"Very dry" — The Great British Baking Show: Holidays judge Paul Hollywood criticizes Maggie's New Year smash cake

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 7 aired a brand new episode this week on Netflix. As part of the show's format, each episode would bring back a former contestant also known as a "legend" to compete against one another in a series of holiday season-themed dessert challenges.

In the latest episode, titled, The Great New Year Baking Show, the returning bakers were Mark, Jürgon, Maggie, and Maxy. The cast members competed in a Signature Challenge, Technical Challenge, and a Showstopper challenge.

During the last challenge of the episode, the bakers had to create a New Years' inspired Smash cake. Host Allison Hammond explained that the judges were looking for an "exquisite cake" topped or encased within a "smashable chocolate shell."

Maggie created a "Winter Fun" Smash Cake. Upon tasting, the judges had conflicting views about her creation. While Prue Leith thought her cake was "really imaginative" Paul Hollywood felt her dome looked "rough."

"The flavor's okay. I think the cake is very dry," he said.

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What did Maggie make in The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 7 Episode 2's Showstopper challenge?

In The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 7 Episode 2's showstopper challenge, the bakers were tasked with creating a New Year inspired Smash cake. They could choose their flavor profiles.

Maggie started working on her Winter Fun cake and told the crew they would be the first ones to hear her scream when she got to the dome. When the judges approached the The Great British Baking Show: Holidays cast member mid cook, Prue asked her about what she was baking.

The contestant said she hoped to create a winter scene because she loved "winter sports and winter snow." Maggie revealed her cake would have "snowmen" and "snowballs" and "trees with snow on." Paul Hollywood reminded her about getting it done in time and the baker agreed.

In a voice over, Noel Fielding described the contestant's cake and The Great British Baking Show: Holidays star was making a smash cake packed with "a powerful mix" of chocolate, orange, and chilli surrounded by a chocolate collar and topped with a dark chocolate dome.

Prue asked the contestant how she was going to make the dome and Maggie stated she would use a balloon and that she had used the technique multiple times before.

As the episode progressed, Maggie explained that because Paul Hollywood was "quite nice" the previous day she wasn't going to put too much chilli in her cake. She further explained her cake and said that her fillings would contain buttercream and orange curd. The Great British Baking Show: Holidays contestant got started on her chocolate dome soon and used a balloon as her mould.

With only one hour remaining, the bakers began assembling their smash cakes and their domes. As Maggie started to remove her chocolate from the balloon she hoped it would come off in one piece but had trouble popping the balloon. The contestant's dome broke during removal but the contestant didn't think she had enough time to repair it.

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays contestant still needed to make her chocolate collar but was uncertain about getting everything done in time. As she picked up the collar, it broke but the Maggie stated it didn't matter.

"Piece by piece. Just like tiling a bathroom really," Maggie said as the brought her creation together.

The contestants put their final touches on their cakes before presenting them to the judges.

Episodes 1 and 2 of The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 7 are available to stream on Netflix.