The Great British Baking Show season 4, episode 5 recap: Pastry, pastry everywhere

The Great British Baking Show had two major batch requests for two challenges this week, and the other challenge required “sheer perfection.”

Mel and Sue oh-so-helpfully reminded us at the start of this week’s episode of The Great British Baking Show that it marks the halfway point of the competition. Yes, already. And with pastry being the theme of the week, things got a little short and crusty, especially when it came to butter distribution. (We’ll see ourselves out.)

To kick the weekend off, the signature challenge asked for 24 danishes, 12 each of two different kinds, with three and a half hours to pull it all off. Mary demanded plenty of butter in the dough, and the bakers obliged by flattening it and then cooling it before folding the dough around it.

The signature challenge judging results:

"Val: Pecan and Maple Syrup Pinwheels; Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Swirls. Mid-tier. Slightly underbaked, but good flavors.Selasi: Rhubarb, Mango, and Ginger Plait; Pineapple and Coconut Pinwheels. Mid-tier. Also underdone, lacking in flavors on the plaits but good on the pinwheels.Tom: Mega Breakfast Bonanzas; (Granola Spirals and Wheat Foldovers). Low tier. Missing butter, and Paul didn’t try the others because of too much raw dough.Rav: Cinnamon Swirls; Pecan, Walnut, and Maple Plaits. Mid-low tier. Missing one plait, and had dry swirls. Good filling on the plaits at least.Andrew: Mum and Dad’s Breakfast Pastries. Mid-high tier. Pretty as usual for him, but a little thin on both entries.Benjamina: “Good Morning America” Swirls; Peanut Butter and Banana Pinwheels. Mid-low tier. Not actually proved and had raw dough, but the flavors turned out well. “A shame,” Paul said.Jane: Orange Pain au Raisin; Raspberry, Chocolate, and Almond Danish. High tier. Overfilled, but baked extremely well and had “delicious” flavors, per Paul.Candice: Danish Pastry Croque Monsieur Kites; Cinnamon Apple, Vanilla Crème Rose Danish. High tier. Missing some butter on the savory, but well-baked and yummy."

So yes, the signature did not turn out well for pretty much anyone. Then they had to tackle the technical: Mary’s recipe for a Bakewell tart where she flat-out asked for “sheer perfection” in two and a half hours with a pastry, frangipane, jam, and icing bake for the tart.

For additional trouble, Andrew left his oven off for 15 minutes … and Val actually started things off without looking at the recipe!

From the Great British Baking Show season 4 episode 5. Credit: Courtesy of Tom Graham / PBS pressroom

Technical challenge results:

"8th: Rav. Literally had half the pastry fall apart.7th: Val. “There’s your soggy bottom, Mary,” Paul said.6th: Andrew. Missing icing, but baked fine.5th: Benjamina. Good pastry, not decorated.4th: Tom. Slightly excessive in the icing.3rd: Selasi. An icing mishap, but baked well.2nd: Candice. Well-baked, a little missing on the frangipane.1st: Jane. Crispy, good layers, good to eat."

Coming behind the guy who forgot to turn his oven on does not make a good look. That meant the pressure was high for people like Val and Rav, who didn’t miss the chance to note that he’d come last in the technical for three weeks straight.

The showstopper asked for 48 filo amuse-bouche pastries, with one set of 24 savory pastries and one set of 24 sweet. They had 4 hours to do so. Paul made sure to tell the viewers at home that he wanted bite-sized pastries here.

From The Great British Baking Show season 4, episode 5. Credit: Courtesy of Monika Frise/PBS pressroom.

Showstopper results:

"Benjamina: Plaintain and Spinach Samosas; Chai Pear Cups. Samosas had good flavor, and so did the pear cups. “That’s good,” Mary said.Selasi: Parma Ham, Asparagus, and Cheese Filo Cigars; Coffee Cream Filo Cups. Dry on the cigars, and the cups lacked a bit of butter, but good on flavor.Andrew: Spicy Chorizo Squash Parcels; Baklava Bites. Some of the smallest pastries of them all, but well-flavored.Tom: Yin and Yang Amuse-bouche. Paul stole Mary’s thunder and called them “informal.” They also conflicted on flavors.Jane: Roquefort, Fig, and Walnet Parcels; Cherry and Chocolate Cones. Too big on the cones, but Paul and Mary both liked the savory and sweet ones.Val: Caramelized Red Onion, Goats Cheese Tartlets; Mincemeat and Apple Spiced Parcels. Missing half her sweet pastries, all of them were too big, and they were underbaked.Candice: Sausage, Black Pudding, and Apple Rounds; Banoffee Whiskey Cups. Well-presented, and the savory earned a “spot on” from Paul, while the sweet was “scrumptious” per Mary.Rav: Chinese Style Prawn Filo Tartlets; Spiced White Chocolate and Hazelnut Samosas. They looked particularly good, and Mary called the savory “beautiful” in flavor. The sweet also got positive reviews."

Candice and Jane led throughout the whole weekend, basically, and the usual host and judge confab confirmed that. However, Paul also confirmed that Benjamina and Rav saved themselves with stellar showstopper outings. It came down to Tom and Val, meanwhile, for elimination.

Ultimately, Candice took Star Baker as Jane had predicted. Val ended up going home, and she went out with hugs for everyone and a smile.

Next: Wonder Woman of the Week: Ava DuVernay

Next week’s episode of The Great British Baking Show will get botanical for another curveball theme, featuring, of all things, “herby bread.”