The Great British Bake Off / Baking Show Recap Episode 8 – Free-From Week

Jane, Darcie, and I are back for another recap of what happened under the tent during “free-from” week. The bakers had to create dairy-free ice cream sandwiches, vegan sausage rolls and a gluten-free celebration cake.

I thought the bakers did really well especially given this week’s theme. I am too sad to write much more as Lizzie was sent home. She was a delight and I’ll miss her.

Signature: Dairy free. A batch of eight dairy-free ice cream sandwiches in 3 hours.

Darcie: I 100% support the concept of “free from” week, although I think by having the bakers create “fake” versions of standard items they missed the opportunity to highlight items that are naturally free from dairy, eggs, and gluten. I would rather have seen the bakers take on challenges to create best-of and creative takes on those items like dacquoise or pavlova for gluten-free, or perhaps vegan pies. It’s too bad Freya couldn’t be here for this week. That said, I think the bakers excelled overall at creating unique and tempting ice cream sandwiches. Evaluating the texture of the ice cream based just on the video and sparse comments was difficult – to me it looked like some of them were a bit rubbery or too firm, but without tasting there is no way to know.

Jane: You might have missed Lizzie’s reference to Mister Whippy for her dog’s treat on walks (I had to replay it 3 times to hear it). No, he isn’t a 50 Shades of Grey character but the UK equivalent of Mister Softee.

Chigs said “Soz” at one point which is slang in UK for “Sorry”.

Recipes: Giuseppe’s ginger and orange ice cream sandwiches (pictured above)

Technical: Set by Prue. 8 vegan sausage rolls with a mushroom and walnut filling along with a side of red onion chutney in 2 hours.

The only thing that made me laugh this week was when Jürgen’s vegan sausage rolls hit the floor and he scooped them back up. During judging when Paul said they were messy, I thought well considering what they went through they looked pretty good.

Darcie: The ‘vegan block’ – a blend of non-dairy oils and fats – looked like it was difficult to work with, and no one achieved as much lamination as Lizzie. This makes me all the more disappointed that she did not get to go through to next week – her rolls, although overbaked, looked very appetizing. I really like the sound of the mushroom and walnut filling and plan to use it, but with conventional rough puff pastry.

Recipes: Prue Leith’s Vegan Sausage Rolls

Judging:

• 5th – Crystelle
• 4th – Jürgen
• 3rd – Lizzie
• 2nd – Giuseppe
• 1st – Chigs

Showstopper: 4 hours to complete a gluten-free celebration cake.

Recipes:

• Lizzie’s gluten-free extraordinary coconut and lime cake
• Chig’s gluten-free red velvet cake
• Jürgen’s gluten-free triple chocolate cake – photo above

Darcie: All of the cakes looked amazing, especially given the four-hour time constraint. I have made many celebration cakes over the years, and I don’t think any of them were completed in that little time. I thought Lizzie’s cake was amazing and a wonderful representation of her extraordinary personality. I am going to miss her presence in the tent so much. Let’s hope some producer recognizes her delightful persona and gives her a show – I would definitely watch it. Since I am not a fan of red velvet cake, Chigs’ cake didn’t appeal to me but it looked gorgeous. Everyone seemed shocked that Giuseppe showed so poorly in this challenge.

Jane: Lizzie mentioned that her cake could be on Grayson Perry’s Art Club, a TV show in the UK. Grayson is a much loved artist and TV presenter, who is also a cross-dresser. You can read more on his Wikipedia page.

Star baker: Chigs

Sent home: Lizzie