Have the urge to binge on episodes of The Great British Baking Show? Now you can bake along with these copycat recipes inspired by the show's most delicious moments.
1/25
Chocolate Truffle Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Love chocolate? Then this tender, luxurious layer cake is for you. With a ganache glaze and a fabulous bittersweet filling, the indulgence is so worth it. —JoAnn Koerkenmeier, Damiansville, Illinois
Before we discuss dozens of Great British Baking Show copycat recipes, let’s start with a cake inspired by the show’s iconic opening credits. Make sure to top it with the freshest raspberries you can find—minus one berry, of course!
2/25
Battenberg Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Behold, the beautiful Battenberg! This gorgeous, intricate, almond-flavored sponge cake was made famous as a signature challenge on the 'Great British Bake-Off.' If you're up for personal baking challenge, the results are stunning and, of course, delicious. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts
We’ve seen Battenburg cakes appear on a couple of seasons, including one where the bakers had to create the cake after only tasting it. Delicious, for sure, but “gulp!” The best part is seeing what flavors and colors the bakers use to create their patchwork dessert.
3/25
Millionaire Shortbread
From the Recipe Creator:
This three-in-one bar brings together the delectable flavors of buttery shortbread, sweet caramel and rich chocolate for a treat worth a million bucks. Cut it easily into any size bar you wish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Millionaire shortbread is a fallback for many Bake Off contestants, whether it’s a tray bake challenge or a biscuit week. There’s so much to love about this almost candy-like sweet.
4/25
Scones
From the Recipe Creator:
Making scones is shockingly simple. I learned how when my wife and I hosted an English tea, and I wish I'd tried my hand at it earlier! —Chuck Hinz, Parma, Ohio
In the pre-Netflix era, bakers had to whip up a batch of Mary Berry’s traditional scone recipe. Usually served with tea, scones are a classic British food.
5/25
Baklava
From the Recipe Creator:
Baklava is a traditional Middle Eastern pastry made with flaky phyllo dough, chopped nuts and sweet honey. This dessert is very rich, so one pan goes a long way. —Judy Losecco, Buffalo, New York
Who can resist flaky, sticky, nutty baklava? The bakers had to make their own versions in a couple of seasons. We think a beautiful bake like this will likely earn you a rare Paul Hollywood handshake.
6/25
Mille Crepe Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
No other dessert has wowed family and friends the way this stunning crepe cake did the first time I made it. A showstopper in every sense of the word, it features layers of tender chocolate crepes and rich white chocolate buttercream frosting draped in a semisweet chocolate ganache. —Tina Sawchuk, Ardmore, Alberta
We all know that our favorite judges like to find the most obscure and difficult recipes for the weekly technical challenges. Schichttorte was a fan favorite, essentially an impressive layered crepe cake like this mille crepe cake.
7/25
English Muffins
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was growing up on a farm, my mom always seemed to be making homemade bread...nothing tasted so good! Now I like to make these simple yet delicious muffins for my own family. —Linda Rasmussen, Twin Falls, Idaho
A certain satisfaction comes from knowing how to make foods that you’d typically buy premade. In one technical challenge, the bakers mastered English muffins.
8/25
Meringue Snowballs In Custard
From the Recipe Creator:
My family has passed down this elegant dessert generation by generation. It started with my Russian great-grandmother, who traveled to America more than 100 years ago. I love continuing the tradition with her recipe. —Tonya Burkhard, Palm Coast, Florida
We love The Great British Baking Show because it teaches us about new-to-us recipes, like this one for delicate meringue on a bed of creamy custard. Also known as îles flottantes (floating islands), it’s one of Mary Berry’s favorites.
9/25
Lacy Brandy Snaps
From the Recipe Creator:
These cream-filled brandy snaps are the perfect sweet treat. Include them on a holiday cookie platter or serve them at the end of a meal with coffee or tea. —Natalie Bremson, Plantation, Florida
Brandy snaps make regular appearances on the show, whether as a signature bake, signature challenge or part of a showstopper. These lacy cookies are easy to master and even easier to eat.
10/25
Apricot-Almond Tea Rings
From the Recipe Creator:
Apricots and almonds are the perfect pairing in this luscious iced ring. It’s a great breakfast treat to serve the family and a perfect centerpiece for a coffee date with friends.— Ann G. Hillmeyer, Sandia Park, New Mexico
One of Paul’s trademark extra-difficult technicals is an apricot couronne, a ring-shaped loaf filled with apricot preserves, almond paste and flaked almonds. This one takes a little extra time to make, but it turns out beautifully. Mary Berry would be proud if you tried this one at home!
11/25
Rich and Creamy Tiramisu
From the Recipe Creator:
Tiramisu is Italian for pick-me-up, and this one is definitely true to its name! My version of the classic Tuscan trifle has both coffee and espresso for layers of java flavor. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tiramisu makes an appearance in some form on many episodes of The Great British Baking Show. (Remember Alice’s pistachio tiramisu bombe and winner Giuseppe’s picture-perfect version?) This recipe captures everything we love about the classic—and no Paul Hollywood spying over your shoulder while you make it.
12/25
Hot Cross Buns
From the Recipe Creator:
On Easter morning, our family always looked forward to a breakfast of dyed hard-boiled eggs and Mom's hot cross buns. I still serve these for special brunches or buffets. —Barbara Jean Lull, Fullerton, California
Sweet dough is notoriously tricky to work with, especially if you don’t know why your bread isn’t rising. But winner Frances knocked it out of the park with her showstopper hot cross buns.
13/25
Carrot Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This wonderful recipe dates back to my great-grandmother. You will love the texture the cake gets from pineapple, coconut and, of course, carrots! For lighter appetites or to serve more people, cut it into smaller pieces and place them in pretty cupcake liners. —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland
Ruby stunned the judges with her adorable garden-inspired carrot cake. The real star of that bake, though, was the delicious and moist cake.
14/25
Soft Giant Pretzels
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and our friends and family love these soft, chewy pretzels. Let the bread machine mix the dough, then all you have to do is shape and bake these fun snacks. —Sherry Peterson, Fort Collins, Colorado
It’s incredible how many bakers eat pretzels but don’t know how to get that perfect twist. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t want to stop making them.
15/25
Maple Walnut Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This maple-flavored cake with candied walnuts honors beloved my grandpa, who made maple syrup when I was a child. It honors his memory and has proven to be a favorite with family and friends throughout the years. —Lori Fee, Middlesex, New York
Every season has an entire week dedicated to cakes. This walnut cake is similar to the one Paul Hollywood had the bakers make for a technical challenge.
16/25
Sticky Toffee Pudding for Two
From the Recipe Creator:
Wow your guests with their own mini cake-like dessert. A warm brown sugar sauce tops this super moist sticky toffee pudding. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
You can’t have a British baking show without a good sticky toffee pudding. Tamal turned this classic English dessert into a multi-tiered masterpiece, but you can make this simple (but still delicious) version at home.
17/25
Mushroom Palmiers
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this recipe while working at a small-town museum in West Texas. It was the appetizer for a fundraiser a long, long time ago, and it’s still a huge hit at parties. Frozen puff pastry helps make it easy and impressive. The palmiers also freeze well. —Judy Lock, Panhandle, Texas
We’ve seen many sweet palmiers from British bakers on the show, but the flaky treat can also be savory. Packed with mushrooms, these make an elegant appetizer.
18/25
Two-Berry Pavlova
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a light and airy dessert that I first tried in Ireland. When I got home, I made this berry pavlova for my kids, who loved to build their own with their favorite fruits. The whipped cream makes for icing on the cake! —Norma Stevenson, Eagan, Minnesota
The pavlovas created on The Great British Baking Show always look amazing. Puffy meringue, custard, cream and fresh fruit are a pretty dreamy combination.
19/25
Mincemeat Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
As a cold and tasty finishing touch, my husband and I usually put a scoop of ice cream on top of our mincemeat pie slices. The recipe comes from my mother. Each year, I make it for Christmas and for my sister-in-law's New Year's party. —Laverne Kamp, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Pies are entirely different in Great Britain and are often filled with meat. But this spiced dessert is called mincemeat even though the filling is a meatless mixture of fruit and spices. The bakers once had to make Prue’s mincemeat pies in mini form, but this full-sized version is much easier.
20/25
Macarons
From the Recipe Creator:
Even when decorated simply—a sprinkle of sugar and a drizzle of icing—these stylish beauties will be the showstoppers on any Christmas cookie tray. They are part of our creative Christmas cookies collection every year. —Josh Rink, Photo Stylist Taste of Home
Macarons are a favorite for many bakers every season. The chewy yet crisp, airy but rich cookies are good enough to break hearts. This recipe will have you making picture-perfect macarons in no time.
21/25
Baked Alaska
From the Recipe Creator:
Can you believe it? This stunning dessert is completely make ahead, including the meringue. All you need to do is bake it for a few minutes in the oven before serving. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Made of cake, ice cream and meringue, baked Alaska is a favorite challenge for the judges. And you know that every time the bakers have to make anything that requires freezing in the tent, it’s usually the hottest day of the year. This easy-breezy chocolate-mint version will be much easier to make in the comfort of your own kitchen.
22/25
Cream Puffs
From the Recipe Creator:
The Wisconsin Bakers Association has served this cream puff recipe at our state fair since 1924. —Ruth Jungbluth, Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Recipes made with choux pastry are pretty standard on The Great British Baking Show. The pastry is used to make profiteroles, eclairs, religieuses or cream puffs. Don’t let this classic French pastry scare you—once mastered, you’ll want to fill it with everything sweet or savory.
23/25
Challah
From the Recipe Creator:
Eggs lend to the richness of this traditional challah bread recipe. The attractive golden color and delicious flavor make it hard to resist. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
You can’t get through bread week without at least one braided bread loaf. Enriched dough, like challah, takes more time to proof, but it’s easy to make when you’re not watching the clock like the bakers in the tent. You can braid bread with three, four and even eight strands.
24/25
Turtle Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
After receiving a request for a special turtle cheesecake and not finding a good recipe, I created my own. Everyone is thrilled with the results and this cheesecake remains a favorite at the coffee shop where I work. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
A traditional cheesecake is like a blank canvas for the bakers on the show. Make it extra-special with this turtle cheesecake that’s showstopper-worthy.
25/25
Chocolate Lava Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
True decadence at its best, these chocolate lava cakes created by the Taste of Home Cooking School feature a warm, gooey chocolate center that oozes out onto the dessert plate. Whether you enjoy it garnished with a dollop of whipped cream or sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, you'll want to lick the plate clean!
Chocolate lava cakes are simple and come together very quickly, but they’re one of the most impressive desserts. Who doesn’t love a molten chocolate center oozing out of the cake when you cut into it?
