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| Technical Challenge Hazelnut Dacquiose Three hazelnut meringue layers Coffee custard, ganache and hazelnut praline |
It was the Great British Bake Off quarter finals this week, this series has gone far too fast, I really don't want the show to end. The theme was free from and the bakers started with unusual flour, moving on to gluten free dacquoise and dairy free vegetable cakes were the show stopper challenge.
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| Add coffee custard cream to first meringue layer |
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| Layer up the custard and hazelnut meringues |
Frances had a similar theme for her cake which was also a vegetable plot but Mary and Paul rolled out the style over substance line again. I thought it was spectacular, it was the showstopper challenge after all and she had clearly thought about all of the flavours and hidden carrot cake inside the main cake too.
The judges comments left most of the contestants in tears but as Paul went on to say it was criticism only where needed and after all it was the quarter final, they are expecting a very high standard. Tough, but I guess at this stage it was probably fair.
We had a lovely afternoon of baking and drank lots of coffee when we attempted the technical challenge. I struggled to get a hold of blanched hazelnuts and I mightily underestimated the fuss of blanching them ourselves, my tip for you -but them blanched.
One helpful tip that I picked up from the Great British Bake Off was not to chop the hazelnuts too finely as more oil will be released from the nuts which breaks down the egg whites and gives a runny meringue. The challenge took us all afternoon with the cooking, cooling and assembly. The results were delicious and I think with practice we could considerably cut that time down but it's certainly a time consuming bake. I would happily make it again though and the layers when you cut into it are really impressive.
We did make jam roly poly from last weeks show but I missed the round up deadline so you may have missed it, made a lovely autumnal pudding after Sunday dinner and next week on the Great British Bake Off semi finals the contestants it's signature canapés.
I'm linking up with the Bloggers Bake off again this week which is hosted by Mummy Mishaps and The Crazy Kitchen and I'm also adding this to made with love Mondays hosted by Javelin Warrior because the afternoon we shared baking it was filled with a lot of love.
The judges comments left most of the contestants in tears but as Paul went on to say it was criticism only where needed and after all it was the quarter final, they are expecting a very high standard. Tough, but I guess at this stage it was probably fair.
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| Cover stack with remaining coffee custard cream |
One helpful tip that I picked up from the Great British Bake Off was not to chop the hazelnuts too finely as more oil will be released from the nuts which breaks down the egg whites and gives a runny meringue. The challenge took us all afternoon with the cooking, cooling and assembly. The results were delicious and I think with practice we could considerably cut that time down but it's certainly a time consuming bake. I would happily make it again though and the layers when you cut into it are really impressive.
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| pipe on ganache |
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| add hazelnut pralines |
I'm linking up with the Bloggers Bake off again this week which is hosted by Mummy Mishaps and The Crazy Kitchen and I'm also adding this to made with love Mondays hosted by Javelin Warrior because the afternoon we shared baking it was filled with a lot of love.
