The Great British Bake Off 2023: Pinch of Nom Patisserie Week Inspiration
We’re down to the final four and that means…it’s time for the semi-final of The Great British Bake Off 2023! The challenge standing between our favourite amateur bakers and a spot in the final? Showing off their prowess with some French-inspired bakes.
That’s right, it’s patisserie week, so Paul and Prue will be challenging the bakers to rustle up a variety of delicate pastries, including an apple tart technical and a puff pastry layered showstopper.
Even if you’re not a star baker, you’d be surprised at how easy some of these recipes are to make at home. Our simple, slimming-friendly versions may not earn you that elusive Hollywood handshake, but they’re perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea while you tune into the drama in the tent.
Scroll on for some low-calorie patisserie recipe inspiration!
Baked tarts
We could stare for hours at the elaborate tarts that you find on show in patisserie windows – buttery, flaky pastry filled with rich creams and custards. Sadly, it’s just as indulgent as it looks and best enjoyed in moderation if you’re watching what you eat.
These low calorie Lemon and Blueberry Tarts are the perfect alternative. They look the part, taste the part and, better yet, you only need a handful of ingredients to make them.
Readymade filo pastry is the key to this recipe – it’s crisp and delicious, but far lighter than traditional buttery puff pastry.
Zesty with lemon, making the blueberry curd filling will make you feel like you’ve just stepped into the Bake Off kitchen. It’s not as tricky as it sounds though, and no one’s judging you, so don’t worry if it’s not completely smooth…it’ll still be delicious.
If you don’t fancy something fruity, how about one of these little Butterscotch Tarts? They remind us of school dinners and they’re cute enough to deserve a place in a patisserie inspired afternoon tea.
The secret is that there’s not actually any pastry involved in this recipe! Instead, we’ve cut down the calories by using low calorie tortilla wraps to make the tart cases. Once they crisp up in the oven, you’d never know.
Rich and caramel-y, the butterscotch filling needs to be gently heated until it’s thick and glossy and then left to set in the cases. Each mini tart is only 50 calories and totally irresistible!
This next bake might be inspired by a Portuguese recipe but it wouldn’t look out of place in a French patisserie. Who can resist a Portuguese Custard Tart?
These yummy custard-filled tarts even use real puff pastry (ready made!) – we’ve just swapped to a low fat version to save on calories. They’re every bit as delicious as they look.
Don’t be scared about making the custard from scratch. Our recipe is beginner friendly and, once you’ve tried it, you’ll feel ready to apply for the next series of The Great British Bake Off!
Take them out of the oven once they’re golden brown and the sweet eggy custard has set perfectly.
Fun and fruity
One of our favourite things about the selection of desserts in a patisserie is the vibrant colours on display. From pastel macarons to rainbow cream cakes, everything always looks too pretty to eat.
Lots of delicious patisserie recipes come with heaps of fresh fruit neatly arranged on the top, adding a burst of colour and refreshing sweetness.
This Strawberry Pancake Traybake would fit in perfectly – with juicy, ripe strawberries baked into it. You could use any fruit that you like, but we love the combination of strawberries and white chocolate.
If you wanted to make it look even fancier, why not add a berry compote on top, or finish with a drizzle of chocolate? You can turn this into your signature bake, so get creative!
Inspired by classic French souffles, our Strawberry Souffle Omelette may sound like a strange combination but it’s 100% dreamy.
Fluffy, sweetened egg is whisked until it’s airy and meringue-like and then gently fried in a pan, similar to how you cook an omelette.
Filled with jam and fresh strawberries, this is a super quick dessert that can be whipped up whenever that craving for a patisserie treat kicks in!
Experiment with flavours, or top with even more fresh fruit – the choice is yours. You can even serve this up for breakfast or brunch. It’s the best way to eat your eggs!
These Cinnamon Drizzle Squares don’t have any fruit in the recipe, but they’re the perfect kind of cake to serve topped with your favourite berries. The light and fluffy sponge is patisserie-worthy, but they’re much less faff and a lot lower in calories than a trip to the bakery.
You just need to mix everything together and pop it into the oven for 25 minutes. When they’re completely cool you can cut them into squares and add the sweet cinnamon drizzle.
For a real patisserie feel, grab a handful of fresh raspberries to sprinkle on top and add a gentle dusting of icing sugar.
Dinner party desserts
If watching patisserie week leaves you feeling inspired to wow your friends and family with something a little bit special for dessert, we’ve got you covered.
Tie on your apron and get ready to bake something that would make Paul and Prue proud!
Our Raspberry and Blueberry Baked Cheesecake might be New York style, but we can imagine it sitting in a patisserie window. Piled high with fresh summer fruits, this is easily one of our favourite (and most impressive) baked treats.
With a crunchy lemon, honey and cinnamon infused base and a creamy, luxurious vanilla filing, it’s hard to believe that this cheesecake is slimming friendly.
At 259 calories per serving, you can enjoy a slice while you’re watching the Bake Off semi-final, without straying off your healthy eating plan. Winner!
It takes a while to bake, and it’s really important to let it cool down slowly and chill for at least 2 hours, so plan this one well in advance. Once you try a bite you’ll see it’s worth all that effort.
Cheesecake is always a crowd-pleaser so why not embrace seasonal produce and try your hand at this Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake? We love to serve it at Halloween, but it’s far too tasty to save for once a year.
Rich and indulgent, our recipe has a Lotus Biscoff base that adds so much texture and flavour. We think you could make these into 12 individual little cheesecakes and serve them to guests as a patisserie-themed pudding.
The recipe is so simple and easy to adjust if you don’t want to faff around making your own pumpkin puree – a tinned version will work just as well. Your guests won’t believe this is just 140 calories per serving!
A patisserie classic, choux pastry is the basis of so many delicious desserts. Profiteroles are our favourite way to enjoy this light, airy pastry and this is the perfect recipe to try if you want to feel like you’re in the Bake Off tent.
Once you’ve piped out your pastries onto a baking tray, let them cook for 40 minutes without peeking! If you open the oven door, your profiteroles might collapse.
They need another 10 minutes with the oven turned off and the door open to finish cooking at a low temperature, so they’re light and hollow on the inside.
If you want to keep this recipe slimming friendly, you can fill your profiteroles with low fat aerosol cream, just like we’ve done. If you’re not counting calories, why not try a jam or custard filling? These are SO good!
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