The Great Australian Bake Off

It's Cake Week! 12 of Australia's best amateur bakers are back in the Bake Off shed for their first week of challenges, under the watchful eyes of culinary icon Maggie Beer, and esteemed chef Matt Moran. This week, the bakers will tackle a signature sponge, a tricky technical Japanese Cotton Cheesecake, and for their showstopper, create their own Miniature Worlds.

In Biscuit Week, our remaining amateur bakers face off in three exciting biscuit challenges: a Signature slice-and-bake, an alfajores Technical, and for the Show Stopper, they create a magical biscuit chandelier.

In Bread Week, our remaining amateur bakers wander into the wonderful world of bread. In their signature challenge they must create 12 identical flavoured bread rolls, for their technical they undertake a difficult Swedish cinnamon and cardamom bread, and for showstopper, create luscious gardenscape focaccias.

In Nostalgia Week, our remaining amateur bakers deep dive into their memories to tackle a number of Aussie classics of yesteryear and invent one of their own! In signature, they'll create their own layered pavlovas, in technical will tackle a classic Maggie Beer steamed pudding, and for showstopper, will create a mashup of nostalgic Aussie flavours to invent something entirely new.

It's Homegrown Week. Our remaining amateur bakers celebrate the traditional First Nations ingredients that can only be found right here at home in Australia. In Signature, they'll bake an open galette. In technical, they'll tackle Maggie's formidable Macadamia, Aniseed Myrtle and Bush Honey layered trifle and for Showstopper, they'll bake bread sculptures inspired by the natural world of Australia.

Bonjour, it's French Week! After an exciting non-elimination in the prior week, our remaining amateur bakers deep-dive into all things classic French pastry. First they will bake a mille-feuille for the Signature. For their technical, they are faced with Matt's delicious brioche a tete. And for the challenging Showstopper, they must create a Religieuse a l'ancienne- a traditional choux pastry tower in the shape of a nun!

In Dessert Week, our remaining amateur bakers show us their sweet tooth, first creating a dreamy baked custard for their Signature. In their technical challenge, they must replicate one of Matt Moran's most cherished recipes- the one that started his first baking business- with a delicate Raspberry Tart 2.0. For showstopper, they take on the Instagram trend of a dessert charcuterie board.

In Fruit and Veg Week, our remaining amateur bakers take a crack at baking the healthy way, showcasing delicious fruit and vegetables. For the Signature, they'll make two kinds of savoury vegetable tartlets, for the Technical, they take on Maggie's delicious erbazzone pie, and in Showstopper, they'll loom large to create a spectacular Basket Weave cake.

Patisserie Week - It's the semi-final of series 5, and to claim their place in the finale, our remaining amateur bakers must prove they can master the challenging world of Patisserie. For their Signature, they must bake two different kinds of breakfast pastries. In their Technical challenge, Matt serves them up an intricate Gateau St. Honore, and for their Showstopper, they showcase their most ambitious creation yet- a fully-hung biscuit pinata! 

In the grand finale, our final bakers face off in the ultimate baking showdown to crown Australia's best amateur baker! First up they must create their Signature Fondant Fancies, then conquer Maggie Beer's luscious Chocolate, Pear and Hazelnut Torte. For their final Showstopper of the season, they must bake their Dream Homes- and their only limit is their imagination.