"That's very intricate" — The Great British Baking Show: Holidays judge Paul Hollywood praises Jürgen's smash cake

Season 7 of The Great British Baking Show: Holidays episode 2 was released on Netflix on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The episode featured four former contestants returning to the tent for a New Year-themed special, showcasing their culinary skills and creativity. Among them was Jürgen Krauss, known for his precision and innovation during his original stint on the show.

The episode revolved around three dessert challenges, each testing the bakers' techniques and flair. From crafting a stacked religieuse to mastering the delicate King’s Cake.

The final Showstopper challenge, where contestants created smashable New Year-themed cakes, highlighted Jürgen's culinary prowess. His Mount Fuji-inspired creation was appreciated by the judges, Paul Hollywood said:

"That's very intricate"

However, the episode also showed a lighter side of the competition, with humorous moments and surprising mishaps, including Jürgen's rare technical errors.

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The Great British Baking Show: Holidays - Jürgen’s Mount Fuji smash cake

The Showstopper Challenge of The Great British Baking Show: Holidays episode 2 provided a stage for Jürgen to showcase his culinary ingenuity. Tasked with creating a smashable cake, he drew inspiration from Japanese New Year traditions. Alison shared her thoughts with Jürgen, stating:

“This is the moment where you can pull it all back. This is the showstopper, needs to be big.”

His cake featured a Mount Fuji design made from three types of chocolate. The centerpiece was a hidden monk face cake beneath the structure, representing New Year’s luck. Jürgen described his cake while baking, saying:

“At the Japanese New Year, families watch the sunrise over the mountains, so I'm doing Mount Fuji in chocolate.”

To achieve this, he utilized multiple techniques, including crafting layers of chocolate and two flavors of bavarois—yuzu and strawberry. The cake also included matcha biscuits for added depth.

The result was a visually stunning creation that impressed the judges. Paul Hollywood praised its complexity, remarking, “That’s very intricate,” while Prue Leith noted the bake was:

“typical of Jürgen—complicated and carefully researched.”

When smashed, the cake revealed its vibrant interior, with Paul admiring the sponge’s lightness and the flavors' balance. Paul stated:

“I've gotta be really careful when I'm smashing this so I don't destroy the face underneath.”

Paul called it “vintage Jürgen,” a testament to his exceptional skills.

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Jürgen’s journey through the episode

Despite his success in the Showstopper round of The Great British Baking Show: Holidays episode 2, Jürgen faced unexpected challenges earlier in the episode. The first round, the Signature Challenge, required contestants to craft religieuses.

Jürgen’s attempt to create a chimneysweep-themed pastry fell short due to a fundamental error—he forgot to turn on his oven. This oversight resulted in undercooked choux buns, forcing him to present fewer pastries to the judges.

The Technical Challenge tested the bakers' ability to prepare a galette des rois, also known as a King’s Cake. Jürgen, previously a Technical Challenge frontrunner, stumbled again.

Skipping a key step of chilling his pastry before baking, he finished last in this round. Paul Hollywood expressed his surprise, commenting:

“Jürgen would be the last person I thought would forget to turn on the oven.”

While these missteps surprised fans and judges alike, Jürgen took them in stride, humbly stating:

“I’m not a baking god. I’m just another human being… baking.”

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Jürgen’s return to The Great British Baking Show: Holidays brought more than just bakes—it also delivered lighthearted entertainment. Jürgen even played the trombone during the cold open to lead a brass rendition of the show’s theme song.

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays is available to stream on Netflix.