"Great British Bake Off" Season 14 Quiz

Answer: Raspberry

Episode 1 of season 14 showcased 12 new bakers and a new co-host named Alison Hammond. The episode aired on September 26, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to create a cake where the sponge and icing created vertical lines when cut. This was a challenge to many bakers.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Paul Hollywood. The bakers had to produce the very same cake featured in the opening credits of every "Great British Bake Off" episode, famously missing a single raspberry. The main difficulty for the bakers was getting the ganache right. Some of the bakers left off the raspberry and others included it. Dan, a civil engineering resource planner, won this challenge.

For the Showstopper Challenge, bakers had to create a 3D cake replica of an animal. There were renditions of a cow, a poodle, a cocker spaniel, a robin, and several special pets from the past. Dan went on to win Star Baker and a man named Amos, a deli/grocery manager, was eliminated as his orca cake collapsed.

Answer: Burger and fries

Episode 2 of season 14 featured the remaining 11 bakers and aired on October 3, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to create twelve identical marshmallow-based biscuits, drawing on childhood favorites. Tasha, a charity participation officer, earned a handshake for her chocolate-flavored malted powder-inspired treats. Interestingly, Tasha was deaf and had a sign language interpreter to help her communicate with the judges and contestants.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Prue Leith. The bakers had to produce a dozen perfectly baked custard cream biscuits. Abbi, a delivery driver, won this challenge.

For the Showstopper Challenge, the contestants had to make an illusion biscuit display of their favorite meal, using five different types of biscuits. Josh, a chemical biology research associate, made his look like a hamburger and fries. The buns were made from almond cookies, the patty from florentine biscuits, the sweet potato fries from orange shortbread, and the tomato and lettuce from strawberry biscuits and Isomalt. The serving board itself was made of gingerbread. Paul Hollywood called it a triumph and gave him a rare handshake. Tasha went on to win Star Baker and Keith, an accountant, was eliminated.

Answer: Electric mixer

Episode 3 of season 14 featured the remaining 10 bakers and aired on October 10, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to create a classic British cottage loaf with added flavors. The bakers could choose between sweet or savory flavors. While Dana was mixing her bread, her glass mixing bowl shattered while she was using her electric stand mixer. She had to stop and clean her whole station from all the glass shards before continuing with a new appliance.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Paul Hollywood. The bakers had to make eight identical enriched-dough buns, which were then split and filled with jam and cream. Saku, an intelligence analyst, won the challenge.

For the Showstopper Challenge, the bakers had four hours to create an elaborate, free-form braided bread centerpiece using at least two different types of flour. Tasha made a "stunning" Medusa showstopper and was told she "understood bread". Tasha won Star Baker again and Abbi was eliminated as she struggled through both days.

Answer: White

Episode 4 of season 14 featured the remaining 9 bakers and aired on October 18, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to create a luxurious, dense chocolate torte without using any wheat flour. The heat in the tent was extremely high.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Prue Leith. The bakers were asked to make six individual caramelized white chocolate and blackcurrant cheesecakes. However, most of the bakers struggled to caramelize the white chocolate primarily due to the challenges of using the microwave method, its delicate composition, and the hot tent environment. Tasha started feeling very ill. Dan won this challenge.

For the Showstopper Challenge, the bakers had to create an edible chocolate box with a chocolate cake inside and at least three different types of handmade chocolates. Tasha left the tent due to illness and missed the Showstopper. Several contestants had structural difficulties due to the complexity of the project and the heat. Matty, a PE and science teacher, was named Star Baker. Nobody was eliminated since Tasha had left earlier for medical reasons.

Answer: True

Episode 5 of season 14 featured the remaining 9 bakers and aired on October 24, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to make a dozen individual savory picnic pies using hot water crust pastry. Cristy, a personal assistant, got a handshake for her mushroom and leek creation.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Paul Hollywood. They had to make a pithivier (a round, enclosed pie) filled with creamy potatoes and caramelized onions, encased in a rough puff pastry, and served with a blue cheese sauce. Dan, despite cutting himself, won the challenge.

For the Showstopper Challenge, contestants had to create three highly decorative sweet pies with different fillings, focusing on intricate pastry work like lattice and plaiting and reminiscent of personal memories. Cristy was awarded Star Baker. Because Tasha briefly left the competition in the previous week due to illness, there were two people sent home this week instead of the usual single chef. Nicky, a pet-therapy volunteer, and Rowan, an English literature student, both said their good-byes.

Answer: Noel

Episode 6 of season 14 featured the remaining 7 bakers and aired on October 31, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to make a dozen identical spiced buns using an enriched, yeast-based dough. Cristy earned a handshake for her maple, pecan, and cinnamon rolls.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Prue Leith. They had to make a lemon and thyme drizzle cake in an intricate tin. During the challenge, Saku and Noel started playing a game of "keepy-uppy" with a lemon. Suddenly, Noel attempted to throw or "dropkick" the lemon across the tent at a saucepan but missed, causing it to hit and shatter a glass bowl.

For the Showstopper Challenge, contestants had to create a large, layered dessert with strong floral flavors. Many used jelly techniques and fancy decorations. Several bakers used risky ingredients like rose, elderflower, and hibiscus. This was challenging because balancing these flavors is difficult since the flavor is either too bland or too overpowering. Josh was named Star Baker and, in a surprising outcome, Dana was eliminated due to her underwhelming flavors.

Answer: Treacle pudding

Episode 7 of season 14 featured the remaining 6 bakers and aired on November 7, 2023. The Signature Challenge was to make eight identical crème caramels with a perfectly set custard and a golden caramel sauce.

The Technical Challenge was given by host/chef Paul Hollywood. They had 90 minutes to make orange & ginger treacle steamed puddings. It quickly became a disaster. With the short time period, it was nearly impossible for the heavy, suet-based puddings to steam properly. Almost all of the bakers produced raw, soup-like desserts, which completely disgusted the judges. Tasha won the challenge only because hers was "edible".

For the Showstopper Challenge, contestants had to create a sharing-size dessert encased within a large meringue bombe. Bakers filled their bombes with various layered desserts, including cheesecakes, jellies, and sponges. Dan was named Star Baker again and Saku, with her bubbly personality, was sent home.

Answer: Party Week

Episode 8 aired on November 14, 2023. The show's producers made a conscious decision to move away from the controversial, national-themed weeks (such as Japan Week and the widely-criticized Mexican Week) that faced negative comments for perceived cultural insensitivity and stereotyping. Instead, they created "Party Week". The Signature Round featured the 5 bakers making a dozen identical, well-laminated, and seasoned sausage rolls. Matty earned a handshake for his creation.

The Technical Challenge was set by chef/host Paul Hollywood. The bakers had to create a classic chocolate caterpillar cake from a Swiss roll sponge. Tasha came in first place with a "pretty good" cake that hilariously featured a novelty face resembling host Noel Fielding.

The Showstopper Challenge was called "Anything but Beige". The bakers had four and a half hours to create a colorful and highly decorative party buffet with sweet and savory items. They produced themes such as Christmas delights, dinosaurs, and sports. Matty received Star Baker for the quarterfinals and Cristy was eliminated.

Answer: Matcha

The semi-finals aired on November 21, 2023 and it was immediately noticeable that one of the hosts was missing. Alison was ill and Noel did the role alone. In the Signature Round, the bakers had to make two different types of financiers, which are small French almond cakes, in the shape of gold bars. Dan surprised everyone by using matcha in one of his flavors, a flavor Paul Hollywood is known to dislike, but Paul loved the unique combination and awarded Dan a handshake. Viewers called it a "Twilight Zone" moment.

The Technical Challenge was set by chef/host Prue Leith and the bakers were tasked with creating a classic French apple tart with a frangipane filling and an intricate, rose-like arrangement of hand-sliced apples on top. She gave them very little instruction. Josh achieved his first-ever win in a technical challenge.

The Showstopper Challenge was to construct an Italian celebration cake, known as a millefoglie, made of delicate puff pastry layers. Tasha attempted a risky reverse puff pastry method and ran out of time, resulting in an unprofessional presentation. Josh earned his second Star Baker. Unfortunately, Tasha was sent home in an emotional scene (especially since it was her birthday week).

Answer: His fiancee

Episode 10, the final, aired on November 28, 2023 and featured the last 3 remaining bakers, consisting of Dan, Josh, and Matty. The Signature Challenge was to make eight identical choux pastry éclairs in two different flavors. Dan and Matty both struggled.

The Technical Challenge, set by Paul Hollywood, asked the bakers to make a traditional English lardy cake. None of them even knew what it was and learned it was a rich, layered bread-like cake made with lard, sugar, and dried fruit. Josh won the round with Matty coming in last.

For the Showstopper Challenge, contestants had to create a spectacular, three-tiered celebration cake inspired by their very first bake or the journey that led them to baking. Josh created a cake honoring his grandmother and Dan made a cake similar to a globe. Matty, however, made a chocolate cake inspired by his fiancée Lara, who had encouraged him to apply for the show. The judges declared it one of the best chocolate cakes they had ever tasted. After that praise, Matty went on to seal the win for the overall season.

The episode concluded with a heartwarming slideshow of all the bakers and their post-show lives. This included the announcement that Matty and his fiancée were getting married in June 2024.