After exploring the block filled Minecraft world, the bakers focused on more whimsical desserts in Spring Baking Championship Season 11 episode 3. From madeleine towers to rainbow cheesecakes, these bakers better dream big with the colorful concepts.
This Spring Baking Championship season has seen various changes. Winning the Preheat comes with a prize, but it is not always the big win that the bakers want. For episode 3, the gift basket was a coveted one, the gift of immunity.
For the Spring Baking Championship Season 11 episode 3 Preheat, the bakers had to make madeleine towers. Each baker was assigned a tea flavor. A few bakers received the dreaded matcha flavor. As Duff Goldman and Jesse Palmer have shared, matcha is one of the hardest flavors to master.
Overall, the madeleine towers were in the middle of the road. Most of the bakers either had a great visual or a great flavor. Few bakers soared with both elements.
It was interesting that the judges did not have too harsh criqitues for some bakers. For example, Kareem has been struggling and his tower looked as if it was crumbling. Apparently, his flavors were good even if the judges ate with their eyes closed.
Julian’s tower was clearly the winner. In addition to a lovely hibiscus flavor, the visual was stunning. The vibrant colors, impressive chocolate work, and visual movement earned him the win.
For winning the Preheat, Julian received immunity. Unlike other seasons, there is a twist to the immunity. First, it is good for up to five challenges. That aspect can be a big game changer both for strategy and for good fortune. Second, the immunity must be “redeemed” during the bake. Julian cannot wait to the judges’ decision and play the “safe” card.
How the immunity aspect will play out remains to be seen, but it should keep Julian around till mid-season. It will be curious to see when another immunity gift basket becomes available. This bonus could be more coveted than an Main Challenge win.
In the Main Challenge, the bakers needed to make a rainbow cheesecake. The cheesecake had to be a “rainbow” both in and out. It was less of a rainbow and more of an ombre effect. The tiered colors matched the fruit flavor.
The bakers needed to make a quick decision, baked or no bake cheesecake. Both desserts were risky, but the bakers needed to choose the one that they were more confident to accomplish.
Overall, the cheesecakes were good. Some had better flavors than others. Still, everyone offered the judges an edible cheesecake that was mostly successful.
In back to back Main Heat wins, Corey impressed the judges with a beautiful design and impressive flavors. His cheesecake had the perfect ombre effect. More importantly, his mango flavor was sweet and juicy. Corey seems to be on a roll.
One interesting top baker was Paul. While Kardea Brown said that his dessert was not a cheesecake, Duff and Nancy Fuller argued for his creativity. More importantly, his flavor was delicious. He was safe.
The bottom bakers were Julian and Stacey. While Julian took a risk with a baked cheesecake, he thought that he did enough with his décor to be safe. Unfortunately, the cheesecake was overbaked and eggy.
Stacey’s cheesecake was too ginger forward. Additionally, the texture was incorrect. It was too dense.
Luckily for Julian, his cheesecake was just a little better and he was safe. Stacey was sent home.
With Julian just making into the next round, he might be more thoughtful with his Immunity Pass. He could have gone home and that would have been a bigger error than an overbaked cheesecake.
What will the next episode hold for the bakers? Be sure to tune into new episodes of Spring Baking Championship on Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network. Episodes can be streamed the next day on MAX.