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The Great British Baking Show Season 2 Episodes
Season 2 Episode Guide
11 Episodes 2011 - 2011
Episode 1
Cakes
59 mins
Twelve bakers new to the tent are introduced to the competition with cakes. For the signature, they each have to bake twenty-four cupcakes of up to two different varieties, with the icing needing to be in a different flavor than the sponge itself. For the blind judged technical, they will each make a walnut and coffee flavored Battenburg cake, they given a pared down version of Mary's own recipe. And for the final bake, the showstopper, they are each to make a tiered celebration cake of their choice. Interspersed with the bakes, Mel and Sue learn about the history of three cakes asked of the bakers this week - the cupcake, the Battenburg cake, and the celebration cake - the latter with respect to one specific cake made for Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Episode 2
Tarts
58 mins
The bakers will be trying to avoid the dreaded "soggy bottom" in their bakes this week, which are all about pastry in making tarts. They will each be making a quiche for their signature, Paul looking for them not to overdo the flavors which may be a temptation. Their second bake, the technical, will be to make a tarte au citron, the recipe from Mary's own collection, albeit not with all the instructions provided. And their final bake of the weekend will be to make a selection of twenty-four sweet tarts, Mary and Paul looking for consistency across all twenty-four. Interspersed with the bakes, Mel and Sue speak of the specialized pastry section of the kitchen of King Henry VIII, tarts one of is favorite foods, and of the history of one of Britain's most beloved tarts, namely the Bakewell.
Episode 3
Bread
58 mins
Most of the bakers know to fear this week, bread week, in knowing that bread is Paul's obsession. For the signature, each baker will be creating a free-form flavored loaf of their choice. Without a tin to hold in the dough, the dough itself has to have enough structure to prevent spread. For the technical, the bakers will each have to make foccacia, the extra pressure in knowing that it is Paul's recipe. They should resist the temptation to add more flour than the recipe specifies to handle more easily the necessarily very wet dough. And the two-part showstopper has them making a display basket out of edible or inedible (i.e. salt bread, akin to play dough) bread, that basket which will contain twenty-four rolls of their choice of up to two different varieties. Interspersed with the bakes, Mel and Sue learn about the inherent dangers of milling grains, about the Irish traditions of potato bread and soda bread, and about the development of the high fat Aberdeen buttery specifically to sustain Scottish fishers' long treks out to sea.
Episode 4
Biscuits
58 mins
The search for Britain's best amateur baker, with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, is now halfway through. The bakers take on biscuits and these bite-sized, delicate delights prove too much for some. As always starting with the signature bake, the remaining eight must impress legendary cookery writer Mary Berry and artisan baker Paul Hollywood with their interpretation of a classic biscuit. Who will crumble when it comes to judging and whose ginger nuts are too hot to handle? Next up, the technical challenge, where following a Mary Berry recipe is not as simple as it would seem for our bakers, who start feeling the pressure when faced with brandy snaps. Finally, the toughest showstopper challenge yet as they attempt to bake and present a macaroon display that must taste as good as it looks. With five hours on the clock, every second counts. This is the last chance to impress the judges before someone's dream of becoming Britain's best amateur baker is over.
Episode 5
Pies
58 mins
The search for Britain's best amateur baker, with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, reaches the fifth round and everyone is out to avoid the dreaded soggy bottom as the seven remaining bakers face pies. The marquee is soon filled with the delicious aroma of fresh baking as the signature challenge has the bakers doing all they can to impress acclaimed master baker Paul Hollywood and legendary cookery writer and baker Mary Berry with their signature family pie. Topping their pie with either flaky or rough puff pastry, some decide to play it safe whilst others get more experimental. Next is the dreaded technical challenge where for lifelong vegetarian Jason delivering six individual, beautifully baked and seasoned pork pies to the judging table proves problematic. Finally, there is a sweet showstopper challenge in the shape of a meringue pie. The judges' expectations are high with hopes of crisp pastry bases and delicious custard and fruit fillings topped with a perfect meringue. But the pressure of pies proves too much for some. Who will be named Star Baker and who will leave The Great British Bake Off?
Episode 6
Desserts
58 mins
The all-lady quarter-final of The Great British Bake Off, hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. The remaining five have to impress with their dessert skills. As usual starting with the signature bake, the exacting judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood are expecting to see and taste baked cheesecakes that reach their high expectations. Next is the technical challenge and the bete noir of most bakers, a chocolate roulade. Finally, the spectacular showstopper that requires the bakers to impress with hundreds of choux pastry profiteroles that must be perfectly baked, filled and then assembled into a croquembouche. This king of desserts is traditionally served at French weddings and Mary and Paul expect to see an impressive tower of choux pastry buns with superb flavoured fillings and held together with hardened caramel. Who will have what it takes to book a place in the semi-finals?
Episode 7
Patisserie
58 mins
Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins host the semi-final. After seven weeks of gruelling challenges, the four remaining bakers must prove they are worth a place in the final. To begin, the signature challenge requires them to make a baked layered mousse cake, and the standards are high as Mary-Anne again attempts something different with a joconde sponge and decor paste. As usual, judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood set the tasks. This week's technical challenge is Paul's favourite sweet treat - iced fingers. Finally, for the showstopper, the bakers have to make a labour-intensive and technically demanding layered or laminated pastry dough to produce a batch of three different types of pastries or croissants. With a place in the final within their grasp, the bakers know they have to deliver their very best to the judging table every time.
Episode 8
The Final
59 mins
After seven weeks and seven sets of grueling challenges, it's now the finale with the final three left standing of the original twelve being Holly Bell, Mary-Anne Boermans and Jo Wheatley. The signature challenge has the three each making a dozen mille feuille, necessarily having three layers of either flaky or rough puff pastry (the time allotment not allowing them to use the more traditional full puff) and two of any filling of their choice. With one admitting that she looks forward to them, the three enter into the technical, eventually learning that they will each be making the traditional Austrian sacher torte. And for their final of twenty-four challenges, they are asked, for the showstopper, to make a selection of three types of petit fours - one meringue-based, one pastry-based, and one sponge-based - on the theme of British summertime. After the conclusion of that challenge, Mary and Paul will make their decision of this year's Bake-Off champion, the announcement made at a special British summertime street party with family, friends and a few familiar faces to the tent in attendance.
Episode 9
Masterclass 1
58 mins
All season long, judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood have asked the show contestants to bake to perfection items for the technical challenges that they may never have seen, tasted or even known what they were. In the first of two masterclasses, they demonstrate how to bake to that perfection the first four of the items requested as those technical bakes: coffee and walnut Battenburg cake, tarte au citron, foccacia, and cream filled brandy snaps. In reflecting on where the contestants went right and wrong, Mary and Paul provide tips to overcome any perceived difficulties to be able to make these bakery items to perfection at home.
Episode 10
Masterclass 2
58 mins
All season long, judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood have asked the show contestants to bake to perfection items in the technical challenges that they may never have seen, tasted or even known what they were. In the second of two masterclasses, they demonstrate how to bake to that perfection the last four of the items requested as those technical bakes: pork pies with the pork loin and quail's egg filling encased in hot water crust pastry, cream-filled flourless chocolate roulade, iced fingers, and sacher torte. In reflecting on where the contestants went right and wrong, Mary and Paul provide tips to overcome any perceived difficulties to be able to make these bakery items to perfection at home.
Episode 11
Revisited
59 mins
Over a year and a complete season of the show has past when the ten contestants from season 1 are visited, they who reminisce about their experiences on the show - good and bad - in, largely in going in chronological order from week to week, highlighting the best and worst bakes, the latter including the disappointment of being eliminated. Many of the ten also describe how his or her experience on the show has altered their lives.
