipated it will air at the similar time to the 2023 series, which was launched in November 2023.