Welcome to Junior Bake Off, on a mission to find Britain's best young baker.
The Bake Off tent is home to the greatest baking battle on Earth.
I think a boy could win it and I do think that boy could be me.
32 of the country's finest bakers
will be pushed to their baking limits.
I think...everyone's sort of competition right now.
But who will rise?
Woo-hoo!
I reckon that I'm quite a good baker
- and I want to prove that. - And who will crumble?
The bakers will whisk, fold and ice their way through
cakes, biscuits and bread.
Only one of them can be crowned Junior Bake Off champion.
But standing between them and the title are our two judges.
The Queen of Cakes, Mary Berry.
They've got to have the technical knowledge.
They've got to have flair and they've got to prove themselves and produce a wonderful result.
And Master Baker, Paul Hollywood.
We've had thousands of entrants. The people that we've chosen are the best.
And what we're looking for now is the best of the best.
I'm not going to lie to you, this is going to be a tough one.
My name is Aaron Craze. I'll be here to support the bakers.
- I am gonna win this. - That's what I'm talking about!
As 32 are whittled down to just one.
In today's heat, four hopefuls face two tough challenges.
First, they must impress as they go head-to-head,
following one of Mary and Paul's own recipes.
Today, they have to make a classic Victoria sandwich, filled with strawberry jam.
In the second, they must prove themselves by creating
an incredible unique cake, inspired by today's theme, outer space.
This is going to be tough.
Because only one of them can make it through to the semifinals.
But who will it be? Meet Joe from West Sussex.
Being part of Junior Bake Off makes you feel happy,
that I'm with other people who like to bake.
Everybody at my school says, "Oh, can I have your autograph?"
And you say, "Yes, yes! I'm not famous, yet!"
Marie from Southampton.
Personally, I reckon that I'm quite a good baker,
and on Junior Bake Off, I want to prove that to the judges.
I'm excited because I can show everyone around the country that I'm a good baker.
Amari from North London.
Baking's not just for girls.
I think a boy could win it and I do think that boy could be me.
I'm very competitive, but I don't want to be too competitive?
You know, I'll give them a chance!
And Joy from Glasgow.
The people I bake for most are my mum, my dad and my little brother.
They always love my baking, especially my brother,
who just eats everything.
Being selected for Junior Bake Off makes me really excited,
but I'm a bit nervous,
just in case my cakes don't work out the way I want them to.
SQUELCHING
The time for talking is over.
The battle of the bakes is about to begin.
For the first challenge, the bakers must each make a Victoria sandwich,
using the creaming method,
a technique that is all about the mixing.
The perfect Victoria sandwich is lovely and moist
and light inside, beautiful golden colour,
with a lovely bit of sugar on the top and filled well with jam.
They have the same amount of ingredients and time to bake,
but the results could be completely different.
- OK, junior bakers, has everybody washed their hands? - Yes!
Right, bakers, your Victoria sponges are going to be judged
on technique, taste and texture, and you've only got one hour.
This is your chance to really impress the judges. So good luck.
On your marks. Get set.
Bake!
These guys know their way around the kitchen,
so if you fancy baking, make sure you ask an adult.
Our bakers kick off by greasing their tins.
Sounds simple, but if they don't do it properly,
then their cakes will be tricky to turn out later.
For the creaming method, the ingredients go in one at a time.
First, they beat together the butter and sugar,
then in goes the eggs, and, finally, they sieve the flour.
This challenge is a real test of our bakers' skills.
And for 12-year-old Joy, who wants to own her own bakery one day,
their skills become second nature.
Have you got a plan for winning?
- Is there any sort of plan or techniques? - Not really, no.
- Just bake from my heart. - Bake from your heart?
Well, that is, literally, all you can do.
11-year-old Marie loves making cupcakes and Victoria sandwiches,
so this challenge should be right up her street.
- This is in my comfort zone. - You're in your comfort zone here? Ooh!
So, you're a bit of a favourite? Lovely, lovely.
I don't normally do the creaming method, so this is a first for me.
But Mary and Paul spotted a problem with her technique.
She's beating quite a lot of that flour in. She's not folding it in.
Unlike nine-year-old Joe, who's more at home baking bread.
He's following the recipe to the letter.
I cut, I fold and then I cut through the mixture.
This is so you can get all the air in,
because you don't want it a horrible, heavy, puddingy type of cake.
You want a nice, fluffy, light kind of texture inside.
While the others are still mixing, 11-year-old Amari,
who thinks his baking is better than his mum's,
is whizzing through the recipe, in a bid to make a good first impression.
I seem ahead, but I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
Amari, well under control.
In fact, his has actually gone into the oven already.
OK, bakers, there's 30 minutes to go. Three zero.
Halfway through the challenge, and if they haven't already,
the cakes should be going into the oven.
But Joe's attention to detail means he's falling behind.
You don't literally have to get it the round all the edges,
cos it should even out when it's in the oven.
But I like to just make sure.
I'm feeling really nervous that it may not rise, or sink in the middle.
While the others look on and wait,
Joe is still taking things at his own pace.
I'm just going to see that he gets it in the oven now.
There's only 25 minutes left. You have to do it on the top or the bottom.
Getting the baking time right is crucial.
They might over-bake it. Moisture is what it's all about.
Because over-baked, it'll be dry.
Perfect.
The next big question is, did they grease their tins enough?
Oh!
Joe has got bigger problems. His cakes are still in the oven,
and he's in danger of not completing this challenge.
I'm not going to lie to you. This is going to be a tough one. Right?
Because these guys are taking their sponges out now,
so they've got an extra five minutes to cool their sponges down,
so we're going to use an old technique
that's called chill it the freezer.
Open the freezer! Right.
Oh! All right? Go!
- You had one job - to open the freezer. - Sorry!
Oh, they look cold.
Meanwhile, the other sponges are cool enough to spread with jam.
I'm seconds away from finishing.
Whilst Joe can only count the seconds his cakes have left to cool.
You've got one minute to go. One minute.
Et voila! Beautiful!
OK, bakers, your time is up. Step away from the sponges.
For the first time, our bakers are about to have their cakes
judged by two of the country's top experts.
Mary and Paul are looking for a light, golden texture,
even sponges and a decent amount of jam filling
from each of the Victoria sandwiches.
Don't they look a wonderful batch?
There are a few issues, which we'll talk about as we go through them.
Joy, we're going to try your cake first.
Will Joy's less-than-perfect greasing skills
make it past the judges' beady eyes?
How about that?
It's got a lovely structure. It's nice and round.
However, you haven't greased it properly, which is why it's ripped.
You see the way you've lost some of the edges on the edge of the tin?
- It's tasty, isn't it? - It's a very even texture.
It's pretty good.
Confident Amari raced ahead of the others. But has he cut any corners?
That's a lovely bake. Beautiful golden brown.
You quite like jam, Amari, don't you? And so do I. That's good.
It's dripping down the side a little bit.
- It's a great tasting cake and a great looking one. - And a beautiful even bake on top.
Next, it's Marie.
The judges noticed that she didn't follow the recipe exactly.
But will they be able to tell by its taste?
Marie, you beat in the flour, from beginning to end.
That has resulted in a very close-textured cake.
It's just slightly over-beaten.
It's not over-baked. Good flavour.
It's moist. Well done.
Joe stuck to his recipe like glue
but had major problems with his timing.
Will his sandwich have been cooked for long enough?
As you put a cake in the mouth, it should melt.
And this one, out of the four, actually, melts quicker,
because you haven't overworked it, you've folded it in properly.
However, I notice that you've had a bit of a problem here.
But it's not the end of the world. It's all about taste.
And it tastes delicious.
Well, guys, that's your first challenge complete. OK?
One more to face, so you've got everything to bake for. Good luck.
I was really surprised that they were really nice about it
and they didn't really mind.
If I could go back in time, I would definitely grease my tin more,
so that the sides would come out more easily
and they wouldn't be as rough as they were.
The taste, that's most important, so at least it tastes good.
It's the first time I've tried the creaming method.
And I think I've done quite well for the first time.
Bakers? It's time for your second task - the invention challenge.
You're going to have to bake a cake inspired by today's theme,
which is out of space.
Mary and Paul are going to be judging on brilliant ideas,
really clever decorating, and most of all,
it's got the taste out of this world.
Now, this is your last chance.
You really need to impress these guys,
because they're going to choose who goes through to the semifinals.
Are you ready?
On your marks.
Get set, let's bake.
The bakers have just an hour and a half
to complete the cakes they've been practising at home.
This challenge will let them show off their creative side.
And they've come prepared to impress.
So, what's your invention bake, then?
It's going to be red velvet cupcakes in the shape of stars.
What will give you the edge?
I've got a special ingredient to add.
- Are you going to keep that close to your chest? - Yep.
Will the judges be able to taste or see this special...?
They'll definitely be able to taste it.
Marie struggled with the first challenge and wants to prove
she's got the baking skills the judges are looking for.
I'm doing an almond UFO cake, and, basically,
it's got ground almonds and almond essence mixed in with it.
- Good luck, Marie, I'm looking forward to this one. - Thank you.
I think it's going to be different from the others,
because I think they'll have the idea of doing a planet,
and I've got the idea of doing a UFO instead.
- How's it going, buddy? - Really well. - Yeah?
What have you got for us today? What is your invention?
It's called Space Saturn Surprise
and it's a chocolate orange marble cake.
It's round, and I don't think most people can think of...
- how will I make a round cake? - Yeah.
- Round tin. - Yeah. - Now, listen.
You did very well in the last heat, you know?
Against the time, but you pulled it back.
Are you going to have the same trouble this time?
Don't think so. Hope not.
- No? Are you going to be in the semifinals? - Hopefully.
Yes. That's what I like to hear.
And it's not just Joe who's being super-ambitious.
- "I'm gonna win." Look at the camera with that. - I'm gonna win!
"I'm going to win this."
- Not you, I'M going to win this! - That's what I'm talking about!
And Amari's hoping to knock the judges' socks off
by recreating Jupiter, cake-stylee.
What is that?
It's lemon cake, but I've separated a third of it
and put red colouring in it and the rest, I put yellow.
It's kind of, because you know how the Earth has the inner
- and outer... - Core. - So that's kind of like the inner.
You've got the outer mantle, the crust, and the core in the middle.
And then are you going to cover it with anything at all?
- Yeah, icing. - Doesn't that look exciting? And how did you do that?
I rolled out into sausages, strips of different colours of icing,
then I stuck them together, then I rolled it with a rolling pin.
That's a really good idea.
While Amari makes every layer of Jupiter,
Joe is at a crucial stage of his marble cake.
It's going to look like Saturn, so when you cut it in half,
it will be all swirly, and that's why I'm going to lay it out,
so it goes chocolate, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla.
Joy had trouble in the first challenge.
Her Victoria sponge stuck to the tin -
a problem she's convinced won't happen again.
- I haven't seen these containers before. Ah! They're soft. - Silicone.
- And they're non-stick? - Definitely, yeah. - Right.
Halfway through the challenge, and the bakers' creations
are poured into the tins and placed in the oven.
All they can do now is wait.
One of the times I made it, it went all wrong and it fell apart,
but hopefully this time, it should stay together, but if it does,
obviously, there's been an earthquake on Saturn, and it's fallen apart.
It's going quite well.
Now, baking is an exact science, but how far can you actually take it?
I've come to meet Peter Lloyd, a baking wizard
who experiments with weird and wonderful textures and tastes.
How's it going? I feel like a mad scientist here.
- Is this a kitchen or a science lab? - It's a bit of both.
'One of Peter's latest creations
'is based on Alice In Wonderland's Mad Hatter's tea party.'
So it's all got to be crazy and mad. When you suck the blueberry lollipop,
it feels cold on one side and warm on the other.
I've got to try this one.
This is the famous Drink Me, when Alice falls down the rabbit hole.
You taste it...you should experience different flavours.
You can actually taste apple pie. Unbelievable.
And then your next sip you should get lemon curd.
Oh, my goodness! That is peculiar.
- Wow. - Apple pie? - I'm shrinking!
- PETER LAUGHS - Pete!
'But enough of the teacakes. It's time to get serious.
'Peter has asked me to help him with his latest baking experiment,
'an erupting volcanic cupcake.
'But we won't be using hot lava, we'll be using...'
Dry ice. Pure frozen carbon dioxide
- that's been frozen at minus 80 degrees. - Wow. That's pretty cold.
- So we've got to wear gloves. - This must be REALLY scientific,
if we're putting blue gloves on.
'As with all dangerous experiments, don't try this at home.
'Leave it to the experts.
'Taking the centre out of a cupcake and frosting the top,
'the base of the volcano is ready.
'And now it's time for the science.'
- We've mixed the bicarb of soda with the sugar syrup. - Right.
We've got the dry ice in the base of the cupcake
- and we've got the strawberry sauce with the added citric acid. - OK.
We're looking for a reaction between the citric acid and bicarb of soda.
The liquid hitting the dry ice should give us
the eruption of the strawberry sauce and the gases from the dry ice.
Yeah... Anyway, I'll take your word for it. Let's do it.
'So it's the moment of truth. Will our experiment work?
'We're on tenterhooks. Have we made the world's first erupting cupcake?'
DRAMATIC MUSIC
- MUSIC STOPS - 'That wasn't the reaction we were hoping for.'
Well, Pete, that seems, erm... Wow. I'm a bit confused.
'So it's back to the drawing board. Like all mouth-watering bakes,
'you tinker with the ingredients to get the result you want.'
What are you putting in now? What?!
Look at the steam! That is unbelievable, isn't it?
Look at that. That's like a real volcano!
That is baking on another level. Unbelievable!
'So, let's see if our bakers are getting the results THEY want.'
Woo-hoo!
I'm feeling really happy, because it's going well
and hopefully it's going to taste as well as it's going.
'But Joy is faced with a complete nightmare.'
The cakes didn't work out. It just all went disastrous.
'Joy's cupcakes have stuck to their moulds,
'and as she tries to save them, they crumble in her hands.'
Terrible.
Listen up, guys, the heavens have opened, the pressure's on.
There's 30 minutes left.
'Time is running out, and Joy has to present something to the judges.'
So I'm going to turn them into cake pops.
So maybe I can pull it together in the last half hour.
- Hi, Joy. - Hello. - You had a bit of a problem with some at the start? - Yes.
They stuck to the mould, so they are not coming out
and if they do, they just leave it, so they're all falling apart.
I know you told me you wouldn't normally grease these, but that has stuck quite badly, hasn't it?
- So what have you decided to do? - Cake pops. - Cake pops? - Uh-huh.
- So you have adapted to this already? - Yes.
"This doesn't work, lose this beautiful mix, make something different from it."
- Yes... - It's a sign of a good baker.
Waste not, want not, and you come up with some new idea to come up with.
Well done, Joy. Look forward to trying those.
While Joy does what she can to salvage her bake,
the others are focused on their presentation.
I think the judges are looking for something unique
and something colourful, and I think I do have the colourful
and I do think I have the unique as well.
Those are the eyes, there's three of them.
I think I might call it Charlie, actually.
As Charlie prepares for blast off, the bakers have to make
every last second count if they want to secure that place in the semifinal.
Mmm, that tastes delicious. She said out of space!
You've got one minute to go! One minute!
Oh! This one's a disaster!
OK, bakers, your time is up.
Step away from your worktops.
They turned out OK in the end, so let's hope they taste fine.
For three of our bakers, this is the last time they will face Paul and Mary.
Their cakes will be judged on their ideas, presentation and taste.
Over to you first, Joy.
- You ready for this? - Yes.
After a baking disaster,
Joy has managed to make star-shaped red velvet cupcakes
and cake pops with a cream cheese frosting,
topped with a surprise ingredient.
But will her quick-thinking solution be enough to impress the judges?
I especially admired you, how you coped
when you couldn't get your mixture out of the star.
No tantrums, and you had to think,
"What am I going to do if I don't get all of them out?"
I thought you coped admirably.
They taste great.
- They do. - Mmm!
- Oh, a surprise! A little crackle. - I got it as well.
- Yeah, very good. - We like surprises.
- I think your flavours are fantastic. - Well done.
Facing the judges next is super-speedy Amari,
with his lemon sponge cake covered in icing,
made to look like the gases of Jupiter,
topped with Charlie the Alien.
I think the idea of space, which was the theme,
you've really hit it on the head.
Creativity, it's a great idea.
We are definitely getting the red core.
To me, that looks so original, and that's what we were after.
Mmm. It's a little bit... without flavour.
Your cake needs a little bit of tweaking,
because it hasn't got that thoroughbred lemon flavour coming through.
- But well done. - Thank you. - Well done indeed.
Next up hoping to seal a place in the semifinal is Marie,
with an almond-flavoured Victoria sponge
with her vanilla icing centre shaped into a UFO.
- You've really done a good job on presentation. - I like the way you've put those almonds in,
so I'm hoping it's going to taste really almondy.
I'm getting a bit muddled with the vanilla and the almond.
You've got to find the balance of the flavours, what flavours you put in.
But I love the brightness of it.
It tells me the story we've asked for and you've been creative.
Finally Joe, who struggled against the clock in the first round,
was bang on time with his chocolate and orange marble cake,
drizzled with orange icing and constructed into the shape of Saturn.
I think the way you've executed it is very, very good.
You've really gone to town. It's 3D, big, in your face.
It's done its job.
Now it's all down to your marble cake.
You've got that blend well, between the chocolate and the orange.
- And the cake is beautifully moist. - Well done, Joe.
- Well done, buddy. - Thank you.
Guys, you've done fantastically well.
It's over to Mary and Paul now to make a very tough decision
on who goes through to the semifinals.
But who will they choose? What really tickled their taste buds?
Let's start with Joy over here.
I thought the flavour was fantastic
and I love that idea of putting the moon dust on.
It bounced around your mouth, and I've not had that for years.
But it was a little bit soft and it was difficult for her
to turn out of her star mould, but she coped admirably.
She made a good Victoria sandwich.
I think the problem she did have
was it was sticking a little bit round the outside.
Everyone's cakes look really good.
I think everyone is competition now because all the cakes were so amazing.
Let's move on to Amari.
What made it for me was that fantastic original icing.
It's stunning. Everybody's going to copy that.
The thing that let him down slightly was the flavour, it was quite bland.
His Victoria sponge was fantastic.
Joe's cake was pretty impressive,
so he might be the main person I'm worried about.
So, over to Joe.
- His marble cake was very, very good. - Marbling is really difficult.
It was absolutely perfect, top and bottom.
When we look back on his Victoria sponge, he was very methodical.
The only unfortunate thing was a bit broke off when he was transferring it on.
Well, I think they were really nice
and they were positive about most of my things.
But, er, just, please, can I get through?
Let's move on to Marie with her little flying saucer or UFO.
She made a very interesting cake. It tasted jolly nice.
When you look back actually to Marie's Victoria sponge,
she did the all-in-one method rather than the creaming method -
she did a little bit of creaming, chucked everything in, beat it and slightly overdid it.
If they sent me through to the semifinal,
I would feel really excited.
And it would prove that...to me that my baking is good.
Well, thank you, guys, for your hard work. You've done fantastic today.
It's been a hard day. Mary and Paul have made their decision.
The person that's going through to the semifinals is...
- ..Joe. - APPLAUSE
Thank you.
I didn't expect to get through, but everybody was saying,
"You're going to get through, you're going to get through!" I'm like, "I might not!"
But then I suppose I did, so I'm really, really, really happy.
He knows the science of cooking. He did something very creative, stunning.
He's leaving a very big footprint for all future bakers to follow.
I think he's set certainly a very high benchmark.
So, Joe has made it through to the semifinal!
But who will it be next time, when the temperature continues to rise?
- It's pretty nerve-racking here. - Come on, come on...
A broken biscuit sees one baker's dream start to crumble,
and there's a rescue operation to save a hedgehog
on the verge of collapse.
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd