Judges Peter Gordon and Jordan Rondel are back, as are hosts Hayley Sproull and Pax Assadi!
Meet the bakers 
AIDAN WOODWARD, 42
electrician/registered nurse
Nelson resident Aidan is no stranger to Bake Off challenges – he was just one hurdle away from making it onto the British version in 2012. Aidan’s strengths include attention to detail and creativity, and he’s happy baking anything from a scone to a croquembouche.
ANNA WAINWRIGHT, 28
teacher
Aucklander Anna, who lives with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), wants to inspire the kids she teaches to follow their dreams. A keen baker since she was little, Anna is fascinated with the concept of playing with recipes to see what happens. A fan of creating cooking videos for TikTok, Anna’s signature bake is her cinnamon buns.
CHANTELLE REIHANA, 23
model/hospitality
She’s taken to the stage as a model for the World of Wearable Arts in 2022, but this time, Chantelle wants to blow everyone away with her baking skills. A self-confessed perfectionist, she describes herself as Jade Thirwall from The Great British Bake Off meets Martha Stewart! Chantelle says showcasing her baking skills on the show fulfils a childhood dream.
DANIELLE WINDFUHR, 39
executive assistant
As a coeliac, you’d be forgiven for wondering why Danielle has chosen baking, but the Aucklander says she’s happy to make things without tasting them. Danielle is also a big Dungeons and Dragons fan, so expect some wild creations here! Doughnuts are her signature bake.
DEVONEY SCARFE, 47
commercial artist
Auckland-based Devoney and her husband own a creative agency, but she’s got a guilty secret – she’ll do anything she can to dodge work, to go home and bake! She likes to dwell in the “grey area where food meets art”She’s even got an Instagram account dedicated to her pie-making. A lover of music, art and animals, Devoney reckons nothing would be sweeter than taking home the crown of New Zealand’s best baker.
JOSEPHINE TJANDRA, 36
food analyst
With a degree in food science, Josephine is skilled at creating her own recipes – which means, for better or worse, they’re always unique! The Palmerston North-based baker makes some interesting creations, including caramel soy sauce seaweed. But her personal favourite is caramel popcorn, which she reckons has a balanced sweetness and is super-crispy too.
JOSH DUNCAN, 32
civil engineering project manager
This fitness junkie and manifestation king recently lost 80kg and picked up a sweet tooth in the process. An avid runner, health-conscious Josh says baking helps him relax, and it’s his way of showing his love and appreciation to his family and friends.
LILLIAN WRIGGLESWORTH, 56
homemaker
Lillian lost her leg in an accident two years ago, and believes she wouldn’t have had the bravery to enter Bake Off had she not become an amputee. With a vast baking repertoire, Lillian isn’t afraid to try anything – once, at least! When the Amberley homemaker isn’t baking, she loves sewing, gardening, crafts and socialising. She’s also recently gotten into beekeeping, which seems about ten thousand times scarier than braving the Bake Off tent.
PAUL DICKSON, 45
founder of Oke Charity
Baking is a stress-reliever for Paul, whose charity, Oke, provides Kiwi kids with the opportunity to learn life and social skills through gardening at school. Paul bakes with his son and is planning to bring a bit of “Brummie flavour” from his UK birthplace to the show.
SALLY EAGLE, 37
wedding dress designer
A baker since childhood, Wellingtonian Sally’s creations certainly take the cake! She adores decorating the results and believes that unlike a painting, which is designed to last, her creations are made to be eaten, so she’ll decorate as if there’s no tomorrow. Her favourite task is to hand-paint a cake.
5×3: “Free From” Week
Guest judge Michael Van de Elzen
signature challenge: savory vegetarian pie (free from meat)
who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Aidan – creamy leek & potato pie with rough puff pastry, gruyere & colby cheese, creme fraiche
Anna – butter paneer pie with sour cream bottom crust, ginger, garlic, cardamom, cloves, rough puff pastry top, mango chutney
Chantelle – shortcrust pastry, mushrooms, carrots, spinach, tomato, curry powder, cheesy mashed potato top
Danielle – shortcrust pastry,kumura & red lentil dahl, garam masala, ground coriander
Devoney – lidless veggie patch pie with spinach, mint, parsley, chives, goat milk feta & ricotta, pastry flowers
Josephine – rendang pie with shortcrust pastry,Indonesian curry, galangal, turmeric, ginger, chili, ginger, garlic, boiled eggs, potato top
Josh – samosa pie with hot water crust pastry, cauliflower, potato, kumara, mango powder, fenigreek, mint, coriander, white poppyseeds, turmeric
Sally – creamy mushroom pie, gluten free pastry, shiitake & button mushrooms, onion, garlic, thyme, cream cheese
technical challenge: Jordan’s vegan mulled wine and blackberry cake
rankings: [Spoiler (click to open)]
1 – Anna
2 – Devoney
3 – Sally
4 – Danielle
5 – Aidan
6 – Chantelle
7 – Josh
8 – Josephine
showstopper challenge: dairy-free mousse and jelly art cake
who made what: [Spoiler (click to open)]
Aidan – vanilla sponge, banana, peanut butter mousse, raspberry jelly, whipped coconut cream, almonds
Anna – chocolate brownie base, blood orange dark chocolate mousse, blood orange jelly, orange marshmallow squiggles
Chantelle – orange poppyseed cake, chocolate coconut cream mousse, berry jelly, coconut cream lotus flower in clear jelly
Danielle – orange genoise sponge, french chocolate mousse, orange cointreau jelly, tempered chocolate collar
Devoney – coconut dacquoise, guava coconut milk bavarois, apple jelly, coconut jelly
Josephine – coffee soaked genoise sponge, chocolate crumb, java jelly, avocado mousse, chocolate sauce
Josh – banoffee cake with banana cake, salted caramel cookie crumb, tofu & coconut cream vegan chocolate mousse, edible flowers, clear jelly
Sally – summer cocktail dessert with coconut lime cake, strawberry mousse, prosecco & elderflower jelly
star baker: [Spoiler (click to open)] Anna
eliminated: [Spoiler (click to open)] Josh
If you are not a Kiwi, you can watch episodes 2 and 3 here:
Next week: bread week!
