Georgie in GBBO (Image source via Instagram @britishbakeoff)

The Great British Bake Off finale recap – Georgie beats Christiaan and Dylan to become 2024 winner

Modified Nov 27, 2024 06:39 GMT

The Great British Bake Off season 15 finale aired on November 26, 2024, featuring Christiaan de Vries, Dylan Bachelet, and Georgie Grasso. Georgie made history as the show's first Welsh winner. The final challenges included a Signature bake of 24 scones, split evenly between sweet and savory with unique fillings.

In the Technical challenge, they had to prepare an afternoon tea spread, including four lemon sandwich cakes, four strawberry tarts, and four plated egg and cress rolls. Christiaan excelled, winning his first-ever Technical, while Dylan's struggles in this round were reflected in his last-place finish.

The Showstopper tasked the finalists with creating a hanging garden party cake. Georgie’s lemon, strawberry, and champagne cake ultimately stood out, securing her victory. Christiaan and Dylan also delivered fresh designs but fell short of the top spot. Georgie’s win was celebrated alongside her family, friends, and the eliminated contestants, marking a memorable end to the season.

Signature and technical challenges in the finale of The Great British Bake Off

The finale episode of The Great British Bake Off began with the Signature challenge, where the bakers prepared 24 scones. The challenge required an even split between sweet and savory varieties, each filled with a complementary flavor. Christiaan selected curry and coconut as the base for his savory scones, aiming for a fresh combination. For his sweet batch, he opted for traditional flavors with a twist.

Dylan chose strawberry and salmon for his savory scones, presenting a pairing to showcase his creativity. For his sweet scones, he focused on classic flavor combinations that complemented the challenge's requirements.

Georgie chose a Greek-inspired theme for her savory scones, incorporating ingredients commonly associated with Mediterranean cuisine. Her sweet scones followed an afternoon tea concept, featuring flavors that aligned with her theme.

The judges evaluated all three entries, noting each baker’s approach to balancing flavors and consistency. While each contestant showed their skill and creativity, they all received feedback on areas for improvement. Issues like minor inconsistencies in texture or balance of flavor prevented any of them from receiving perfect praise.

Showstopper challenge in The Great British Bake Off finale

The final challenge of the competition required the bakers to create a hanging cake designed for a garden party. The requirements included three tiers, two distinct fillings, and decorations to match the garden theme.

Georgie’s cake, featuring lemon, strawberry, champagne, mascarpone, and elderflower, impressed the judges with its delicate flavors and cohesive design, securing her win. Christiaan’s lemon and poppyseed cake with raspberry jam and licorice stood out for creativity but was criticized for overpowering flavors and overbaking, affecting his final result.

Dylan used a genoise sponge as the base for his cake. His flavors included Earl Grey tea, candied orange, and mascarpone. While the concept was creative, the structure of his cake faced challenges, with stability and balance in flavor being key areas of concern.

Ultimately, Georgie’s consistent performance throughout the competition and her ability to meet the demands of the Showstopper challenge led to her winning moment. She marked her historic win as the first Welsh champion of The Great British Bake Off.

All the episodes of The Great British Bake Off are available to stream on Channel 4.