Whether or not you think it has any place in a baking competition, the Bake Off execs have decided to throw batter in the mix for the first time in the show’s history. There are only nine contestants left, and the coveted star baker (batterer?) award is up for grabs once again – it’s anyone’s guess as to who will clinch the title.
Yorkshire puddings are a key element to any Sunday roast worth its salt, but their tricky nature means we often rely on a certain Aunt invented by advertising companies for a pre-prepared option. The Bessie dynasty won’t be around to help our bakers, so they’ll have to make their identical, individual filled puddings from scratch. Hopefully they’ve had a browse through our Yorkshire pudding recipe collection, which is a treasure trove of inspiration. From Galton Blackiston’s Ultimate Yorkshire puddings to Frances Atkins’ Mini Yorkshire puddings with meatballs, there are all sorts of recipes that’ll ensure you’re not left with a soggy mess of batter and oil. GBBO’s own Howard Middleton even shows how to make a dairy- and gluten-free Yorkshire pud.
Pancakes are a British institution and, despite going nowhere near an oven, the Bake Off contestants will be asked to make a stack of the things for a very hungry Mary and Paul. While we’re expecting some pretty impressive piping work to help create intricate designs, lattices and pictures instead of the standard round shape, getting the consistency of the batter right is vital – as is a flavour combination that goes beyond the norm.