| Season Number: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 8 |
| Network: | Nine Network |
The first season of The Great Australian Bake Off premiered on 9 July 2013 on the Nine Network, and saw ten home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. The season consisted of 8 episodes. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 9 July 2013 until 27 August 2013, and saw Nancy Ho win.[1] [2] The season was hosted by Anna Gare and Shane Jacobson, and was judged by Dan Lepard and Kerry Vincent.
The following is the list of the bakers that competed this season:
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Ho | 22 | Architecture Graduate | Brisbane, Queensland | |
| Jonathan Gurfinkel | 35 | I.T. Guy | Melbourne, Victoria | |
| Maria Vella | 45 | Workplace Trainer | Melbourne, Victoria | |
| Monique Bowley | 30 | Former WNBL Star | Adelaide, South Australia | |
| Brendan Garlick | 21 | Uni Student | Springwood, New South Wales | |
| Julie Bonanno | 41 | Farm Mum | Shepparton, Victoria | |
| Mark Bartter | 52 | Chartered Accountant | Sydney, New South Wales | |
| Sara-Jane Smith | 30 | School Teacher | Melbourne, Victoria | |
| Bliss Nixon | 23 | Trivia Host | Gold Coast, Queensland | |
| Steve Lovett | 28 | Boxer | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | |
| Elimination Chart | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker | 1[3] | 2[4] | 3[5] | 4[6] | 8 | |||||
| Nancy | SB | WINNER | ||||||||
| Jonathan | SB | SB | Runner-Up | |||||||
| Maria | SB | SB | Runner-Up | |||||||
| Monique | SB | OUT | ||||||||
| Brendan | OUT | |||||||||
| Julie | SB | OUT | ||||||||
| Mark | OUT | |||||||||
| Sara-Jane | OUT | |||||||||
| Bliss | OUT | |||||||||
| Steve | OUT | |||||||||
Colour key:
| Got through to the next round | Awarded Star Baker | Season winner |
| One of the judges' favourite bakers that week | The baker was eliminated | |
| One of the judges' least favourite bakers that week | Season runner-up | |
For the first challenge, the bakers were required to make 24 cupcakes in two hours. The judges specified they wanted two different flavours of cupcake of which there should be 12 each. The Technical Challenge set was for a Checkerboard Cake, which was flavoured with chocolate and orange and had four layers. A Children's Party Cake was set as the Showstopper to be completed in five hours.
| Baker | Signature (24 Cupcakes) | Technical (Chocolate & Orange Checkerboard Cake) | Showstopper (Children's Party Cake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bliss | White Chocolate & Passionfruit Cream Cupcakes Flourless Choc Hazelnut Cupcakes | 5 | Princess Cake |
| Brendan | Raspberry Marshmallow Cupcakes Peanut Butter Rocky Road Cupcakes | 3 | Flavoured Rainbow Cake |
| Jonathan | Cherry Cheesecake Cupcakes Banana & Peanut Butter Cupcakes | 6 | 3D Rocket Cake on Carved Half Moon |
| Julie | Pistachio & Rosewater Cupcakes Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes | 7 | Honey Hive Cake |
| Maria | Coffee, Chocolate & Hazelnut Cupcakes Passionfruit Cupcakes with White Choc Ganache | 2 | Magical Butterfly Garden Raspberry Ripple Cake |
| Mark | Rose-Flavoured Buttercream Swirl Cupcakes Orange & Grapefruit Curd Cupcakes | 10 | Chocolate Mud Cake with Plum Syrup |
| Monique | Vanilla & Rosewater Butterfly Cakes Chocolate & Lemon Curd Cupcakes | 4 | Pool Cake |
| Nancy | Lemon Filled Lavender Cupcakes Vietnamese Coffee Cupcake with Cinnamon Doughnuts | 1 | Ballerina Pillow Banana Cake |
| Sara-Jane | Coconut Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Spiced Chocolate & Pear Cupcakes | 8 | "Very Vanilla" Rainbow Cake with Homemade Sprinkles |
| Steve | Flourless Orange, Linseed, Sunflower Seed & Almond Cupcakes Coffee & Whisky Cupcakes | 9 | Banana Sandstone Castle Cake |
A family pie was set as the first challenge, with two and a half hours being set as the time limit. The bakers had any choice of filling - sweet or savoury - and pastry, the only brief was that the pie must have a lid. For the next challenge, a lemon meringue pie was set, with the judges hoping for a perfectly cooked pastry, a set filling and a crispy meringue. For the Showstopper Challenge, the judges wanted 12 Party Pies, 12 Sausage Rolls and 12 Pasties in four hours.
| Baker | Signature (Family Pie) | Technical (Lemon Meringue Pie) | Showstopper (36 Party Pies, Sausage Rolls & Pasties) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bliss | Chicken Leek & Bacon Pie | 9 | Beef & Bacon Party Pies Pork, Apple & Fennel Sausage Rolls Spicy Curry Pasties |
| Brendan | Thai Chicken Pie | 2 | BBQ Chicken & Cheese Pies Satay Pork Sausage Rolls Beef & Bean Pasties |
| Jonathan | Garlic Prawn, Fish & Rice Pie | 1 | Chicken Kiev Party Pies Layered Lamb Moussaka Pasties Pumpkin & Ricotta Sfogliatelle |
| Julie | Moroccan Lamb & Sweet Potato Pie | 6 | Salmon & Fennel Party Pies Curried Coriander Potato Pasties Chicken, Bacon & Sundried Tomatoes Sausage Rolls |
| Maria | Aromatic Braised Beef Pie | 5 | Chicken & Apple Cider Pies Spiced Samosa Pasties Chicken & Sage Sausage Rolls |
| Mark | Cheese & Onion Pie | 8 | Shredded Pork Pies Potato & Cauliflower Empanadas Argentinian Beef Pampas Rolls |
| Monique | Chicken, Herb & Mushroom Pie | 4 | Mini Shepherd's Pies Cornish Pasties Classic Sausage Rolls |
| Nancy | Lamb Shank & Potato Pie | 7 | Smoky Chorizo Sausage Rolls Pumpkin & Feta Pasties BBQ Pork & Whisky Pies |
| Sara-Jane | Rabbit, Leek & Pistachio Pie | 3 | Mushroom Bourguignon Pies Cauliflower Cheese Pasties Vegetarian Sausage Rolls |
For the Signature bake, 24 Aussie Assortments - classic Australian biscuits - were required of the bakers. In two and a half hours, the bakers had to make two different types of biscuit, 12 of each. 12 Brandy Snaps were set as the Technical Challenge, with the judges requesting they be 12 cm in length, and that ten be filled with cream and two be left for snapping. For the final challenge, a gingerbread structure was set, to be done in four hours.
| Baker | Signature (24 Aussie Assortments) | Technical (Brandy Snaps) | Showstopper (Gingerbread Structure) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan | Butterscotch ANZAC Biscuits Lemon Myrtle Biscuits with Lemon Butter Cream | 2 | Sydney Harbour Bridge at NYE |
| Jonathan | Chocolate & Caramel Oat Biscuits Chocolate Wagon Wheels | 7 | Giant Monster Robot |
| Julie | Macadamia, Mango & Passionfruit Shortbread Chocolate Mint Yo-Yos | 1 | Outdoor Dunny |
| Maria | Mango Macadamia Melting Moments Mint Marshmallow Swirl Biscuits | 6 | Eiffel Tower in Bloom |
| Mark | Australian Royal Mint Slice Bitter Almond ANZAC Biscuits | 5 | High Country Hut |
| Monique | Choc Coconut Macarons ANZAC Biscuits | 3 | Gingerbread Church |
| Nancy | Chocolate & Raspberry Wagon Wheels Earl Grey Shortbread | 4 | Gingerbread Carousel |
| Sara-Jane | Cornflake Catastrophe Cookies Fizzing Mandarin Creams | 8 | Wintry Village |
A tarte tatin was set for the Signature Challenge, to be completed within two and a half hours. For the Technical Challenge, a Quiche Lorraine was set, which used rough puff pastry and was to be finished again within two and a half hours. For their final challenge, the bakers were tasked with creating 12 miniature sweet tarts - half fruit and half chocolate.
| Baker | Signature (Tarte Tatin) | Technical (Quiche Lorraine) | Showstopper (12 Miniature Sweet Tarts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan | Peppered Pineapple Tarte Tatin | 1 | Passionfruit Cream Tarts with Toffied Macadamias Chocolate Tarts with Raspberries & Mint |
| Jonathan | Lamb Tarte Tatin | 2 | Chocolate Tarts with Hazelnut Frangipane Lychee Tarts with Macadamia Praline |
| Julie | Banana & Pineapple Tarte Tatin | 5 | Passionfruit Mango Tarts Peanut Butter Chocolate Tarts |
| Maria | Jackfruit & Banana Tarte Tatin | 6 | White Chocolate, Mango & Raspberry Tarts Jaffa Tarts with Orange Liqueur |
| Mark | Apple, Raisin & Almond Tarte Tatin | 4 | Nectarine & Lemongrass Tartlets Chocolate Cream Tartlets |
| Monique | Apple Tarte Tatin | 7 | Strawberry Cream Tarts Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tarts |
| Nancy | Rum Spiced Caramel & Pineapple Tarte Tatin | 3 | Chocolate Marshmallow Tarts Coconut & Orange Liqueur Tarts |
In the Signature Challenge, the bakers were asked to make a loaf which was free-form (i.e - not in a tin) in two and a half hours. For the Technical, the challenge was Dan's recipe for coffee scrolls, which were filled with cinnamon and sultanas and were topped with a coffee glaze. The bakers had two and a half hours. Finally, the bakers had to make a bread basket (which did not have to necessarily be edible) and 24 rolls of two flavours for the Showstopper in four hours.
| Baker | Signature (Free-Form Loaf) | Technical (Coffee Scroll) | Showstopper (Display Bread Basket + 24 Rolls) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan | Rhubarb & Pink Lady Apple Bread | 5 | Pumpkin & Gorgonzola Rolls Pecan Buns |
| Jonathan | Cinnamon & Poppy Seed Bread | 1 | Sausage & Sauerkraut Rolls Whisky & Chocolate Iced Rolls |
| Julie | Pumpkin Pull-Apart Loaf | 4 | Pecan Cinnamon Rolls Carrot & Cumin Rolls |
| Maria | Spinach & Feta Cheese Bread | 2 | Orange & Walnut Rosettes Mini Pesto Parmesan Spiral Loaves |
| Monique | Spiced Fruit Cider Bread | 6 | Coconut Iced Sweet Buns Cheesymite Scrolls |
| Nancy | Dukkah & Macadamia Plaited Loaf | 3 | Mexican Coffee Buns Porcini, Truffle & Rosemary Dinner Rolls |
The bakers were first tasked with making one large baked cheesecake in two and a half hours, with the choice base (biscuit, pastry, etc.) and flavours being the baker's own. For the Technical bake, a layered pavlova torte was set as the challenge to be completed in two and a half hours. Consisting of three layers of meringue filled with whipped cream and summer fruits, the bakers were also asked to make their own strawberry sugar art. The Showstopper Challenge was a tiered celebration cake with at least two tiers.
| Baker | Signature (Baked Cheesecake) | Technical (Layered Pavlova Torte) | Showstopper (Tiered Celebration Cake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan | White Chocolate & Brownie Cheesecake | 5 | Live Laugh Love 21st Birthday Cake |
| Jonathan | Cherry & Polish Cottage Cheese Cheesecake | 3 | Wedding Anniversary Cake |
| Maria | Honey, Orange Blossom & Rose Cheesecake | 4 | Red Velvet Engagement Cake |
| Monique | Lemon & Sour Cream Cheesecake with Fresh Blueberries | 1 | Ombre Wedding Cake |
| Nancy | Lime & Ginger Cheesecake | 2 | Orange Blossom Kokeshi Doll Cake |
For the first challenge, the bakers had to make a gluten-free fruit tart in two and a half hours which would serve eight people. For the next challenge, 6 croissants were set to be completed in four hours with jam of the baker's choice. A strudel was set as the Showstopper - it should be complete in two and a half hours, with the only criteria being it should be enough to feed eight people.
| Baker | Signature (Gluten-Free Fruit Tart) | Technical (Croissants) | Showstopper (Strudel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan | Strawberry Crème Brûlée Tart | 3 | Apple, Pear & Walnut Strudel |
| Maria | 1 | Spiced Fig & Apple Strudel | |
| Monique | Honey, Fig & Goat's Cheese Tart | 4 | Apple Strudel |
| Nancy | Walnut, Gorgonzola & Pear Tart | 2 | Pear & Chocolate Celebration Wreath |
In the final Signature Challenge, the bakers had three and a half hours to make a large, multi-layered gâteau. In the Technical, choux pastry Religieuse were set. The bakers had to present three different flavours - chocolate, coffee and rose - and they had two and a half hours. Finally, the bakers had to make a selection of 36 petit-fours. The bakers were required to make three types - twelve of each.
| Baker | Signature (Multi-Layered Gâteau) | Technical (La Religieuse) | Showstopper (36 Petits Fours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan | Raspberry, Walnut & Praline Layered Meringue | 1 | Pistachio Crusted Choux Puffs with Turkish Delight Hungarian Dobos Torte Macadamia Tuile Cones with Strawberry Cream & Coconut Ganache |
| Maria | Chocolate Sponge Gâteau with Choc-Cherry Mousse | 2 | Mini Lemon Cream Tartlets Toffee Cream Choux Puffs Raspberry Brûlée Custard Tarts |
| Nancy | Passionfruit Sponge with Chocolate Caramel Mousse | 3 | Earl Grey & Lavender Opera Cake Lemon Tart with Candied Kumquat Tuile Lychee Rose Mini Choux Nuns |