We’re already two weeks into this year’s series of Bake Off and we’ve already had 3 Hollywood handshakes! This week was Cake Week which saw the first time that spinach made an appearance in a cake in the tent in the form of Prue’s Le Gateau Vert technical challenge as well as spectacular chocolate collar…
Tag: bake off
Homemade Wagon Wheels
We’ve seen the first episode of the ninth series of The Great British Bake Off already which means it’s time for me to bake along with the show. The first episode of the series was Biscuit Week and the challenge I chose to attempt was the Technical which was Wagon Wheels. I chose to invent…
Matcha Cookies
The Great British Bake Off is back for another year and again I am not on it! That’s not going to stop me from baking however. This series begins with Biscuit Week for the first time in Bake Off history. Why this decision, honestly who knows but I’m not complaining because it gives me a…
Salted Caramel White Chocolate and Lemon Savarin
It was Caramel Week on Bake Off and I chose to make a large version of my Salted Caramel, White Chocolate and Lemon Savarins which I made last year when the Bake Off Technical challenge was a savarin. We saw the bakers struggle with making the caramel for the stroopwafel technical with all of their…
Classic Sultana and Apricot Teacakes
Teacakes always remind me of my primary school days when me and my mum used to go to the breakfast club before school and have a toasted teacake for 30p. Times have changed and the teacakes in the supermarket just don’t compare to freshly baked homemade teacakes, warm from the oven and with lots of…
Giant Linzer Cookie and Linzer Sandwich Cookies
Named after the city of Linz in Austria, Linzertorte is said to be the oldest cake in the world dating back to a Veronese recipe from 1653. Its popularity rose after being taken over to Milwaukee by an Austrian traveller. The linzer cookie is a derivative of the linzertorte made by cutting out shapes of…
Dark Chocolate and Strawberry Mini Rolls
Last night we watched the first episode of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 with Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding and Prue Leith. Prue set her first Technical Challenge of the series and did she choose a cracker (not literally a cracker, it was Cake Week after all)! She chose the kids party favourite,…
Mini Lemon and Almond Drizzle Loaf Cakes
I’m currently embarking on the next part of my education as I head off to university! I couldn’t leave without doing a final bake and I chose to make a variation of my Mini Glazed Lemon and Almond Loaves. You can find the original recipe for the Glazed Loaf Cake or the Mini Glazed Loaves…
Mini Glazed Lemon and Almond Loaves
My Glazed Lemon Almond Loaf Cake has been one of my family’s favourite cakes of mine and I’m always being nagged to make it. These little loaves use the same recipe except the smaller tins make this cake look incredibly dainty and perfect for when you want a small slice of cake with a cup…
Making a Gingerbread Oven Showstopper
Inspired by The Great British Bake Off’s Biscuit Week Showstopper in which the bakers made a 3D gingerbread story containing at least 8 characters or objects, I decided to have a go at the challenge myself, by making an oven completely out of gingerbread. My Gingerbread Oven is currently baking 10 gingerbread diamond biscuits and…
My Thoughts on Patisserie Week
What do you get if you have a drunken nun with coffee and cream horns? No not The Vicar of Dibley, it’s Patisserie Week of Bake Off and the week that saw Paul leave the tent. Not the judge (although we do wish that was the case sometimes) but Paul the baker. The Signature was…
My Thoughts on Pastry Week
Pastry Week of Bake Off is always my favourite because I love making pastry and I always get inspired by their bakes. Despite some foul smelling spices and a few soggy bottoms, it was Mat’s turn to be Star Baker and the tent said goodbye to Alvin. The Signature Challenge was a Frangipane Tart, a…
My Thoughts on Bread Week
Bread Week was the best in Bake Off history; better than 8-strand plait in Series Three and even better than Paul the Psychic Octopus tribute loaf in Series Four. This week had one of the best Signatures by the cast and the single most impressive showstopper EVER. Let’s start with the (for me) controversial Signature…
GBBO Bread Week Challenge 3: Quick Chocolate Dough-Knots
The quick bread challenge is a fun one and I should expect it may encourage many at home to try their hand at bread making. The first thing I thought about was soda bread but I wanted to try something different, a sweet bread. I wracked my brain and came up with these Quick Chocolate…
My Thoughts on Cake Week
Back from Hong Kong and I’ve caught up with Week One of GBBO and what a way to launch the series. The signature challenge was a Madeira cake and this simple yet delicious cake managed to challenge a few of the bakers. A distinctive crack and dome was the quality that the judges were looking…
Andrew in the Kitchen 