The latest episode of The Great British Bake Off saw the remaining six bakers competing in Dessert Week, where the pressure was on to create show-stopping sweet treats. With Georgie, Dylan, Gill, Illiyin, Christiaan, and Sumayah still in the running, the stakes were higher than ever as the bakers took on the Signature, Technical, and Showstopper challenges.
Signature Challenge: Meringue Nest Madness
The Signature challenge kicked off with an unusual request: each baker had to create a “meringue nest,” a challenge that left many scratching their heads. Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood gave the bakers free rein to flavor their meringues, but the results were mixed.
Gill’s raspberry and peach meringues failed to impress, with Paul calling them “artificial,” likely due to her use of tinned peaches. Christiaan’s rosewater and cherry meringues also missed the mark, as the judges found the rose flavor overpowering. While Christiaan’s choice of flavor didn’t resonate with the judges, it’s worth noting that rosewater is a personal favorite of mine, a sentiment I’ll admit I don’t share with Paul and Prue.
Illiyin’s piña colada-inspired meringues were a flavor hit, but unfortunately, the meringues cracked due to being baked at too high a temperature. Georgie’s plum meringues, despite uneven piping, were praised by Prue for their “beautifully balanced” taste.
The standout baker of the round was Dylan, whose dark chocolate and passion fruit meringues earned him a coveted Hollywood Handshake. With this achievement, Dylan firmly cemented himself as a top contender in the competition.
Sumayah, my personal favorite, took a risk with her savory pomegranate, tarragon, and walnut meringues. The judges were divided, with Paul not enjoying the combination, while Prue was more receptive to the unusual flavor pairing.
Technical Challenge: A British Classic with a Twist
For the Technical challenge, the bakers faced a dessert unfamiliar to many—Spotted Dick, a traditional British steamed suet sponge with currants, typically served with custard. While the name alone left many puzzled, the real challenge lay in the execution.
Bakers were tasked with preparing a sponge cake, which needed to steam for at least an hour and a half. Sumayah ran into trouble early, forgetting to add sugar to her batter, which forced her to restart her sponge. Unfortunately, due to the time lost, her cake didn’t fully cook in time, and she was left with an undercooked dessert that brought her to tears. It was a heartbreaking moment for Sumayah, and despite the support of her fellow bakers, she found herself in last place for this round.
Illiyin’s cake was deemed stodgy, while Gill’s custard was described as resembling “scrambled eggs,” which certainly didn’t sit well with the judges. Christiaan, Georgie, and Dylan excelled, all receiving top marks in the challenge. But it was Sumayah’s misstep that left her vulnerable heading into the Showstopper.
Showstopper Challenge: Tiramisu Takes Center Stage
For the Showstopper, the bakers were asked to prepare a classic tiramisu with a creative twist. Given that tiramisu is one of my all-time favorite desserts, the stakes were high, and the competition was fierce.
Georgie wowed the judges with her Auntie’s signature tiramisu recipe, enhanced with hazelnuts, which earned her high praise. Dylan’s amaretto salted caramel tiramisu, complete with a beautifully crafted chocolate box, stood out as a real showstopper, making him a clear front-runner for the week. Christiaan’s rosewater, pistachio, and strawberry tiramisu was deemed “unusual,” but the judges were impressed by his innovative approach.
Gill’s coconut tiramisu also impressed, and even though Illiyin’s spiral chocolate cage decoration collapsed, she adapted on the fly, using the remaining chocolate to wrap her tiramisu, saving herself from elimination.
Then came Sumayah’s ambitious attempt: a lemon-infused tiramisu with a Jaconde sponge decorated in a boutique wallpaper pattern. The judges, however, found the lemon too sharp, and despite the impressive presentation, they weren’t sold on the flavor. It was a heartbreaking decision, and Sumayah was sent home—just shy of the quarterfinals.
Sumayah’s departure was a blow to her supporters, including me, as she had consistently shown great promise throughout the competition. Dylan, however, earned the title of Star Baker for his flawless tiramisu and chocolate box creation, cementing his place as a favorite to win the season.
The Road Ahead
With Sumayah’s exit, the competition remains wide open, and Dylan emerges as a strong contender for the title. The remaining bakers will have to pull out all the stops as they continue to face the grueling challenges of The Great British Bake Off. As always, the drama, the desserts, and the personalities make for an unforgettable season.
Related topics:
