Donning their aprons and arming themselves with wooden spoons for the very first time, the twelve Bake Off hopefuls will be entering the tent chock full of nerves, ideas and dreams of getting the coveted Star Baker award. To kick things off they’ll be asked to whip up a drizzle cake, make their own batch of Jaffa Cakes from scratch and impress the steely gaze of Paul and Mary with a showstopper of epic proportions. It’s a baptism of fire that’s sure to set aflame the aspirations of one or two contestants, but we’re hoping to see one or two feats of baking brilliance from those who can hold their nerve.
Most home cooks have given a simple chocolate cake or Victoria sponge a go before, but if you’re looking to bake something truly impressive then a little more is needed. We’ve got recipes for layer cakes, carrot cakes, loaf cakes, chocolate cakes and even gluten-free cakes – so if you’re after some inspiration on what to make at home, look no further.