Spring Baking Championship - General Discussion

[dleighg]

1 hour ago, meep.meep said:

making Swiss Roll cakes

Does anyone understand what went so badly with the one where the "decorations" popped off the cake? Was the batter for the decorations completely wrong? 

[libgirl2]

2 hours ago, meep.meep said:

I couldn't understand how all these professionals failed miserably at making Swiss Roll cakes when it's almost always the first bake on cake week for Great British Bakeoff and they are all amateurs.  These guys couldn't even get the roll tight and spirally!

And I agree totally about the "twist" - no one will miss it if it goes away forever.

Yea, I don't know.... are they just not that good? Are they more personalities and are angling for fame? Time constraints? 

Again, I'm not thrilled with this show which is disappointing as I always looked forward to it. 

 

[Ancaster]

On 4/23/2025 at 9:50 AM, Flip Flops said:

I agree 100%! From the set to the decorated desserts, not springy!

Right, nothing says spring like a gloomy forest scene full of trolls and gnomes. /s

And if anyone were to ask me what seasons I associate citrus with, I would say late autumn and winter.

 

Edited April 25 by Ancaster

[Ancaster]

I'm not particularly fond of macarons, but will eat a sweet one if offered.  There was not a single one of these that I would eat.  Who the hell puts zucchini, chocolate chips, cream cheese, almond, and Fresno chile together in anything, never mind a macaron.  Ridiculous challenge, ridiculous twist.

Is it just me, but did they totally spoil who's going home next week in the preview?

[ruffy666]

18 hours ago, dleighg said:

Does anyone understand what went so badly with the one where the "decorations" popped off the cake? Was the batter for the decorations completely wrong? 

I'm just guessing here but either they used a different, stiffer batter for the design (even if unintentionally-- maybe they used too much powdered color or something that threw off the moisture content...)

Or when they poured the 'main' batter over the design, they inadvertently trapped little air bubbles between the design and the cake that prevented them from fully coming together.  If they chilled the imprime first, then maybe the temperature variation caused unexpected outcome.  I don't have a ton of experience with patterned roll cakes myself

[libgirl2]

4 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

I'm not particularly fond of macarons, but will eat a sweet one if offered.  There was not a single one of these that I would eat.  Who the hell puts zucchini, chocolate chips, cream cheese, almond, and Fresno chile together in anything, never mind a macaron.  Ridiculous challenge, ridiculous twist.

Is it just me, but did they totally spoil who's going home next week in the preview?

Yea, I like seeing things I wish I could eat..... 

[KittyMom4]

19 hours ago, meep.meep said:

I couldn't understand how all these professionals failed miserably at making Swiss Roll cakes when it's almost always the first bake on cake week for Great British Bakeoff and they are all amateurs.  These guys couldn't even get the roll tight and spirally!

And I agree totally about the "twist" - no one will miss it if it goes away forever.

I thought both bakes were dumb, I was fascinated with the "imprime" swiss roll but Priya was the only one who seemed to know how to do it well. Then the main heat with weird macaron flavors and a hot pepper twist, just no.

Paul is a hot mess and he's lucky, IMO he wasn't in the bottom 2 last night. I actually feel he should have been there more than Priya did. He's gotta go.

[libgirl2]

2 minutes ago, KittyMom4 said:

I thought both bakes were dumb, I was fascinated with the "imprime" swiss roll but Priya was the only one who seemed to know how to do it well. Then the main heat with weird macaron flavors and a hot pepper twist, just no.

Paul is a hot mess and he's lucky, IMO he wasn't in the bottom 2 last night. I actually feel he should have been there more than Priya did. He's gotta go.

He has turned out to be a disappointment. I had high hopes as most of the European bakers have been very good. 

[laredhead]

I have been watching The Great American Baking Show, and one of the contestants demonstrated how to make a Swiss roll cake.  He said he watched Mary Berry to learn the perfect technique which involves making a shallow cut across the cake where the roll will begin.  I've never made one, so I don't know if that will work for the casual baker or not.

[CrazyInAlabama]

S11.E08 “Spring Garden”, New, 4/28/2025

“In celebration of the awe-inspiring transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, host Jesse Palmer asks the six remaining bakers to team up to make butterfly-shaped napoleons, each designed to capture the vibrant colors of their assigned butterfly. Then, the teams create cakes that bring the beauty and serenity of a garden to life for judges”

6 Remaining Bakers:

Priya -Calgary, Alberta  Her chocolate desserts are beautiful. Chocolatier and pastry chef (Says she looks like Mindy Kaling)

Corey -Washington, D.C. Wants Nancy to be so happy she conducts music. (She did on the first episode)

Raveena Oberol-Vancouver, B.C. (Judge on Wall of Bakers) Made her own wedding cake, opened first storefront at 22. 

Lisa -Boston. Catering company chef. 

Paul Feybesse-Bay Area (wife Monique was on Top Chef, Season 19, Houston) Co-owns two bakeries. Trained as a savory chef. 

Mary-Frances-Calgary, Alberta.  Culinary instructor. 

Preheat Challenge: bakers to team up to make butterfly-shaped napoleons, each designed to capture the vibrant colors of their assigned butterfly. Bakers will be in teams of two:   Raveena and Lisa, Priya and Paul, Mary-Frances and Corey.  

Raveena and LIsa-Blackberry and Lemon.  Looks lovely and like a butterfly. Taste is fantastic. Needed to bake hotter though. 

Priya and Paul-Orange Palmier, The two are not communicating at all.  Their butterfly doesn't resemble one at all.  Appearance is awful, it looks like a pumpkin, or a turkey. Taste is bad.  Layers are thick, and dough is raw. 

Mary-Frances and Corey-Peaches and cream. Lovely butterfly. Taste is great. 

Winners: Mary-Frances and Corey  (No gift basket, but an advantage of ) 

I love the stilt walker dancer, Daisy. 

Elimination Challenge: teams create cakes that bring the beauty and serenity of a garden to life for judges.

Jesse twist is Lemon Grass, and the garden cake has to be long.  I hate the twists, especially this one.  This time the judges will do a blind tasting. 

Mary-Frances-Magic tree-Decoration the cake as a tree, bad. Taste is very lemon grass, and chocolate is good. 

Lisa-Magic tree-Decoration is good, taste is lots of lemon grass, great flavor. 

Priya-Magic Path-Looks nice, taste is dry. Not citrus. 

Corey-Magic Path-Great decoration, taste is delicious. 

Paul-Magic Entrance-lovely decorations. Cake is too short to be a tabletop cake.  Taste is good

Revena-Magic entrance -Lovely decorations too.  Taste is not good.  

Top Two: Corey and Lisa

Winner:  Lisa

Bottom Two: Paul and Priya

Eliminated: Paul 

 

Edited April 29 by CrazyInAlabama

[libgirl2]

11 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

S11.E08 “Spring Garden”, New, 4/28/2025

“In celebration of the awe-inspiring transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, host Jesse Palmer asks the six remaining bakers to team up to make butterfly-shaped napoleons, each designed to capture the vibrant colors of their assigned butterfly. Then, the teams create cakes that bring the beauty and serenity of a garden to life for judges”

6 Remaining Bakers:

Priya -Calgary, Alberta  Her chocolate desserts are beautiful. Chocolatier and pastry chef (Says she looks like Mindy Kaling)

Corey -Washington, D.C. Wants Nancy to be so happy she conducts music. (She did on the first episode)

Raveena Oberol-Vancouver, B.C. (Judge on Wall of Bakers) Made her own wedding cake, opened first storefront at 22. 

Lisa -Boston. Catering company chef. 

Paul Feybesse-Bay Area (wife Monique was on Top Chef, Season 19, Houston) Co-owns two bakeries. Trained as a savory chef. 

Mary-Frances-Calgary, Alberta.  Culinary instructor. 

Preheat Challenge: bakers to team up to make butterfly-shaped napoleons, each designed to capture the vibrant colors of their assigned butterfly

Winner (Gift Basket )

Elimination Challenge: teams create cakes that bring the beauty and serenity of a garden to life for judges.

Top Two:

Winner:

Bottom Two:

Eliminated:

 

Better ideas (as long as the twist isn't outrageous) but I'm not a fan of teams. 

[tennisgurl]

I cringed as soon as they mentioned the twist, they're almost always utterly stupid. I cant even be mad if the bakes don't turn out great, they're so ridiculous. Tomato? Peppers? Who would want to eat a dessert that tastes like that?! Shouldn't they be making things that people might actually want to eat?

It was time for Kari to go, but I like her a lot and wish her the best. Good for Mary-Francis! 

[MerBearHou]

11 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

I cant even be mad if the bakes don't turn out great, they're so ridiculous. Tomato? Peppers? Who would want to eat a dessert that tastes like that?! Shouldn't they be making things that people might actually want to eat?

With these twists, Food Network should ask first "is this something people would pay money to buy?"  If the answer is no to tomatoes, peppers, what have you in the dessert, then don't do the blasted twist -- it just produces something that sounds and surely must taste gross!

[Frost]

Thank goodness Paul is gone.  Poor Priya getting stuck with him during the first challenge.  Paul didn't seem to be up to the standards prior French bakers have had.

I wish they had at least one bread challenge this season.

I pretty much like everyone who is left, so I'm not rooting for anyone in particular.

[Grizzly]

Maybe foreign bakers shouldn't apply to be on these shows. They either don't understand some of our dessert quirks or have the history to get the challenges. But Paul seemed determined to do things his way. And that won't fly in a competion.

[DEL901]

3 minutes ago, Grizzly said:

Maybe foreign bakers shouldn't apply to be on these shows. They either don't understand some of our dessert quirks or have the history to get the challenges. But Paul seemed determined to do things his way. And that won't fly in a competion.

Three of the top 5 are Canadian.  They are “foreign”, but they seem to be doing okay.

[kathyk2]

6 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

With these twists, Food Network should ask first "is this something people would pay money to buy?"  If the answer is no to tomatoes, peppers, what have you in the dessert, then don't do the blasted twist -- it just produces something that sounds and surely must taste gross!

 

11 minutes ago, Frost said:

Thank goodness Paul is gone.  Poor Priya getting stuck with him during the first challenge.  Paul didn't seem to be up to the standards prior French bakers have had.

I wish they had at least one bread challenge this season.

I pretty much like everyone who is left, so I'm not rooting for anyone in particular.

A bread challenge would be a perfect way to include vegetables instead of a sweet item. I would have been annoyed if Lisa had left tonight lemongrass doesn't belong on a chocolate cake.

[Grizzly]

1 hour ago, DEL901 said:

Three of the top 5 are Canadian.  They are “foreign”, but they seem to be doing okay.

Hey, I love the Frenchmen. I think there was an Italian guy on one season. They are immensely talented, but they have not won. There's always some funky challenge that trips them up.

[libgirl2]

17 minutes ago, Grizzly said:

Hey, I love the Frenchmen. I think there was an Italian guy on one season. They are immensely talented, but they have not won. There's always some funky challenge that trips them up.

Or sprinkles 

[laredhead]

The minute one of the bakers says they have made hundreds of whatever it is they are being asked to make, and they sound super confident, I always think that is the kiss of death for them.  Yep, Paul was very confident that he was going to ace the first challenge because he makes hundreds of Napoleons all the time. 

[mlp]

2 hours ago, kathyk2 said:

I would have been annoyed if Lisa had left tonight lemongrass doesn't belong on a chocolate cake.

I'll never understand why the producers introduce twists when the bakers are already part way along with whatever they're doing.  It isn't so bad when they ask for a decoration or something extra but requiring them to incorporate an ingredient into a dish in progress doesn't seem fair at all.  It reminds me of a few seasons ago when one baker was making something coffee flavored and the twist forced her to add green apple.  

I didn't dislike Paul but I was glad to see him go.  He messed up too often and I felt for Priya.  She must have been beyond frustrated.

I hope Corey takes the win.  He's earned it.  

[Rammchick]

Um, Kardea, "It tastes like someone's grandmother," is not a compliment!

Edited April 30 by Rammchick

[tv echo]

Spring Baking Championship Season 11 episode 8 recap: Butterflies and magical paths
Cristine Struble    April 28, 2025
https://foodsided.com/spring-baking-championship-season-11-episode-8-recap-butterflies-magical-table-top-cakes 

[Seelouis]

While I agree Paul long overdue to leave (he constantly had trouble meeting the specific challenge) I was really annoyed at the “blond chocolate doesn’t go with lemongrass” comments. He chose that flavor before your stupid twist!

[dleighg]

Priya has generally annoyed me, but she was amazingly composed with Paul's total f-up of the puff pastry. Was he chilling the butter and the flour separately?

But then again, at the very end, as they are about to announce the top two, she had on a sideways grin, like "is it me"? I mean, seriously, you know they hated your cake.

[carrps]

13 hours ago, laredhead said:

Yep, Paul was very confident that he was going to ace the first challenge because he makes hundreds of Napoleons all the time. 

I think he had real language issues. He seemed to misunderstand the challenges a lot. This week I don't think he really knew what blitz puff was. He probably always made his napoleons with traditional puff pastry methods and just whooshed himself on the time.

Why didn't Priya take over the pastry when Paul failed the first time instead of concentrating on her chocolate tree...which looked like every other chocolate tree we've ever seen on the show? I don't see what it added to their dessert. Nothing really. And next to the pastel napoleon it looked like a turd.

 

[AZChristian]

20 minutes ago, carrps said:

Why didn't Priya take over the pastry when Paul failed the first time instead of concentrating on her chocolate tree...

If I remember correctly, she offered to help him and he said, "No, I'll do it.  You do your thing."  (Please imagine thick French accent in that quote.)

[dleighg]

41 minutes ago, carrps said:

instead of concentrating on her chocolate tree...which looked like every other chocolate tree we've ever seen on the show?

I was kind of surprised the judges (or at least Nancy?) liked it. What the heck is the point of that?

And it did look like a turkey.

[tennisgurl]

I am so over the challenges they toss at the bakers, I was right with Lisa when she looked visibly horrified when Jessie showed up with the lemongrass. I totally think its time for Paul to go, but I was really annoyed on his behalf when the judges complained about how chocolate doesn't go with lemongrass. Yeah, obviously, but how was he supposed to know he would have to use lemongrass when he started using chocolate? 

Jessie does certainly have experience with roses! 

I really loved the top two magic forest cakes, Corey and Lisa are my two favorites, although I like everyone still here. 

Edited April 29 by tennisgurl

[libgirl2]

2 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

I am so over the challenges they toss at the bakers, I was right with Lisa when she looked visibly horrified when Jessie showed up with the lemongrass. I totally think its time for Paul to go, but I was really annoyed on his behalf when the judges complained about how chocolate doesn't go with lemongrass. Yeah, obviously, but how was he supposed to know he would have to use lemongrass when he started using chocolate? 

Jessie does certainly have experience with roses! 

I really loved the top two magic forest cakes, Corey and Lisa are my two favorites, although I like everyone still here. 

Every season, every baking championship this..... stop these dumb twists and just let these people shine at what they do. 

[dleighg]

10 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

Jessie does certainly have experience with roses! 

 

When Corey (I think) was making the roses for his cake, all I could think is that they looked exactly like the roses on a sheet cake at a grocery store :)

But yeah, I think it is Corey's to lose.

[carrps]

4 hours ago, AZChristian said:

If I remember correctly, she offered to help him and he said, "No, I'll do it.  You do your thing."  (Please imagine thick French accent in that quote.)

I think she should have insisted. But she's not me, and maybe she doesn't like to be confrontational.

[dleighg]

20 minutes ago, carrps said:

I think she should have insisted. But she's not me, and maybe she doesn't like to be confrontational.

I think that's probably true, but it must have been increasingly obvious that her describing the process was going in one ear and out the other. I mean, he eventually understood, but it took valuable time. 

[Ancaster]

3 hours ago, libgirl2 said:

Every season, every baking championship this..... stop these dumb twists and just let these people shine at what they do. 

Hello Great British Bake Off.

[Ancaster]

Did Priya really say "I am mathing so hard"?

And am the only one who thought her cake looked like something a three-year-old had decorated?

[kathyk2]

6 hours ago, dleighg said:

When Corey (I think) was making the roses for his cake, all I could think is that they looked exactly like the roses on a sheet cake at a grocery store :)

But yeah, I think it is Corey's to lose.

I think Lisa could win whoever wins is more talented than Stephen from the Holiday Baking Show.

[MerBearHou]

Was it my imagination or did Corey not get it or had zero reaction when Jesse was kidding about his knowledge of roses?  That made me chuckle.

[Ms.Lulu]

I liked the blind judging. I prefer it.

[mscool]

19 hours ago, carrps said:

....This week I don't think he really knew what blitz puff was.

 

Exactly what I thought -- Priya kept saying "it's a blitz puff..... it's a blitz puff..." and the look on his face was blank.  I thought it was obvious he didn't know what she was talking about but didn't say so.  Of course, that could have just been editing.   

In general, it seems he was way out of his league the whole season, but I it made no sense to slam him for lemongrass not going with chocolate when he had no choice!!!  You can't assign a stupid twist then criticize a baker for using it!!!!   And the girls also had chocolate cake with lemongrass and they didn't knock them for it, so I have to think Paul's had bad ratio or something. 

 

[mscool]

OK -- so I've never seen any of the British baking shows but you'all recommend them here once in a while so I went looking. I found two: Great British Baking SHOW (2012-2017) and Great British BAKE OFF (2010-present).  Anyone have a preference on which one is better? 

 

[dleighg]

I believe they are the same. "Bake Off" was the name when it ran in Britain. But "Bake Off" is trademarked in the US by Pillsbury, so they call it "Baking Show."

[laredhead]

6 minutes ago, mscool said:

OK -- so I've never seen any of the British baking shows but you'all recommend them here once in a while so I went looking. I found two: Great British Baking SHOW (2012-2017) and Great British BAKE OFF (2010-present).  Anyone have a preference on which one is better? 

The contestants are all "home bakers" - no professionals, and I always end each episode wanting to attempt at least one of the things they bake.

Edited April 30 by laredhead

[Ancaster]

1 hour ago, mscool said:

Exactly what I thought -- Priya kept saying "it's a blitz puff..... it's a blitz puff..." and the look on his face was blank.  I thought it was obvious he didn't know what she was talking about but didn't say so.  Of course, that could have just been editing.   
 

 

What is a blitz puff?  I've watched every episode of Great British Baking Show/Bake Off and a lot of Baking Championship, and I've never heard of it.  Paul definitely hadn't.  (Never mind, found it with the help of Chef Google.)

@mscool What @dleighg said is correct, the Baking Show and Bake Off are the same.

[libgirl2]

58 minutes ago, mscool said:

OK -- so I've never seen any of the British baking shows but you'all recommend them here once in a while so I went looking. I found two: Great British Baking SHOW (2012-2017) and Great British BAKE OFF (2010-present).  Anyone have a preference on which one is better? 

 

They are the same show. Start with the first season you can find and go forward. You will really enjoy the show and SBC pales in comparison. 

[Ancaster]

6 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

They are the same show. Start with the first season you can find and go forward. You will really enjoy the show and SBC pales in comparison. 

ZERO twists thrown at them mid bake!

[libgirl2]

1 minute ago, Ancaster said:

ZERO twists thrown at them mid bake!

100% THIS! And they have to bake something specific but they can choose the flavors and decorations to their liking. 

[RoxiP]

Jumping on the "please watch GBBO" bandwagon - it is such a great show and you fall in love with the contestants...as a matter of fact my co-worker and I were talking about one of the contestants (Dylan) from last season yesterday at lunch.

[dleighg]

13 minutes ago, Ancaster said:

What is a blitz puff?  I've watched every episode of Great British Baking Show/Bake Off and a lot of Baking Championship, and I've never heard of it. 

sure they do that on the GBBO. They call it "rough puff"

[libgirl2]

7 minutes ago, RoxiP said:

Jumping on the "please watch GBBO" bandwagon - it is such a great show and you fall in love with the contestants...as a matter of fact my co-worker and I were talking about one of the contestants (Dylan) from last season yesterday at lunch.

I always feel the same. Sure there is one or two I'm not fond of but overall, I want them all to win and feel bad seeing someone leave. And one big difference, though I know winning  (or just being on it) it is a big deal and a path to possible fame, I never feel that people are "auditioning". 

[Ancaster]

15 minutes ago, dleighg said:

sure they do that on the GBBO. They call it "rough puff"

Why isn't there an emoji for "Doh"?  (In my defense, the only baking I do is TJ's lemon cake and Ghirardelli's brownie mix - I do love to watch though!)