The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom’s Top 10 Bakes

Bakers! We’ve made it to the FINAL of the Great British Bake Off 2021! Whether you’re rooting for Giuseppe, cheering on Chigs or hoping that Crystelle takes the title, we can all agree it’s been another entertaining season of everyone’s favourite baking show. 

We’ve had stunning showstoppers and tricky technicals, but only one baker can come out on top. 

If you’ve been following our Bake Off articles, you’ll know that each week we’ve been rounding up recipes for you to bake along with the show. With the final just days away, there’s no better time to run through Pinch of Nom’s Top 10 baking recipes. 

These are the most popular sweet treats on our website, tried and tested by our lovely PON community. So, for one last time this year, grab your apron and wooden spoon…on your marks, get set, BAKE!

1. Biscoff Cheesecake

One of our newer recipes, Biscoff Cheesecake took our social media by storm when it was added to our site a couple of months ago. Super popular in our Facebook Group, it seems everyone is as obsessed with Biscoff as we are! 

This indulgent tasting cheesecake uses both the Lotus Biscoff spread and the biscuits of the same name to give a deep, caramelised flavour with just a hint of spice. With traditional cheesecake, you can expect to find full fat cream cheese and cream amongst the ingredients – which is why a slice can be so high in calories. 

Our slimming friendly version is so much lighter, thanks to a few clever swaps. You can make this a day ahead and settle down with a slice (just 234 calories!) as you enjoy the Bake Off final. 

2. Strawberry and Vanilla Waffles

Is it a pudding? Breakfast? Sweet snack? The beauty of these Strawberry and Vanilla Waffles is that you can enjoy them whenever you want. When it comes to waffles, there are no rules. 

Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, it’s no wonder these golden waffles have been such a hit. They’re much easier to make than you might expect, and you don’t need a fancy waffle iron to get them perfect. A cheap silicone mould does the trick nicely. 

Our top tip is to take them out of the mould 5 minutes before they’re done and pop them straight onto a baking tray. Leave them in the oven on the tray until they’re all golden and crisp. 

The best thing about this recipe is that you can get creative with it. Try topping with different fruits, yoghurt, sweetened quark – anything goes!

3. Chocolate Rice Crispy Bites

Technically there’s no baking involved in making these Chocolate Rice Crispy Bites but we know that not everyone loves to bake! Even if you’re following a diet plan like Weight Watchers, you can enjoy these little bites of chocolatey heaven. 

You don’t need any fancy ingredients, so they’re faff-free and budget friendly too – the best kind of sweet treat! We love the crunchy texture and there’s plenty of chocolate to satisfy that craving for something sweet. 

At 30 calories each, you can make yourself a little treat plate to enjoy with a cuppa in front of the telly – they’re a handy snack to have in the fridge. 

4. Cinnamon Swirls

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. These Cinnamon Swirls are made with just four ingredients, and they’re ready in half an hour. You could get a batch in the oven and have them ready just as the bakers start their signature bakes in the tent. 

With warming cinnamon running through the flaky, light puff pastry, these are especially lovely when it’s chilly outside. We think there’s something a little festive about these golden, crispy swirls, so they’re a great recipe to bring out at Christmas. 

There’s no reason to stick with cinnamon if you feel like experimenting in the kitchen – you could try a little ground ginger, mixed spice or even follow this recipe for Biscoff Swirls.

5. Strawberry Pancake Traybake

A light, fluffy, sweet delight for just 55 calories? That’s what you get from this Strawberry Pancake Traybake recipe. Easy and versatile, this popular bake is similar to the waffles in that it can be a breakfast, dessert or even a tasty snack. 

Who doesn’t like pancakes? They’re always a crowd pleaser, and you’ll usually find that you have most of the ingredients in your cupboard already. We’ve used white chocolate chips in this recipe, for that intense, sweet and creamy flavour. 

A dusting of icing sugar is all you need to finish these off, but if you fancy something a little more extravagant you could drizzle over some chocolate sauce – just don’t forget to adjust the nutritional values. 

6. Banana Cream Pudding

We’re getting into the top 5 now and we’re not surprised to see this Banana Cream Pudding making the list! So smooth and creamy, it’s just the right balance between fresh and fruity, rich and luxurious. 

It uses a freshly made custard which might seem daunting, but all you need to remember is to keep whisking! When you’re adding the hot milk to the eggs you need to do it nice and slowly so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs. 

It’s worth perfecting this knack – once you try this creamy dessert you’ll be adding it to your menu every week. Crumble some chocolate over the top for a dreamy treat that’s just as delicious as anything they’ve made on The Great British Bake Off this year!

7. Chocolate Lava Mug Cakes

Intensely chocolatey, with an irresistible gooey centre, these ever-popular Chocolate Lava Mug Cakes are a ‘must-try’ recipe. When you make them in ramekins and top them with raspberries, they look ready for a fancy dinner party – but you can also make them in a microwavable mug when you need chocolate in a hurry. 

You have the option to microwave or oven cook these yummy cakes. Both methods are super quick and leave you with a dense, rich sponge and that chocolate lava in the middle. 

For 208 calories each, there really is no better way to celebrate the final episode of Bake Off. Mix up your ingredients, microwave for one minute and tuck in. 

8. Lemon Drizzle Cake

A Lemon Drizzle Cake from just four ingredients? There really is no reason to miss out on a slice of cake when you’re watching what you eat. This simple recipe has been a big hit with the PON community because it ticks all the boxes – it’s easy, budget friendly and just 73 calories per slice. 

A loaf cake like this one is the perfect beginner-friendly bake. The most important thing to remember is not to be tempted to open the oven too soon. Give it at least 25 minutes before you check on it so that it doesn’t sink in the middle. 

Sweet and zesty, a slice of this is the ideal mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Someone put the kettle on!

9. Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Just missing out on the top spot, this Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips has been SO popular in our Facebook Group. Banana bread seems to be another one of those sweet treats that everyone universally loves. It’s certainly popular in our house!

We love a challenge, so we came up with this slimming friendly recipe, and we’re glad it’s gone down well with the PON community. 

It’s an ideal way to use up leftover bananas that have started turning brown. Once they’re all mashed up you’d never know! Make sure you whip up your egg whites really well and fold them gently into the rest of the mixture. This will keep your cake nice and light. 

10. Chocolate Brownies

Drumroll please…the most popular Pinch of Nom bake recipe is Chocolate Brownies! We all love chocolate! We might be biased, but we really do think this is the best chocolate brownie recipe, and we’re glad so many of you agree. 

These legendary brownies are low on fuss and big on chocolatey flavour. There are no tricks here, you just throw all the ingredients together and pop them in the oven. In less than half an hour you’ve got squares of divine, squishy chocolate heaven, all for 59 calories each. 

Bake Off snacks don’t come better than this. We’ll know what we’ll be tucking into while we’re on the edge of our seats waiting to see who’s crowned Star Baker of 2021. 

Have you been watching this series of the Great British Bake Off? You can catch up on our week by week theme-inspired recipe roundups here:

• Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Cake Recipes
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Biscuit Recipes
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Bread Week Inspiration
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Dessert Week Inspiration
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Pastry Week Inspiration
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Caramel Week Inspiration
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Free From Week Inspiration
• The Great British Bake Off 2021: Pinch of Nom Patisserie Week Inspiration

Tell us who you’re backing to win over on our Facebook Group. It’s the place to be for slimming motivation, inspiration and so much more.