The best recipes inspired by the Great British Bake Off: delicious desserts to make at home
Series 12 of The Great British Bake Off began on Tuesday 21 September 2021 and it's safe to say there will be a few evenings spent in over the coming weeks as we watch the keen bakers whip up some inspiring bakes.
The 2021 series was filmed under similar conditions to that of the previous year's, with contestants following Covid guidelines while filming back in the summer.
11 bakers remain in the competition, all armed (they hope) with the recipes and knowledge to help them follow in the footsteps of 2020's winner Peter Sawkins and be crowned the Bake Off champion.
To celebrate the new series, here we share recipes inspired by winning bakes of the competition, along with many of our favourite bakes from the past 11.
Time to serve up a slice of something sweet...
Series 11
Cornish pasties
Pastry week saw classic Cornish pasties feature as the signature bake, and all manners of flavours from fish curry to lamb tagine were showcased in the Bake Off tent. Traditionalists, look away. Though Linda's triangular 'pasties' looked suspiciously like samosas, the judges were impress by the imaginative fillings and crimping technique on show.
Ice cream cake
Of course, Prue and Paul had to make 'ice cream cakes' the showstopper on one of the hottest days of the year. As temperatures in the tent soared and contestants struggled to keep their colossal cake creations in a solid state, disaster struck for Laura as she discovered she had forgotten to set her ice cream maker to the correct setting. Calm viewing, it was not.
Series 10
Tarte tatin
As ever, the bakers who kept it simple (but not too simple) found flavour and texture triumphed over style. And Steph Blackwell's mouth-watering caramelised onion and goat's cheese tarte tatin did just that. This traditional recipe is a great place to start and the pastry base lends itself well to both sweet and savoury variations.
Tear-and-share spiced and fruity stollen buns
During 'Festival Week' the bakers were tasked with creating 24 identical buns with the theme of a festival or holiday from around the world. Young Henry Bird's nod to Nordic baking in his winning chocolate kardemummabullar had gentle spice and an indulgent chocolate hit that won over the judges. Try the buns above, they're perfect for an fika break.
White birthday cake with cream cheese
The very first showstopper challenge in 'Cake Week' was a celebration bake inspired by childhood. Though Michelle Evans-Fecci's Tŷ Tylwyth Teg (Fairy House Cake) blew the judges away, for most children, a birthday cake topped with sprinkles and vanilla frosting is the ultimate surprise.
Series nine
Wagon wheels
The series that introduced us to the adorably shy and self-deprecating Rahul Mandal. But the 2018 season also reminded us of some classic desserts, such as the humble Wagon Wheel. Follow this recipe to make your own chocolatey snack – a true lunchbox favourite.
Ginger cake
When tasked with creating a ginger cake, each baker had a unique take. We were particularly impressed with Kim-Joy's stem ginger cake with poached pears – as were the judges, as she was named that week's star baker. To make your own, take inspiration from our pear and ginger cake recipe.
Series eight
Fresh fruit sponge cake
The signature bake for first episode of this series was a fresh fruit cake. While the contestants all had different takes on the dessert, it was Steven Carter-Bailey's Bonfire Night cake that made him the first star baker of the 2017 series. This version keeps things simple, but delicious.
Molten caramel and chocolate puddings
Pudding week in the eighth series saw bakers trying to make molten chocolate puddings for the technical bake round. Sophie Faldo's concotion was deemed the best of the bunch – and she went on the win the series.
If you want to make a molten chocolate pudding with a twist, try Gizzi Erskine's recipe, which incorporates caramel to create a salty, sweet, chocolatey and gooey dessert.
Series seven
Victoria sponge cake
Producing a perfect Victoria sponge was a surprisingly tricky technical challenge on the show, rolled out for the finale. While baker Andrew Smyth's sponge was highest-ranking in this round, it was Candice Brown who was named the star baker and winner of the series in 2016. Diana Henry's version has a lick of lemon and lashings of strawberry jam.
Babka loaf
Bread enthusiast Paul Hollywood was unconvinced by Benjamina Ebuehi's Polish babka, declaring it was, actually, a French couronne. Wherever you stand on the debate, the buttery babka is a delicious bake, and a great vehicle for chocolate and hazelnuts, like this one here.
Series six
Dairy-free ice cream
In 2015, we saw the first ever 'free-from' episode themed around alternative ingredients. For the showstopper challenge the bakers were asked to make an ice-cream roll using dairy-free ice cream. Nadiya Hussain was the star baker for this round and she went on to win the show. This coconut-milk version is a hit itself – add it to your repertoire.
Charlotte russe
In week eight of the sixth series, the amateur bakers took a trip back to the Victorian era in an episode which saw them delving into gelatin-based cakes like the Charlotte Russe. Edd Kimber's mixed berry version is filled with a light raspberry bavarois, making a delightful afternoon tea showstopper.
Series five
Kouign-amann
Until it featured on Bake Off in 2014, kouign-amann (a Breton pastry, pronounced queen-aman) was little known in Britain. Not one of the bakers had heard of it (a first in the show's history), but they had to create twelve identical butter-and-sugar buns in three and a half hours. Richard Burr was the Star Baker for this round, but the series also put bakers Nancy Birtwhistle and Martha Collison on the map.
Baked Alaska
Who can forget #bakedalaskagate? There was scandal in the tent when one baker was so unhappy with his baked Alaska, he threw it in the bin. Hopefully, your version will result in a treat without the tantrum.
Series four
Angel food cake
The fourth series of GBBO, in 2013, kicked off with a technical challenge to create an angel food cake – an incredibly light bake made with whisked egg whites and no fat. Ruby Tandoh, Glenn Cosby and series winner Frances Quinn starred, but it was Robert Smart's angel cake that most impressed the judges.
Classic opera cakes
In the semi-final, the bakers were challenged to bake opera cakes, an iconic French pastry with layers of almond sponge, coffee buttercream and ganache. This chocolate version is requires time and patience to make, but yields delicious results.
Series three
Rum babas
The 2012 series of The Great British Bake Off kicked off with a challenging technical round when Paul Hollywood asked contestants to make rum babas – four, in fact, each filled with cream and topped with sliced fruit. This recipe is a little simpler, and you can even bake them in tin cans.
Gingerbread house
Later in series three, the bakers were tasked to make a gingerbread structure – anything but a house. They served up a Big Ben, Colosseum, and a crumbling Buckingham Palace. We think we'll stick to the classic lodge...
Series two
Marble cake
Undertaking her first signature bake of GBBO series two, in 2011, Janet Basu made a tiered marble cake with dark and white chocolate truffles. Mary Berry's own marble cake also featured in 2015's Comic Relief Bake Off, where contestants had to make a cake that resembled a building. We reckon this version might prove a little easier.
Macarons
Later on in series two, the contestants faced one of their hardest trials yet – to fashion a display of macarons that tasted as good as it looked, for the showstopper challenge. There were blueberry versions, pistachio versions, and even pineapple and coconut – but to perfect the technique, this advanced recipe is the perfect place to show off your skills.
Series one
Chocolate cake
In the first series of Bake Off, which aired in 2010, the inaugural showstopper challenge had the nervous, novice bakers making a chocolate celebration cake. Our favourite was Miranda Gore Browne's indulgent chocolate fudge cake with handmade chocolate buttons.
Millionaire's shortbread
Millionaire's shortbread made an appearance in episode two of the first series, which saw everyone go bonkers for biscuits. This version is finished with edible-gold dusting for extra pizazz.
Sticky toffee pudding
In the fourth episode – a programme dedicated to puddings – two contestants rolled out sticky toffee pudding for their signature bake (with Jasminder's starring tropical fruit along with the toffee sauce). A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, if ever there was one.
