Baking Bonanza! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Twice baked

As their name suggests, biscotti (or more properly known as biscotti di Prato) are baked twice. Initially, the biscotti dough is rolled into a long sausage and then baked.

Whilst still warm, the cooked dough is cut into slices and the individual biscuits baked again, with this second baking determining how hard the biscuits will be. The hardness of biscotti makes them ideal for dipping into coffee and dessert wine.

Answer: 250-266 F/ 122-130 C

There are 7 cooked sugar stages, with each being separated by only a few degrees of temperature.

The 7 stages are:
Thread (223-234°F/106-112°C)
Soft Ball (234-240°F/112-115°C)
Firm Ball (242-248°F/116-120°C)
Hard Ball (250-266 °F/ 122-130 °C)
Soft Crack (270-290 °F/ 132-143 °C)
Hard Crack (295-310 °F/ 146-155 °C)
Caramel (320-360 °F /160-182 °C)

Answer: Carbon dioxide

Sodium bicarbonate must be heated to 80°C before carbon dioxide is produced. As such, mixtures containing it can be left to stand at room temperature without any raising action taking place.

Carbon dioxide can also be released when sodium bicarbonate reacts with acids such as vinegar and both are often added to pancake batters to achieve a light and fluffy consistency.

Answer: Apricot

The layers of apricot jam are one of the ways in which "The Original Sacher Torte" can be differentiate from the "Eduard-Sacher-Torte". The original version has two layers of apricot jam, one between the outer layer of chocolate icing and another between the two layers of the sponge base, whilst the "Eduard-Sacher-Torte" has only one layer of jam separating the icing from the single cake layer.

Answer: Ground almonds/Almond meal

The basic macaron recipe calls for ground almonds, icing sugar, egg whites and granulated sugar. Whilst being famous for their French origins, macarons are highly popular in Japan and Korea where the ground almonds may be substituted for ground peanuts and they are sometimes flavoured with regional ingredients such as green tea.

Answer: Vanilla planifolia

Vanilla planifolia is native to Mexico however most the majority of this vanilla crop is grown and harvested in Madagascar. Due to the labour intensive process of growing the pods, Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, the first being saffron.

Answer: 200g

It is important to take density into account when converting between cups and grams. Whilst they may look similar, table salt is actually much denser than granulated sugar, with 1 cup weighing 300g.

Answer: Fluted bottom with a topknot

Brioche is a slightly sweet French bread dough enriched with eggs, butter, milk or cream and sometimes sugar. Whilst more commonly eaten with tea or as a dessert, brioche is sometimes used to accompany savoury dishes such as fillet of beef en croute.

Answer: Gâteau St. Honoré

A Gâteau St. Honoré is a delightful mix of puff pastry, choux pastry covered in caramel, crème pâtissière and whipped cream (which is applied using a special Saint Honoré piping nozzle).

During his service as Bishop of Amiens, in the late 6th century, a number of miraculous events occurred which spared farmers, millers, and bakers from natural disasters. His feast day is May 16th.

Answer: Ground hazelnuts

Gianduja was invented in Turin, Italy during Napoléon's regency (1796-1814). It takes its name from Gianduja, a carnival and marionette character who represents a person from Piedmont, an Italian region where hazelnut confectionery is common.

Nutella spread was also created in this region and was originally called Pasta Gianduja.