How to Make ​​Entremet, As Seen on ‘The Great British Bake Off’

It’s the semi-finals of The Great British Bake Off on Netflix and the pressure was on for the remaining four contestants—Chigs, Crystelle, Giuseppe, and Jürgen. During the showstopper portion of the episode, the contestants were challenged to bake a spectacular Entremet themed display. Bakers were given five hours to create an edible centerpiece.

“This is going to be one of the most difficult challenges they’ve ever done in the tent. It’s a delicate dessert with layer upon layer of beautiful textures and flavors,” said co-judge Paul Hollywood.

“What I’m looking for more than anything is finesse,” said co-judge Prue Leith.

Giuseppe created a ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa using puffed rice cereal and marshmallow. His Entremet cake featured chocolate sponge, chocolate and cherry custard filling, and pine nut bavarois (a set, somewhat gelatinous cream). Jürgen was inspired by his love of architecture for his Entremet course. His centerpiece, designed after Japan’s “Torii Gate in the Sea,” consisted of gingerbread with a fleet of “boats” made from tuile sailes (wafer-thin cookies made from egg whites and butter), matcha bavarian mousse, and raspberry jelly. Chigs created an entremet that he called “The Apple Doesn’t Fall From the Tree,” which consisted of a cinnamon-apple biscuit tree with caramelized apples filled with a caramel and white chocolate mousse, and Crystelle created a wedding cake-inspired entremet in honor of her sister, whose wedding needed to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

But other than being the most nerve-wracking dessert challenge the bakers have faced yet, what is an entremet anyway?

What Is Entremet?

“Entremets are about multi-tasking until you faint,” joked Crystelle. The entremet itself refers to the cake layered with mousse, jam, custard, and other fillings. But in The Great British Bake Off, and specifically in the showstopper round, it must consist of an entire display, particularly one with some personal meaning for the contestants.

Kristen Miglore, Founding Editor and Creative Director of Food52, recommends baking this Chocolate Thai Green Curry Cake for an entremet cake. It’s not traditional, but it has multiple layers of flavor and texture, which is exactly what you want for this French layer cake.

Have you ever attempted to make an Entremet? Let us know how it went in the comments below.