After an exhilarating round of qualifying heats, finalists from each prep school year group stepped up to bake their mark in this year’s Great Westbourne Bake Off final. Contestants were challenged to create an individual cake, choosing an inspirational theme personal to them.
The tension was palpable, emulating an authentic Bake Off atmosphere in the Food Technology kitchen. Notable features included the obligatory oven watching, cake fanning, panic over missing ingredients, anxious sighs and gasps of elation, and all without a single cake catastrophe in sight - phew!
The bar was raised yet again this year, making judging all the more challenging. Luckily help was at hand, in the form of our very own expert chef Theresa Menage, who carefully scrutinised each cake's design, filling to topping ratio, colour, texture, flavour, evenness of bake and overall presentation.
First time competitor Hetty created a cake inspired by Chess and Isabella drew on her sporting prowess to create a Hockey themed cake. Imogen and Ellie, our Year 4 competitors, created an Ice Cream Cone and Wild and Free Seaside theme respectively. We ventured to Off Skiing and Chasing Rainbows before returning to the Seaside with our budding Year 5 bakers: Issy, Fleur and Mary. Representing Year 6, Josie conjured up a zesty lime meringue pie with decorative chocolate seashells for her theme Back at the Beach, and Sonny made a classic Banoffee Cupcake. The Year 7s were hot on the younger contestants’ heels with Amelie creating sculpted Easter Bonnets and India animal inspired Sheep cupcakes. Robin's Nature lavender and lemon cake, with lavender meringue kisses, provided a veritable Year 8 feast for the eyes, alongside Isabelle's Mother’s Day inspired rose and caramel cake. It was an impressive array of bakes from our talented bakers - all lovingly made, beautifully decorated and sumptuous in flavour.
Alas, there can only be one winner. Therefore huge congratulations must go to this year’s winner Josie. A very special mention goes to our runner-up Sonny, who baked the finest Banoffee Cupcake! Thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s Bake Off for making it such an enjoyable, inspiring and delicious competition.
