It is season 6 of The Great Canadian Baking Show and I can’t wait to see what this season holds in terms of the baking challenges. I didn’t apply for this season because my brother got married this summer and I devoted my vacation time for that. If there is a season 7, I am going to apply again and fingers crossed, I get on the show. It would be a dream come true.

Taking a look at the bakers this season, it still seems very Ontario heavy with 5 coming from Ontario and one from Montreal. We have only 4 from the west. The two from BC has one from Victoria and the other from Tsawwassen. And we have one from Alberta and another from Manitoba. There are no contestants from the Maritimes or the Territories this year. I actually don’t think there are has been any bakers from the Territories in my recollection.

Signature Bake

The Bake: A dozen Friands

The Time: 2 hours

What I would bake: I’ve never heard of this. So I have no clue what I would do. It seems to be a gluten free type of cake and with dried fruits and egg whites. Maybe a pomegranate and cranberry friands with a pomegranate glaze. I like the savoury friands of Nigel’s and I like the sound of Jomar’s.

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

• Andre: Pistachio and Pineapple Friands. Bruno liked the consistent look and texture but couldn’t taste the pineapple.
• Chi: Black Forest Friands. Kyla loved the look of the cherries. Bruno wanted more butter but found it enjoyable
• John: Figgy Duff Friands. Kyla liked the presentation and Bruno liked the rum flavour.
• Jomar: Stracciatella Friands with chocolate and tamarind paste. Kyla liked the distribution of chocolate. Bruno liked the tamarind but wanted more.
• Kristi: Mango Pie Friands. Kyla wanted more cardamom
• Lauren: Sunny Tsawwassen with Blueberries and topped with lemon cookies. Bruno said it tasted like a muffin. Kyla wanted more almond taste.
• Lydiane: Seaberry Star Friands with brown butter. Bruno said the pistachio flavour as weaked and wanted more seaberry jelly.
• Nigel: Chicken and Wafffle Friands with buttermilk glaze and crispy chicken skins. Kristi liked the touch of the chickens. 
• Rosemary: Barmbrack Friands. Bruno noted it lacked flavour but liked the taste
• Zoya: White poppy seed Friands with a marmalade glaze. Bruno liked the ratio of the ingredients.

Technical Bake

Season 5 I didn’t make any of the technical bakes as I just didn’t have time. I am hoping to make season 6’s technicals. 

The Bake: Bolo del Rolo. 

The Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

How I would have fared: It looks like a huge cake. I probably would not do that well. It seems finicky and I would probably have issue with getting the cakes thin enough and roll them in a certain order. The cake cracking will definitely be an issue with me. I may not make this as I kind of don’t want to waste nine eggs on this and also I don’t want to make guava jam. 

How the bakers did:

1. Andre:
2. Lydiane:
   

   First Place in Technical

3. Zoya:
4. John:
5. Nigel:
6. Lauren:
7. Jomar:
8. Kristi:
9. Rosemary:
10. Chi:

Showstopper

The Bake: Kawaii cake.. A Japanese decorating trend to take traditional cakes and make it cute

The Time: 3 hours and 45 minutes.

What I would bake: Chocolate mint cake that looks like Grogu eating that blue cookie. It would be covered with a peanut butter buttercream.

I liked the sound of Chi’s. Kristi’s, Lydiane’s and John’s cakes. 

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

• Andre: Sweet Citrus Kawaii with yuzu curd and strawberry filling. Kyla liked the contrasting colour and the strawberry filing. Bruno said the yuzu was too sweet. 
• Chi: Halloween Crunch Cake with strawberry cereal crunch and fondant pumpkins. Bruno like the crunch to the cake. Kyla liked the memories it evoked. 
• John: Spooky surprise cake with caramel cream cheese frosting and candied pecans. Kyla wanted it to look neater. Bruno liked the candied pecans
• Jomar: Halo Halo cake with pandan cream and rice soaked vanilla cake and jackfruit filling. Bruno said the cake was mealy but wanted more pandan.
• Kristi: Big Breakfast Cake with espresso filling and caramel. Bruno said it had strong coffee flavour and Kyla said the cake was nice and right.
• Lauren: Frogs in Love Cake, a matcha raspberry cake topped with buttercream frogs. Kyla loved the frogs and Bruno liked the piping work. Kyla liked the matcha and raspberry cake.
• Lydiane: Arsene Lapin cake, a chocolate cake with coffee caramel filling. Kyla wanted more and called it simple. Bruno said the caramel was too watery.
• Nigel: Kawaii Sushi roll, a ginger soaked sponge with wasabi meringue. Bruno didn’t see the sushi concept but did like the ginger chocolate flavour.
• Rosemary: Mug of Hot Chocolate Cake with red bean paste. Bruno called it whimsical and said the flavour was rich and liked the red bean paste.
• Zoya: Monkey Business Cake, a vanilla sponge with mango curd. Kyla liked the contrasting colour. Bruno liked the mango and wanted much more

Up for Star Baker: Lauren, Chi and Kristi

In danger of going home: Lydiane, Andre and Nigel.

Star Baker: Chi

Going Home: Lydiane

Quick Thoughts: 

Sorry to see Lydiane go but she did play it safe. You can’t play it safe in the tent but if I was in the tent, I probably would play it safe. Right now it looks like the front runners are Lauren, Chi and Kristi. But Jomar is up there. I think it is too early to make a final three prediction so will wait until after Biscuits and Bars week to make my prediction.