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Leighton

@leightonthebaker

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Contestant on the Great British Bake Off 2025 - Series 16 - I love all things baking - cake, pastry and bread plus anything with chocolate. #gbbo

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2025 Great British Bake Off. 🍰🧁🍪🥐🍞🥮#gbbo by @leightonthebaker

#gbbo #extraslice #uscapitols #usastates by @leightonthebaker

I know it’s far too early but with my homemade mincemeat ready, I couldn’t resist baking the first batch of the year…. 😳🎄
#mincepies #gbbo by @leightonthebaker

I made my first wedding cake last weekend. 17 hours to make and then a 4 hour stressful journey down the M4 transporting it to the wedding venue. I was pleased with the final product and everyone seemed to enjoyed it. 🍰🥂🍰🥂💍💍

#gbbo #weddingcakes #victoriasponge #lemoncurd #chocolatecake by @leightonthebaker

Congratulations Carys and Bethan. Fabulous wedding. by @leightonthebaker

It’s dessert week this week on Bake Off. My easy apple, cinnamon and sultana crumble with runny caramel and custard. Give it a go.
#gbbo #applecrumble #dessert

INGREDIENTS

450g plain or wholewheat flour (450 g)
150g butter (150 g), at room temperature
220g soft brown sugar (220 g), according to taste

900g Bramley apples (900 g), peeled, cored and sliced
75g raisins (75 g)
26g soft brown sugar (25 g)
1 level teaspoon ground cinnamon
1¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons water

For the caramel drizzle
120g water
200g granulated sugar
180g double cream, room temperature
2g vanilla extract
0.75g salt

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4, 350°F (180°C).
You will need 3 pint (1.75 litre) pie-dish or a 9-10 inch (23-25 cm) shallow gratin dish.
Place the sliced apples, raisins, sugar and spices in a saucepan, prinkle with the water, then cook gently until the apples are soft and luffy. Spoon the mixture into the pie-dish.

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl, then add the butter and rub it into the four lightly, using your fingertips. Then when it all looks crumbly, and the fat has been dispersed fairly evenly, add the sugar. Now sprinkle the crumble mixture all over the fruit in a pie-dish or shallow gratin dish, spreading it out with a fork. Place the crumble on a high shelf and bake it for 30-40 minutes or until it’s golden. by @leightonthebaker

Mincemeat all made and ready for mince pie season. 😀🎄😀🎄

#mincepies #christmas #gbbo by @leightonthebaker

A tribute to Bake Off bread week, homemade pizza dough with your favourite pizza toppings is just the best….. 🍕🍕🍕

#gbbo #pizza #pizzadough by @leightonthebaker

One of my younger followers Benjamin, sent me this and I just love the creativity and finesse of this bake. Congratulations Benjamin - what a talent and great baker.

Benjamin is in Year 5, and was crowned the winner for Willow House in his year group at the school’s House Bake Off competition!

Benjamin planned, baked and decorated his creation all by himself, bringing his wonderful woodland-themed design to life.

His cake was inspired by his house name, Willow, and its house colour, red.

Keep baking Benjamin. 🍰🍰🍰

#juniorbakeoff #gbbo #woodland by @leightonthebaker

Our Friday night treat - Lemon curd Bakewell tarts. Just so delicious. Give them a go….

#gbbo #lemoncurd #bakewelltart #greatbritishbakingshow by @leightonthebaker

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Baking time: Approximately 40 minutes
Tin: 23 × 30 cm (9 × 12-inch) traybake tin
Oven: 180°C conventional / 160°C fan / 350°F
Ingredients
For the cake
* 225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
* 225g light muscovado sugar
* 300g self-raising flour
* 2 tsp baking powder
* 1–2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
* 4 large eggs
* 1 tbsp milk
* 550g cooking apples, preferably Bramley
* Juice of ½ lemon
* Icing sugar, for dusting
For the caramel sauce
* 120g water
* 200g granulated sugar
* 180g double cream, at room temperature
* 2g vanilla extract
* 1g salt
Method
Make the caramel sauce
1. Place the water and sugar in a pan and eat gently over a medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved.
2. Once the sugar has dissolved, stop stirring. Bring the syrup to the boil and cook until it turns a rich amber colour.
3. Remove the pan from the heat just before the caramel reaches your desired colour, as it will continue to darken briefly.
4. Carefully pour in the cream, taking care as the mixture will bubble vigorously. Add the vanilla extract and salt, then stir with a wooden spoon until smooth.
Prepare the cake
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C conventional / 160°C fan / 350°F. Grease and line a 23 × 30 cm (9 × 12-inch) traybake tin with baking parchment.
2. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Toss them in the lemon juice to prevent browning.
3. Place the softened butter, muscovado sugar, flour, baking powder, ½ teaspoon of the cinnamon, eggs and milk in a large mixing bowl. Beat until the mixture is smooth, creamy and well combined.
4. Spoon half the cake mixture into the prepared tin and spread it evenly. Arrange half the apple slices over the top, then sprinkle with some of the remaining cinnamon.
5. Carefully spread the remaining cake mixture over the apples. Arrange the rest of the apple slices on top and finish with the remaining cinnamon.
6. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until golden and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.

#apple #autumn #cinnamon #gbbo by @leightonthebaker

Chicago is still my favourite US city. It’s so vibrant, interesting, charming and warm. Can’t wait to return.

#chicago #americanbakingshow by @leightonthebaker