If you like The Big Brunch on HBO Max, try Hulu’s Best in Dough

New shows tend to have a harder time, gripping people. Two shows lacking that problem are Hulu’s Best in Dough and HBO Max’s The Big Brunch.

In the realm of reality shows, cooking shows usually end up being the best of the bunch. Maybe it’s due to a general lack of drama or just the fact that most of us love to eat. Either way, a lot of cooking shows end up being comfort watches.

While 2022 has been ripe with plenty of reality shows, two shows that stood out to me most were Best In Dough from Hulu and The Big Brunch from HBO Max. Both shows have such a different take on what we’d consider “traditional” cooking shows that I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to recommend them both.

If you love The Big Brunch on HBO Max, then you’ll probably enjoy Best in Dough on Hulu.

The Big Brunch and Best in Dough are two delightful gems from 2022.

Cooking shows/competitions are a huge part of the reality TV realm. While most people use reality TV to get their dose of drama, both The Big Brunch and Best in Dough really change that line of thinking. Despite the two series having wildly different concepts and being at two different production degrees, the two shows ultimately go hand-in-hand. Basically, if you enjoyed one, you’ll enjoy the other.

Starting with The Big Brunch, this show is truly a love letter to brunch. Brunch has been made a joke of for years, but Dan Levy is working to make sure its reputation stays intact. The show begins with 10 chefs all competing for the $300,000 prize to help make their dream come true and it’s just awesome. Not only do all of the chefs have vastly different skill sets and areas of expertise but the brunch ideas they come up with are incredible.

What I really love about The Big Brunch is how supportive the chefs are of each other. It’s clear each of the contestants befriended each other and made long-lasting relationships. Seeing them cheer each other, work together and make things happen is a delight. If that isn’t enough, the show is hosted by Dan Levy and judged by him, Will Guidara, and Sohla El-Waylly.

As for Best in Dough, it shouldn’t surprise you that the show focuses on pizza and becoming “best in dough” with a $10,000 prize along with a prize or advantage after round one. Unlike The Big Brunch though, there are a different group of contestants in each episode to duke it out and see who ends up becoming best in dough.

While the show might not be as loving and supportive as The Big Brunch, it is so cool to see what the contestants come up with. Some groups we’ve seen are nonnas, pizza pop-up owners, and even, fine-dining chefs. While it might not give you the warm fuzzies like The Big Brunch, the show is so much fun and it’s clear the contestants are having fun whether they’re winning or not. The show has a rotating group of judges but is hosted by Wells Adams.

When it comes to cooking shows, the name of the game is cutthroat. However, I feel like Best in Dough and The Big Brunch are the exact opposite. Yes, they’re all competing but, in the end, they’re having fun. Sometimes, I feel like that can be lost in translation but Best in Dough and The Big Brunch focus on the fun of what reality cooking shows can be.

Obviously, The Big Brunch is a much higher budget with HBO Max, but I do think that if you like one, you’ll like the other. Plus these are great to watch during the holidays as they’re super easy to get into, are completed seasons and you’ll be done with the season before you know it so you’ll be wanting something else to fill the void.

The Big Brunch is streaming on HBO Max while Best in Dough is streaming on Hulu. 

What do you think of The Big Brunch and Best in Dough? Will you be adding these shows to your holiday watchlist? Let us know in the comments.