The Bake Off Bake Along 2017 || The Final!

It’s the FINAL!!!!!

Each year (as this is my third time taking part in the #BakeOffBakeAlong) I both dread and look forward to the final week. I get into such a rhythm each weekend making a baking challenge, that when it comes to the end of the final, I’m excited to get some time back, but also a bit sad that it’s over!

This week, as ever, I wanted to make the showstopper. I’ve never made an entrement, and like this series seems to have been themed continuously, it was a technically difficult bake, that wasn’t necessarily flamboyant or extravagantly decorated.

Therefore, if you can’t be a bit extra in the final week, when can you ehh?

My entrement was made up of 9 different components – NINE!

From the bottom to the top we have – dark chocolate sponge, chocolate ganache, coffee sponge, coffee caramel and hazelnut dacquoise, all covered in a white chocolate and vanilla mousse, topped with a mirror glaze and decorated with a chocolate teacup filled with coffee mousse. Phew, take a breath! Some of the recipes haven’t been listed as I just did them from scratch rather than following anything specific.

Over many hours on Sunday, I slowly made my way through each part, firstly baking the sponges and meringue, then each topping for that, followed by the remaining coverings and decor. Though I then managed to get nearly everything done, in true Bake Off Final tradition, by this point it was nearly 12 hours since I started (interrupted by a trip to town, dropping off Emily’s birthday present, a food shop, and smashing up the postbox on our garden wall…as you do). Therefore the mirror glaze and b.e.a.utiful gold leaf decoration kindly bought for me by Mr Husband didn’t actually happen until this evening once I got home.

Then, when I opened the fridge door to check if the glaze had set enough to take photos…

I BLOODY DROPPED THE CAKE ON THE FLOOR

I actually couldn’t believe it.

So the coffee beans were brought in to save the day on the slightly better side, my finger marks where I’d attempted to grab it were sort of smoothed over, and, my dear readers, you do not get a view of the sad side that merrily smashed into the kitchen floor.

Like all great Bake Off series, there had to be some drama right?!

Still, as a final bake, this one I feel was a real ombre show stopper. A coffee/chocolate/hazelnut piece to be proud of (mostly) and genuinely one of the tastiest things I have ever baked! Until next year…!!