The Great Australian Bake Off Season 8 Episode 07 Description
Spice Week
Spice Week has arrived on The Great Australian Bake Off, and things are really heating up in The Shed. With the warm scent of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg wafting through the air, the remaining bakers face three demanding challenges: Spiced Filo Pasties, Crullers, and jaw-dropping 3D Biscuit Structures. Each bake is an opportunity for the contestants to blend creativity with precision, hoping to impress the judges and make their mark in this tasty competition.
Season seven of The Great Australian Bake Off, also known as GABO 2024, brings a diverse group of 12 amateur bakers into the spotlight. These contestants, each with their own unique backgrounds and styles, are battling it out over a series of weekly challenges. Every episode features three rounds – Signature, Technical, and Showstopper – all designed to test their skills, ingenuity, and passion for baking. And as always, only one baker will emerge as the Star Baker, while another sees their Bake Off journey come to an end.
This week, the bakers’ skills are tested to their limits as they tackle Spice Week. This theme celebrates the art of baking with spice, challenging each baker to create something bold, aromatic, and perfectly balanced. The judges, Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese, are watching keenly, looking for layers of flavor, technical execution, and that all-important creativity that brings spices to life in an unforgettable way.
The first challenge of Spice Week is the Signature Bake, where the bakers are tasked with making Spiced Filo Pasties. Filo, a notoriously delicate pastry, is tough to master – requiring just the right balance of buttery layers and paper-thin crispness. As the bakers work on filling their pasties with everything from spicy vegetables to aromatic meats, the air fills with scents reminiscent of bustling markets and homemade comforts. It’s a challenge of finesse: filo dough must be stretched, buttered, and folded with care, ensuring that the spiced filling is enveloped in the perfect pastry embrace.
For the Technical Challenge, the bakers must face the dreaded Cruller – a doughnut-like pastry that’s as tricky as it is tasty. Crullers need to be piped just right, fried until golden and then dipped in a sugar glaze that cracks perfectly as you bite into it. This challenge separates those who have mastered their frying game from those still struggling to find the balance between too doughy or overly crisp. Darren Purchese, Australia’s very own King of Pastry, has high expectations for this bake. He’s looking for that unmistakable lightness and a beautiful crunch—and he’s made it clear there’s no place to hide for the bakers attempting to deliver his signature Cruller recipe.
The Showstopper, as always, is where the bakers can truly express their creativity. This week’s task is no different, as they are asked to construct 3D Biscuit Structures. From castles of cinnamon to floral displays of ginger and spice, the bakers’ imaginations are their only limits. The challenge pushes them to think beyond the taste and create a structure that also captures the eye and tells a story.
Rachel Khoo, a global culinary icon renowned for her whimsical style and storytelling through food, is particularly excited for this one. She wants to see constructions that bring the essence of Spice Week to life – designs that could look at home in a fairy tale, but that taste as good as they appear.
Hosts Natalie Tran and the late Cal Wilson keep the mood light-hearted despite the tension in the tent. Natalie’s quick wit and Cal’s warmth shine through, and it’s easy to see why they’ve been such a beloved part of this journey. The duo share laughs with the bakers, celebrate their successes, and offer a reassuring word during the more stressful moments. Their light-hearted banter is just what’s needed to balance the seriousness of the competition.
The Great Australian Bake Off All Seasons
The Great Australian Bake Off Season 7
The Great Australian Bake Off Season 8
Episode 01 | Episode 02 | Episode 03 | Episode 04 | Episode 05 | Episode 06 | Episode 07 | Episode 08 | Episode 09 | Episode 10
The Great Australian Bake Off Show Summary
The Great Australian Bake Off is a baking competition show that is the Australian spinoff of the British mega-hit The Great British Bake Off. The show features 12 amateur bakers who compete in various baking challenges over 10 weeks to be crowned the best baker of the season. The show is based on the original format created by Love Productions and broadcast by the BBC. The show will return for season 7 in 2023, but with a new-look cast and crew.
