'The Great British Baking Show' Series 3 Episode 4 Recap: Dessert Week

Nine bakers sloshed through the cold rain to face this week’s formidable dessert challenges. However, before we immerse ourselves in a profusion of dairy products and refined sugar, let’s take a look back at who stumbled and who triumphed in the previous bread-centric episode.

Ian showed himself to be no flash in the pan when he captured the Star Baker title for the second straight week. He continued to dominate with his great flavor combinations demonstrated in his wild garlic pesto soda bread, architectural baking abilities visible in his flour power 3-D bread sculpture and solid technical skills as he came in first in the baguette challenge. Alas Dorret’s undistinguished quick bread and baguettes coupled with her failure to practice her showstopper project in advance made her the judges’ choice to leave the contest.

This week’s triad of decadent dessert challenges was all about the wobble, international meringues and caramelizing the way they used to do back in the day.

For the signature round, the bakers had to make a dozen identical crème brûlés in two and a half hours. Any flavor combination was acceptable, however, the bakers had to forsake the blowtorch and use the oven grill to caramelize the tops.