The Great British Bake Off: Cake Week 2022

The nights might be getting colder but my heart certainly felt a lot warmer last night with the first episode of The Great British Bake Off 2022. From pies ‘on the dark side’ to Flan Solo, our beloved judges and hosts kicked off the season with very entertaining costumes and a wealth of Star Wars puns. With boozy cakes, nut innuendos and oven disasters, Cake Week started strong with everything we could ask for.

Signature Challenge – Mini Sandwich Cakes.

Looking for originality, personality and punchy flavours, the judges have asked for twelve identical mini sandwich cakes; the sandwich cakes can be any flavour, but the size, shape and decorations should be identical. 

Syabira is hoping to impress the judges with her Coconut, Pandan and Caramel Mousse Cake. Pandan is a versatile herbaceous plant that grows in Southeast Asia; the plant can be used in sweet and savoury dishes alike and is classed as a fragrant plant. In terms of taste, Syabira describes pandan as being the Asian vanilla which should complement the caramel and coconut flavours well. The sponge will be filled with a caramel mousse and topped with a set coconut custard flavoured with pandan, and served with a caramel bomb; lets hope that Syabira’s sandwich cake will blow away the judges. Planning to blow away the judges with a more boozy kind of bomb, Janusz will be baking a Pistachio and Cherry Vodka Liqueur Wuzetka, a traditional Polish sponge cake made with chocolate sponge and cream pie. Kirsch soaked cherries will be sandwiched between layers of chocolate sponge cake along with rich chocolate ganache. 80’s horror movie enthusiast James is hoping to deliver a treat, and no trick with his autumnal Sticky Toffee Apple Sandwich Cakes. Filled with nutmeg french buttercream and ginger apple jam, James hopes to pack a sweet punch with his chopped date and treacle sponge. James’ love of horror seems to have manifested in the tent as disaster strikes with Maisam’s cake crumbling as she attempts to cut her cakes too soon after taking them out of the oven, and Will is forced to switch to ordinary buttercream as his Swiss Meringue buttercream becomes more of a curdled butterscream for help. 

Did Will and Maisam manage to save their bakes? Let’s find out. Maisam’s critiques remind me of my high school end of year reports, wonderful but a bit messy. It’s the substance that counts, right Maisam? Our creativity just spills out…and over. Like Maisam, Will fell victim to a messy appearance with the judges adding that the sponge was bland with no hero flavour, Paul tells him ‘besides that, brilliant’. I think Paul needs a bit more of Janusz’s vodka cake to lighten up, don’t you? Janusz’s bake is polarising with the judges as Paul claims that there’s too much booze in the bake, but Prue believes that it’s just the perfect amount. Regardless of Paul and Prue’s Booze Clues debate, Janusz’s cake wins them over with its amazing ‘neat as a pin’ appearance, lovely light sponge and perfect flavours. With boozy tops and soggy bottoms, it’s all to play for as we enter the first technical challenge of the season. 

Technical Challenge – Red Velvet Cake.

The first technical challenge of the season has been set by Paul; before leaving the tent, Paul asks the bakers to heed his warning, ‘It’s a classic, concentrate on your sponge’. Once the judges leave the tent, Noel and Matt reveal that the bakers need to cook a red velvet cake; the cake should consist of six tender, moist, crimson sponges sandwiched in smooth, fluffy cream cheese icing and sprinkled with red velvet crumbs for its signature appearance. Mixed emotions hit the tent; Syabira feels nostalgic, as red velvet cake was the first cake she ever made, whilst Rebs has never made one and Will worries about his security after his signature disaster. As always, the bakers are following the ever detailed instructions left by the judges, in this case ‘Make red velvet batter’. With no instructions to go by, the bakers are left with numerous ingredients and zero help. Rebs questions why you would put vinegar in the cake; Carole, or as she’s affectionately known as, Compost Carole, begins to answer the question ‘Something about a chemical reaction?’ before her train of thought turns to whether Chemical Reaction is a Diana Ross song. Ross’s song is Chain Reaction, but close enough in my books, Carole (sorry if it’s now stuck in your head, consider it a gift from me to you). From thirteen minutes in the oven to twenty five, our bakers have a variety of guesses when it comes to baking time, but with such a vast difference, only some can be right. Disaster strikes again when Rebs takes her cake out of the oven after thirteen minutes to find that it had collapsed only moments later and Abdul’s cream cheese rosettes become more like cream cheese raindrops as over-whipping the cream cheese mixture has caused it to become runny. 

As Paul and Prue step back in the tent, we see an extremely varied presentation in terms of appearance, let’s see what the judges had to say. Syabira’s excitement to bake this cake translates entirely in its flavours and meticulous appearance. The judges compliment Syabira’s ability to get the cake’s height bang on with perfect definition between the layers, beautiful flavours and attention to detail to the cake’s appearance. Kevin is complimented on his neat piping and flavours, but was a tad too heavy handed when it came to the crumb decoration. The judges commented that Will’s sponge wasn’t too bad, but had too much crumb on the bottom and looked a bit messy. From too much cream cheese to too little (let’s be real, there’s never too much cream cheese), the judges deliberate together as they discuss who will be twelfth place and who will be first. Unfortunately, James found himself in last position followed by Rebs, Maxy, Will, Carole and Janusz. Getting towards the top bakes, we find Abdul in sixth, Maisam in fifth, Kevin fourth, Dawn in third, Sandro in second and Syabira in first. Syabira is moved to tears telling us that her heart ‘just melts’, whilst Sandro reasons, ‘second is kind of first, innit?’. With James, Rebs, Maxy and Will in the danger zone, it’s time to move onto the showstopper challenge where all can be redeemed. 

Showstopper Challenge – 3D Cake Replica of Where Bakers Have Lived.

It’s the most exciting and nerve-wracking time of the episode with the showstopper challenge. Before the challenge begins, the judges evaluate who’s in the running for star baker as well as who’s at risk of going home. It is Rebs, Will and Maisam who find themselves at danger of leaving the tent whilst Syabira, Sandro, Abdul and Janusz are all strong contenders for star baker. For the final challenge, Paul and Prue have asked our bakers to create a 3D cake replica of somewhere they have lived that holds special meaning to them. Rebs insists that she wants to show them that she’s better than claggy cake; she hopes to do this with her Piña Colada Cottage. Rebs’ bake is inspired by her family’s virtual cocktail nights during the 2020 lockdowns. The flambéed pineapple and rum buttercream will be sandwiched between layers of rum soaked coconut sponge, if all else fails, hopefully she’ll get the judges merry. As a horror enthusiast, James’ bake is inspired by the time he watched Dracula with his father; James’ ‘Last House on the Loch’ cake will consist of orange and cardamom sponge with orange curd and orange blossom buttercream. Inspired by her family’s favourite dessert; Maxy’s ‘At My Mama’s’ cake replica will use her Mom’s famous apple and berry compote along with a crumble topping between layers of cinnamon sponge. Celebrating the house that both herself and her Mother were born in, Dawn will be replicating her Nan’s house, a pebble dashed, three bed semi. The house will consist of pebble dashed praline walls, vanilla genoise sponge, apricot pureé and German buttercream. A common occurrence in this Bake Off tent, we have the first oven mishap of the season as Abdul forgets to turn the oven on, under the illusion that his cake had already been baking for the past forty minutes. Will this oven mishap cause Abdul to miss out on his chance to claim star baker, or will he manage to pull it together in the final minutes?

The judges begin with Rebs which may be beneficial to everyone given her boozy bake’s alcohol content. The judges are enchanted by the charming rural cottage that she has created and the lovely details she has paid attention to. The flavours, especially pineapple and coconut come through beautifully, although the sponge itself is slightly over-baked. Paul and Prue recognise that Maxy ran out of time, evident in the lost aesthetic details, however, the flavours speak for themselves and leave the judges wanting more. Dawn’s bake seems to earn a similar description to myself, ‘charming but a bit wonky’. Despite its wonkiness, Paul and Prue are impressed by the fact that the cake hasn’t collapsed. 

Decision Time.

I’ve got to say, I’m more than happy to have our bakers on screen and have thoroughly enjoyed this first episode; we’ve seen some amazing bakes, nail-biting mishaps, and as always, a whole lot of love between our bakers. There were several contenders for star baker, but it is Janusz who steals the title. Janusz wowed the judges this cake week and it has been a pleasure to see him light up the tent so early on with his vibrant bakes and warm personality. Unfortunately, we also have to say goodbye to a baker, which always feels particularly hard in the first week. The judges have decided that it is Will who will be going home this week. Despite leaving first, Will did an amazing job, brightening our screens with his laughter and kindness. Prue iterates this as she tells him, ‘Honestly Will, you should just feel proud of yourself’. Being the first person to leave is always a hard position to be in, but despite his mishaps, I think I can speak on behalf of all of us when I say that he managed to make us all smile. 

Bake Off Kitchen Appliances.

You may have noticed the beautiful appliances in the Bake Off tent, with hidden oven doors and pastel fridges, the tent was designed for beauty and ease. If you are wondering where to purchase these items, you can read more about the appliances here.

Paul Hollywood’s Red Velvet Cake Recipe.

If the technical challenge made your stomach grumble and tastebuds tingle, why not have a go at replicating Paul’s Red Velvet Cake? Click here to get a brief history of the red velvet cake and a simple breakdown of Paul Holywood’s mouthwatering recipe.

Share This Post
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
, ,