Oxford Bake Off

When I found out that the judges for The Oxford Bake Off included Benoit Blin, is Chef Patissier at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxfordshire and Kate Shirazi, a baker whose book, Cake Magic, I had been given as a gift about two years ago, I was excited and nervous. 

Shirazi, whose recipes  I had turned to many a cold winter's evening for comforting cookie recipes were down to earth, so I naturally felt a little comfort in that fact but the sheer thought of these professionals merely eating what I had created was a privilege in itself, let alone them judging me winner for Cupcake Connoisseur and overall Star Baker! 

 

Mine is the blue two-tiered one in the middle.

 

My cupcakes were inspired by Lewis Carrol's book, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.

I tried many recipes, including a cherry blossom tea which I don't think was tea-ish enough! So, I sought out some Japanese cherry infusion from the specialist tea shop in the Covered Market in Oxford and third time around, it had just the right amount of cherry and vanilla. 

 

I wanted to create a tea flavour because of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and the cherry flavour was inspired by the cherry flavour in the Eat Me Cake in the little room where she gets bigger and smaller. 

It wasn't all plain sailing because the first time I baked for the competition, I forgot eggs, of all things!! Nerves I suppose. 

 The Town Hall was beautifully decorated. It is such a  stunning room to be in for any occasion so the Bake Off added a sense of fun to its grandeur. I am privileged to have won and I'm happy that the charities it supported raised over £1,000 on the day.