Kimberley Wilson
We talk to Kimberley Wilson, finalist from The Great British Bake Off about her perfect Easter treats and what she learned from appearing on the show.
Tell us, what have you been up to since the Great British Bake Off finished?
Since the show finished I have been having a lot of fun! It's has been great to be able to meet fans of the programme and other wonderful cake people at food shows and demonstrations. I've judged baking competitions at primary schools, which were utterly adorable and have provided recipes for charity fundraising, which is really important to me. I have also been asked to speak at several events and on the radio on topics related to my work; on psychology, confidence and self-esteem and I feel really fortunate to be able to do that too.
What did you learn from the show and the judges?
I learned that preparation is key and that there is absolutely no substitute for practice! By about halfway through it was also clear that stamina has a huge part to play, and it was just as important that you could keep a cool head and keep going, and try not to panic as that just slows you down. Mary gave me great tips on how to make a dish look properly 'finished' and presentable, and Paul was a great source of information for technical elements.
Where did you learn you baking skills?
I've cooked for a long time and have always experimented with different recipes, techniques and ingredients. I love the process of learning and discovering something new so my baking is always a work in progress.
What do you enjoy about baking?
The thing that, for me, distinguishes baking from cooking in general is sharing. You never 'bake for one'; you bake a batch or a big dish and share it. I love that baking can instantly bring people together.
What’s your favourite thing to bake at Easter?
I really enjoy making Hot Cross Buns at Easter. Working with dough is really satisfying and there is nothing like the warm scent of cinnamon seeping from the oven. I never bother waiting for them to cool down; I have one hot from the oven with salted butter and a cup of tea.
What’s your top tip for home bakers?
Enjoy it! I try to treat my baking as a bit of an adventure. Whether it works or not you'll learn something at the end and even 'failures' tend to taste delicious. I would just say experiment and play around. And always make sure your eggs are at room temperature.
Cupcakes have been big news in recent years- what do you think is going to be the next smash hit cake?
Hidden Surprise cakes are gaining popularity at the moment, either hidden designs or cakes filled with sweets (like Piñata cakes). As soon as a tin comes out that makes the end product easier to achieve I think they will really take off.
What’s your favourite thing about working with the Dr Oetker Even Better Baking Team?
Sharing. It's great to be able to share recipes and tips with other bakers and to let people know that it's easier than you think to bake something really delicious that you can be proud of.
Kimberley Wilson is part of the Dr. Oetker Even Better Baking Team, for further tips, trends and recipes visit evenbetterbaking.oetker.co.uk
Tagged in The Great British Bake Off