The Great British Bake Off/Baking Show – Pastry Week 6 – 2025

Pastry week is here! Find out how the bakers did below.

Note: I have updated this post: Which Great British Bake Off Contestants have written books

Signature challenge: A savoury plait with flaky pastry in 2.5 hours.

The judges were impressed with Aaron’s flavors, with Paul cutting off a huge piece and telling Aaron to save it for his lunch. Unfortunately, it was just a tad underbaked so no handshake was awarded. Jasmine’s sausage roll was also well received by the judges. Lesley bravely tinkered with one of Paul Hollywood’s recipes, and Prue said that her addition of gooseberry lifted the entire filling (Paul rolled his eyes at the comment). Both judges thought that Iain’s tofu and broccoli filling needed more of a flavor punch.

Darcie: Some people watch football and do armchair quarterbacking; I watch Bake Off and do armchair baking. After Toby said he was making full puff, I was reminded of another “Toby” – Tobias Fünke in Arrested Development, when talking about a controversial idea to save his relationship. When his wife asks if it has worked for other couples, he replies “No, it never does. I mean, these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might, but… but it might work for us.” That’s what I think when a baker decides to do full puff during pastry week. Fuhggedaboudit. It never works, as Toby discovered.

The other bakers stayed traditional with rough puff, although I think the addition of color in Tom’s led to the poor texture. This was the most critical the judges have been of his baking. When I saw the amount of butter Nataliia was putting into her pastry, I was worried that it would result in a dreaded soggy bottom, which it did.

Technical challenge: Gala pie set by Paul Hollywood.

Without instructions, it would be easy to forget to make a steam vent in the top crust, and several bakers did poorly because the liquid pooled at the bottom: Nataliia, Aaron, and Tom. Toby’s crust was too thick. Lesley placed third, Iain was second, and Jasmine was first.

Darcie: I love a hot water crust because it is sturdy enough to hold a heavy filling, although this filling would not be my preference. Overall, the bakers did okay because there were no major collapses, which have occurred in previous seasons’ challenges that involved hot water crusts. I think the judges asked the bakers to make piccalilli to give them something to do while the pies baked.

Showstopper challenge: A sculpted tart display.

Tom’s Four-in-a-Row (Connect Four in the US) display was clever and his tart tasted great, so he redeemed himself. Nataliia’s swan was gorgeous, but the judges were not as impressed with her pastry as it was tough. Aaron struggled as his tree broke and he used too much jasmine flavor, and Iain used too much alcohol but his textures were great. Lesley had great depth of flavor and her design was gorgeous, but she slightly overbaked the tart. Toby’s tart tasted amazing, but his rollercoaster was wonky. Jasmine’s tree was stunning, but her frangipane was too dry.

Darcie: Lesley was very close to being star baker, so I feel justified in my early call that she would be someone to watch. I think her sculpted tart was more complicated than Jasmine’s and although it tilted a bit, it was more detailed and interesting. I would have awarded her star baker based on what I saw. I thought the designs were clever and well-executed overall. The bakers that remain are all very strong so the competition will become more fierce.

In the end, Alison announced that Jasmine was Star Baker and Noel had the difficult job of telling Nataliia that she would be leaving the tent.