The Great British Baking Show season 4, episode 7 recap: ‘Dessert Week’

Desserts proved just too much of a challenge for one more baker on this week’s episode of The Great British Baking Show, but not for others.

The Great British Baking Show‘s seventh episode of the season made very clear that things had ramped up. Some bakers were strong all the way through, while others had to claw their way back. But all in all, there were some gorgeous-looking bakes.

The signature challenge took an hour and a half this week: a “family-sized roulade” that required a sponge and sweet filling. It kind of looks like a Swiss roll cake, but as the above-linked recipe notes, roulades typically do not use flour.

And, to produce a perfect roll, everyone got to talk a lot about avoiding cracks. That included Mary. Sue noticed and laughed about it. So did we.

Signature challenge judging results:

"Jane: Chocolate and Hazelnut Roulade. Mid-high tier. Paul knocked the lack of rolls, but loved the texture, and Mary enjoyed the alcohol.Benjamina: Pina Colada Roulade. High tier. “Just perfect,” Mary said in terms of presentation.Tom: Millionaire’s Roulade. Mid tier. They didn’t like that he iced the cake, but Paul said the flavors were fine.Candice: Crowd Pleaser Roulade. Mid tier. Mary noted the “messy” swirl and a crack in the sponge, but it tasted good.Andrew: Tropical Holiday Roulade. High tier. An imperfect roll, but Paul said it was a “pretty good job.”Selasi: Summer Picnic Roulade. High tier. Knocked the sponge out of the park, just missing a little lemon curd for Mary."

Then came the technical. As we guessed in our preview, it was Mary’s marjolaine, and she told them that they had “multitasking to do.” Then Mel and Sue informed them of the actual challenge, and Selasi actually asked what they were talking about. (He wasn’t alone. Most of the bakers were quite unfamiliar with it.) They got three hours for the challenge.

Technical marjolaine. Candice adding her buttercream with Mel. from the Great British Baking Show. Credit: Courtesy of Tom Graham / via PBS press room

Technical challenge results:

"6th: Selasi. “Soggy bottom” alert, and not great on the meringue.5th: Tom. Missing the clear layers and clear decoration.4th: Jane. Imperfect meringue and only decent piping.3rd: Benjamina. Mary dubbed it “irregular” in appearance but they liked it otherwise.2nd: Candice. “Fairly neat,” said Paul.1st: Andrew. Well-presented, well-done on the meringue. “Really well put together,” said Mary."

To excel in the showstopper, the six bakers had to produce two sets of 12 mini mousse cakes for a total of 24 in four hours. Paul and Mary put particular emphasis on technically perfect mousse.

BENJAMINA – SHOWSTOPPER – BENJAMINA’S APPLE CRUMBLE MOUSSE CAKE AND CHOCOLATE COFFEE MOUSSE CAKE

Credit: Courtesy of Monika Frise / via PBS press room

Showstopper judging results:

"Jane: Chocolate, Coffee and Vanilla Joconde Cakes; Blackcurrant and Vanilla Ombre Mousses. Mary liked the way they looked. Paul liked the way they tasted.Selasi: Lemon, Raspberry and Passionfruit Mousse Cakes; Mint Mini Mousse Cakes. His mint mousses were too large, and he had a misstep with the mousse there. The fruit mousses turned out better.Candice: Blackberry and Raspberry Bubbles; After Dinner Mousse. Her chocolate ones were melting, though it tasted good. The bubbles, meanwhile, lacked fruit flavor.Benjamina. Apple Crumble Mousse Cake; Chocolate Coffee Mousse Cake. Paul flat-out called the coffee ones “messy,” but he dubbed the flavor “amazing.” The apple crumble also won his approval.Tom: Hipster’s Picnic. He piped his mousse. Paul and Mary let him know it was a bad idea multiple times.Andrew: Childhood Ice Cream Mousse Cakes. Great presentation as per usual, and both types got plenty of compliments."

Mary and Paul declared Tom and Selasi in danger, and Andrew and Benjamina in the top spots for the weekend. Sue delivered the good news: Andrew took Star Baker. Mel, then, let Tom know that he was going home.

Next: Food Network Star predictions: Will there be fan outrage if Jason doesn’t win?

Next week, things will get historical with a Tudor theme for The Great British Baking Show‘s quarterfinals.