It’s week 4 in the tent, and the bakers are tackling a rich new theme: dairy.
All week I’ve been excited to see what challenges Prue and Paul have in store for our bakers.
Will we see any of our favorite cremes (brulee, patissiere, anglaise)?
Credit: Netflix
Will we see custards?
Signature challenge: Dairy cake
Cake mixture must contain a cultured dairy product.
Steph is making her “Answer to Everything” chocolate and raspberry buttermilk cake.
), but Prue and Paul agree that the result is delightful.
David is also leaning into limoncello, but adding poppy seeds and opting for yogurt as his cultured dairy.
Prue and Paul love it.
Phil’s yogurt cake will be flavored with rosewater and decorated with roses.
Paul then fires back, “Pot, kettle.”
Alice is making a lemon and cardamom yogurt cake with pistachio filling, decorated with leaf-shaped pistachio biscuits.
The judges are keen on the pistachio flavor but want a touch more lemon.
Michelle’s buttermilk rhubarb cake is topped with meringue kisses, dried apple, and pecan crumble.
The rhubarb in the batter has released too much moisture, rendering the middle of the bake too claggy.
The presentation is properly beautiful, and Prue and Paul love both the flavors and textures.
He’s making a lemon sour cream cake with a raspberry cheesecake swirl.
He decorates through his disappointment, and the judges are fairly kind when they come around to his station.
Paul does still feel the need to point out all the mistakes that Michael is already aware of.
However, lucky for Michael, the whole thing is delicious and the judges love the raspberry cheesecake swirl.
Yes, Michael, you may.
Should you make this at home?
I have it on extremely good authority that a sour cream coffee cake can heal a multitude of wounds.
“What is a maid of honor?”
Can you be cool for just a second, bro?
And you haven’t tasted them yet, so you don’t even really know yet, do you?
In her rush to finish, Priya’s tossed-together tarts earn her last place.
Helena’s accidental short-crust tarts are next to last.
Helena, honey, do you know what show you’re on?
Priya is making saffron and cardamom sweets with lychee and mango, honoring her favorite childhood flavors.
Phil is making a rock garden scene of elderflower and pistachio flowers and blueberry butterflies.
There are no pigeons.
He’s hoping to honor his Bengali grandfather even though he’s not fond of milk sweets himself.
Ask and ye shall receive!
She’s also making precious little biscuit spoons decorated with real flowers.
Helena, look at this range!
Rosie is drawing inspiration from a 1920s cocktail bar.
Rosie’s mishti will include orange, rose, and sweet milk-tipple-inspired treats.
Steph impresses the judges with both a beautiful presentation and expertly balanced flavors.
Alice’s afternoon tea looks just right and tastes delicious.
Michael’s flag of India mishti are “really stylish” and “really delicious.”
They skip over the rest of his presentation entirely.
Michelle’s favorite rice pudding mishti is not received well by Paul.
Priya’s mishti are lacking a bit in presentation and color but get straight A’s in flavor.
They say it looks like play-dough, and I have to agree.
There are just some things that are better left to professionals.
Just as Noel predicted, this week’s star baker is Steph and her amazing fringe.
Luckily, Phil has a rich life to return to outside the tent.
He’ll go back to gleefully smooshing pigeons under his truck and baking cakes for his motorcycle gang.
