I have a love-hate relationship with caramel. I love to make the caramel that acts like a sauce but hate it when it acts as a glue I was making a croquembouche that I had to use caramel to glue the choux together and burnt my fingers too many times that I gave up assembling the croquembouche and also when it hardens, it is very hard to clean up.

On to the episode, we are at the quarterfinals with just 5 bakers remaining. For the quarterfinals, it is the first ever “Caramel Week” for our Canadian bakers. I mentioned last week that season 8 of The Great British Baking Show” did Caramel Week and if I recall the heat and humidity of the tent wreaked havoc on the bakers. Will the same befall our Canadian bakers? Let us find out.

Signature Bake

The Bake: 24 Florentines (12 each of different flavours)

The Time: 2 hours

What I would bake: I would probably do one with orange and pecans and the other is almonds and strawberries coated with white chocolate.

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

None of the Florentines really call out to me but if I had to choose one, it would be Steve’s

• Stephen: Sweet and Spicy Florentines One is almond and cherry and the other is a savory spicy buffalo caramel Florentine. Kyla liked the choice of chocolate for the sweet one. For the savory one, Bruno liked it and Kyla said the flavours just danced. 
• Aimee: Rise and Shine Florentine. One is a almond and ginger Florentines and the other is a pecan oatmeal Florentines. Kyla called them memorizing. Bruno liked the addition puffed rice to the pecan one. Kyla liked the addition of the candied ginger to the almond one.
• Amanda: Silver Anniversary Florentines. One is cinnamon almond Florentines and the other is orange-walnut Florentines. Bruno said the Florentines are a bit soft on the snap and noted a slight hint of burn sugar but it worked. Bruno called the orange-walnut sticky to the tooth.
• Steve: Heart and Soul Florentines. One is pistachio espresso Florentine and the other is a pecan, almond and strawberry Florentine. Bruno said the coffee is too strong and Kyla said it was too chewy. The strawberry one, Bruno didn’t get enough banana.
• Vincent: Chinese-Canadian Florentines. One is a maple trail mix Florentine and the other is a black sesame and peanut Florentine. Kyla calls the sesame a natural friend to caramel. Bruno called the Florentines snappy and crunchy/

Technical Bake: 

The Bake: 13 Caramel Donuts with a caramel glaze and a praline pastry cream.

The Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

How I would have fared: I just got an AirFryer so I would like to make this in that versus using a deep fryer. I think I might to okay. May or may not struggle with the pastry cream and caramel glaze.

How the bakers did:

1. Stephen
2. Steve
3. Vincent
4. Amanda
5. Aimee

Showstopper

The Bake: A caramel layer cake.

The Time: 4 hours.

What I would bake: I am stumped here as I don’t know what I would make in terms of flavor and design. The only thing that popped in my head is something with caramel.

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

The two Steves (Stephen and Steve) get my vote as to which cake I want to try. 

• Stephen: Night at the Movies Cake made with sponge toffee and caramel chocolate marble cake topped with caramel corn. Bruno loved the buttercream and Kyla liked the use of miso and said he nailed the caramel. 
• Aimee: Nuts of Banana Cake made with banana foster and chocolate cake. Bruno called it rich and wished the dulce leche balanced it. Bruno called the other cake dry. Kyla said each cake nad inconsistencies with texture.
• Amanda: Fall for Caramel Cake made with pumpkin chai and orange caramel. Kyla is not getting a lot of chai but loved the pumpkin cake. Kyla also said that there needs to be more caramel.
• Steve: Choux-in for a Win Cake made with chocolate caramel layer cake and topped with a croquembouche. Kyla liked the caramel butterfly. Both liked the croquembouche but Bruno wanted more caramel. Bruno said the cake also lacked caramel.
• Vincent: Fairest of Them All Cake made with apple and chocolate cake and topped with a candy apple and caramel halo. Bruno said the chocolate cake is too moist but Kyla noted that you get that caramel moment.

Up for Star Baker: Aimee, Vincent, Stephen.

In danger of going home: Amanda and Steve

Star Baker: Stephen

Going Home: Amanda

Quick Thoughts: Steve narrowly missed going home so he needs to step up his game next week. A pleasant surprise is Stephen getting Star Baker. But you kind of knew he would get it based on the comments for his signature and showstopper. Even with that, I am still going to guess that Stephen goes home next week so that my week 2 prediction of Aimee, Vincent and Steve being in the final three remains intact.