'The Great British Baking Show' Season 5 Episode 4 Recap: Dessert Week

Nine bakers returned to The Great British Baking Show this week, intent on surviving the vaguely titled “dessert week”. Why this particular competition bears this name is something of a mystery. Cakes, most tarts and some pies are desserts, after all. In fact, a majority of the challenges on The Great British Baking Show could technically fall into the dessert category. I guess it’s not ours to question why, only to witness the pursuit of baking perfection.  And thisw eek the bakers had to be perfect at whipping up torte, crème caramel and meringues. But first, let’s review the outcomes of last week’s episode.

Tart Week belonged to James. The Star Baker title was bestowed upon the young medical student, who knocked it out of the park with his technically impeccable and adventurously flavorful trio of tarts. From his first-place finish in the treacle tart technical to his daring signature apple and lavender tarte tatin and finally a deliciously unique rose, lychee and raspberry showstopper fruit tart, James impressed the judges in every challenge.

Meanwhile, it was Victoria, the first Star Baker of the season, who made her exit last week. Her signature tarte tatin was apparently having an identity crisis and her showstopper fruit tart was both overpowered by lime glaze and suffered from an under-baked crust. Just further proof that Star Baker status doesn’t protect you from an early departure.