It’s that glorious time of year again when Britain’s most famous tent reclaims its place on our screens with the return of the Great British Bake Off, for its 15th series. And it provided no shortage of thrills. The first episode of the much-adored baking competition was kicked off in style with a ‘Barbie Land’ opening, that saw pink squirrels join Paul Hollywood in his best tasselled yoke and black leather boots. Following the to be expected intro antics and in keeping with first week tradition, bakers took their first stab at the competition by showcasing their cake making abilities.  

The Signature Bake: Loaf Cake  

A Signature Loaf Cake Bake not only saw bakers’ masterful board-wafting talents return to the tent to christen the series, but it also delivered the completely jaw-dropping moment when Paul Hollywood delivered one of his infamous handshakes. Practically unheard of in the first signature challenge of the series. The handshake in question goes to Illiyin for her Cinnamon Roll Loaf Cake. It’s enough to make your meringue weep!  

Illiyin’s Cinnamon Roll Loaf Cake

Cinnamon Fizz 

Ingredients  

• Ingredients  

• 60ml Tequila  

• 30ml simple syrup  

• 30ml  Tablespoon lemon juice  

• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon  

• 1 egg white  

• To Garnish: Cinnamon powder/ Cinnamon stick  

Instructions 

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker until cold. Strain into glass and top with cinnamon if desire.  

Nelly’s Coconut Loaf Cake

Pińa Colada  

Ingredients  

• 50ml coconut milk 
• 50ml golden rum 
• 75ml fresh pineapple juice 
• 1-2 tbsp sugar syrup (2 parts white sugar to 1 part water) 
• Juice of ½ lime 
• To garnish: Pineapple, maraschino cherry  

Instructions 

For best results, add ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.  Transfer to the freezer for 25-35 minutes until thickened, before blending again. Pour into a glass and garnish.  

Andy’s ’My first bake’ Loaf Cake

Lemon Drop 

 Ingredients:  

• 60ml vodka

• 25ml orange liqueur 

• 25ml simple syrup  

• 30ml Fresh lemon juice 

• Lemon sugar * 

• ½ cup granulated sugar  

• Zest from 1 lemon  

Instructions:  

To make the lemon sugar*, rub the zest into the sugar on the plate with your fingers. Turn a martini glass upside down, twist into the lemon sugar, and set aside 

Add liquid ingredients with a handful of ice into a shaker and shake until cold. Strain into the prepared martini glass.  

Technical Challenge: Battenberg Cake

The forever dreaded technical challenge, that can leave even the most talented of bakers left blind in the dark with nothing but the vaguest of instructions to pull them through. However, this year they weren’t even given so much as that. We present the second curveball. This year’s technical challenge came with a mighty taste and bake twist. Challenged with baking 8 eight identical mini Battenerg cakes, bakers were left  a little confused once they lifted the distinct red and white gingham to discover not a recipe, but the finished product itself.   

Marzipan Old Fashioned  

Ingredients 

• 25ml Amaretto 

• Few dashes orange biters 

• 1 tsp sugar syrup 

• 1-2 drops almond essence  

• 2ml Brandy 

• To Garnish: Orange twist  

Instructions:  

In a mixing glass stir all the ingredients apart from the brandy to combine. Add a handful of ice and continue to stir until the glass becomes cold. Add more ice and brandy and stir to combine. Strain into a rocks glass over ice and garnish.  

Showstopper: Hyper Realistic Illusion Cakes  

As ever, the Showstopper round provided 4 hours of unhinged baking chaos. This week, contestants were required to make a Hyper Realistic Illusion cake, where their showstopper submission had to not only taste delicious, but perfectly resemble an object of their choice. With flat bakes, problematic macaroons, sticks up bottoms and demented chickens, tensions were high and bakers were quite pleased to put the challenge to bed.  

John’s ‘The Perfect Brunch’ Illusion Cake

Brunch Margarita

Of course we had to honour this week’s star baker, John and his love of brunch time Margaritas! We’ve opted for a coconut margarita recipe reflecting his showstopper illusion cake bake, which brought together coconut, tequila, and lime to resemble a folded pair of jeans.  

Ingredients  

• 60 ml Tequila Blanco   

• 20 ml Orange Liquer 

• 30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice 

• 30ml coconut milk (optional)  

• 10 ml simple syrup 

• 5 ml orange bitters 

• Sea salt  

• To garnish: Lime wedge  

Instructions 

Prepare by running a lime wedge around the rim of a chilled glass and dip it in sea salt. Shake to combine all the liquid ingredients until the outside of the shaker becomes cold. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish.  

Gill’s ‘Crown Green Bowling’ Illusion Cake

Irish cream Martini

Ingredients  

• 50ml Irish Cream 

• 20ml Vodka 

• 30ml Coffee 

• 10ml simple syrup 

• 10g cocoa powder 

• To Garnish: Chocolate shavings/ cocoa powder/ 3 coffee beans 

Instructions 

Shake to combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish to your heart’s desire!  

Mike’s  ‘My Favourite Cake & Books’ Illusion Cake

Butterscotch Sour

After finishing 11th in the Technical and delivering a Lemon and Linseed Loaf Cake that left a little to be desired, Mike had much to do come the Showstopper. Fortunately, his masterful stack of cake books did just that. With 4 separate cake books that looked as though you would be able to flick through each individual page, Mike combined butterscotch, chocolate and a hint of coffee to sail through the final hurdle and safely into biscuit week. Showing that when it comes to baking, it often pays to do it by the book.  

Ingredients  

• 60 ml Bols Butterscotch 

• 30 ml Lemon Juice 

• 15 ml Sugar Syrup 

• 1 Egg white 

• To Garnish: Lemon peel  

Instructions  

Without ice, shake to combine all ingredients. Add ice and shake again before straining into a rocks glass over ice.