OVEN gloves at the ready, home bakers. Soggy bottoms at the back. The Great Manchester Bake Off is back after a hugely successful debut at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival last year.
The 2016 Festival (September 29-October 10) has announced its official quest to crown the very best baker in Greater Manchester, as well as a huge Community Bake Sale at the Albert Square hub on Sunday, October 9.
Whether it be the creator of the most extraordinary croissants in Crumpsall, marvellous macaroons in Manchester or the very best brownies in Bury, the Festival wants to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got all the ingredients to be named Great Manchester Bake Off Champion 2016.
Budding bakers are invited to bring their homemade creation to MilkJam on Oxford Street on Sunday, September 11, for round one of The Great Manchester Bake Off – “Sweet Creations!”
The Festival’s specially selected judges will taste entries and decide who gets through to the Great Manchester Bake Off Final on Sunday, October 9.
The judging panel is made up of some of the most talented bakers and creators in the North, and includes the current reigning Great Manchester Bake Off Champion, last year’s winner, Francine Conway from Prestwich (pictured below with her Stone Roses lemon cake).
She commented: “To be able to say I'm the reigning MFDF Bake Off Champion has been amazing. Friends and family are always kind and say your baking tastes great, but to get some quite prestigious judges saying just that is a massive confidence boost. I'm really excited to take part in this year’s judging panel, helping to crown a new champion, and of course, trying all the cake!”
The finalists will be invited to come to the Festival Hub’s Great Manchester Bake Sale on Sunday, October 9, where they will be competing in the Festival’s special final challenge – details to be revealed. The winner will be selected on site and the 2016/7 Bake Off Champion crowned.
The Bake Off is in assocation with Nisbets and the Manchester Evening News. Nisbets have contributed more than £800 worth of prizes, which include: a Kitchen Aid K45 Mixer courtesy of Nisbets; a Baking Goodie Pack including Mason Cash mixing bowl and professional cake pans also courtesy of Nisbets, plus Slattery's in Whitefield a half-day chocolate masterclass for two, a chocolate medal and Slattery's Chocolate Cookbook, with further goodies to be confirmed.
There are 30 places in the initial heat and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so MFDF advise budding bakers to register for their place early as last year’s inaugural Bake Off Heat filled up fast.
To enter, residents of Greater Manchester must visit this link to register. Unregistered entrants will not be permitted to enter round one.
The Festival is also calling for bakers to host their own bake sale stalls on the same day at the Great Manchester Charity Bake Sale. The event space marquee will be transformed into a cake heaven with all proceeds going to Forever Manchesterto support grass roots community projects across Greater Manchester. The cake sale is part of their Caketober fund-raising month, which is quite simply all about cake and fancy dress!
To register for your own stall, or to help with the Forever Manchester stall interested parties should email [email protected] .
The Great Manchester Bake Sale is free to attend, and is open from 12-6pm on Sunday October, 9.
DON’T miss national treasure and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain performing in the Live Cookery Theatre and sharing her home grown baking tips at 2pm on Saturday, October 8.