The best EVER recipes from The Great British Bake Off, ranked

Beautiful British bakes

The Great British Bake Off has given us so much entertainment over the years, from jaw-dropping showstoppers to fits of giggles over baking disasters and cheeky innuendos. It’s also given rise to several break-out stars, and has inspired many would-be bakers to roll up their sleeves for the first time. To celebrate the much-loved show, we've rounded up our favourite recipes from the world of GBBO – including bakes from judges, contestants and official cookery books. Join us as we count down to the very best of them all.

Read on to discover the most brilliant baking recipes from The Great British Bake Off.

31. Mary Berry’s Victoria sponge

Former GBBO judge Mary Berry has decades of experience under her belt – so we know we can always rely on her classic recipes to get the basics just right. Her Victoria sponge cake recipe is a great example of this, making it easy to nail the traditional bake every time. Mary smartly uses the all-in-one method, allowing you to mix all the ingredients together at once.

Get the recipe for Victoria sponge here

30. Ruth Clemens’ vanilla sugar cookies

These vanilla sugar cookies from Ruth Clemens, one of the very first contestants on The Great British Bake Off, are proof that beautiful bakes don’t need to be complicated in either method or flavour. After all, there's nothing like the simple joy of dunking a well-made biscuit into a cup of tea! These cookies are ready in half an hour (though they'll need time to cool) – and they require so few staple ingredients, you probably won't even need to nip to the supermarket.

Get the recipe for vanilla sugar cookies here

29. Paul Hollywood’s bloomer

If you want to learn how to bake bread, you can’t go wrong by following advice from the king of bread himself, GBBO judge Paul Hollywood. Paul’s bloomer recipe is fantastic for beginners, involving a simple yeasted dough that’s fairly forgiving (as long as you’re patient). Take your time when kneading and proving, and give your loaf a tap on the bottom to hear that hollow sound that indicates it’s baked to perfection.

Get the recipe for Paul's bloomer here

28. Martha Collison’s toffee apple mug crumble

What do you do when you want dessert, but you’re all alone? You make it in a mug, of course. There’s less mess and less time required – plus, you'll get all the deliciousness of a freshly made treat, without the temptation of a cake meant for 12 people. This toffee apple crumble from Bake Off series five contestant Martha Collison takes just a few minutes to put together, and it microwaves neatly to create a steaming, satisfyingly sweet dessert for one.

Get the recipe for toffee apple mug crumble here

27. Nadiya Hussain’s ginger and almond Florentines

The delightful chewiness of these Florentines – from GBBO series six winner Nadiya Hussain – will have you smacking your lips. The warming, comforting flavours of ginger and almond are paired with the sweetness of half-dipped chocolate for a rich, slightly sticky biscuit that’s excellent for whipping up when you’re expecting company you want to impress (with very little effort required).

Get the recipe for ginger and almond Florentines here

26. Mary Berry’s marbled coffee ring cake

A white chocolate drizzle adds a touch of extra sweetness and eye-catching (but easy) decoration to Mary Berry’s marbled coffee ring cake. Coffee-flavoured icing intensifies the flavour, making it perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. If you don’t have a ring mould, you could make this cake in a large (2lb/900g) loaf tin, but you’ll need to bake it a little longer – make sure the top is springy, and that a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Get the recipe for marbled coffee ring cake here

25. Edd Kimber’s fennel sausage hand pies

No pie dish or tin is required to create these clever hand pies from series one winner Edd Kimber. Simply divide the pastry into 12, place some of the cheesy and fragrant tomato, sausage and fennel filling on half of the pieces, then cover with the remaining halves to seal. You can make the pastries a few days in advance – or, if you’re in a hurry, use shop-bought puff pastry.

Get the recipe for fennel sausage hand pies here

24. Frances Quinn’s rainbow cake

Brighten up your day with this rainbow cake from Bake Off series four winner Frances Quinn, who regularly received praise for her stylish bakes in the tent. All you need to get the rainbow shape is a standard cake tin with an empty golden syrup tin in the middle. Once the cake is baked, a brush of lemon syrup while it’s warm will give it a sweet and zesty flavour, while whipped cream and plenty of fresh fruit will get it decorated in no time.

Get the recipe for rainbow cake here

23. Picnic pies

Have a crack at hot water pastry (hopefully without any actual cracks) with these neat little picnic pies from cookbook The Great British Bake Off: Get Baking for Friends and Family. Unlike pastry made with cold water, you won't have to limit how much you handle this pastry – but you will need to be fast to make sure it doesn’t cool too much. Fill your pies with nicely seasoned chicken, turkey, apricots and pistachios for a snack that’s sweet, savoury and has a little bite to it.

Get the recipe for picnic pies here

22. Dan Beasley-Harling’s molten chocolate orange cake

When you need a warming, comforting pudding, this molten chocolate orange cake will satisfy your cravings. Created by series nine contestant Dan Beasley-Harling, it takes a classic flavour combination and a much-loved cake – bringing them together for a modern twist on both. It’s bound to impress at your next dinner party, or it could be a new favourite for the whole family after Sunday lunch.

Get the recipe for molten chocolate orange cake here

21. Paul Hollywood’s Cornish pasties

Classic Cornish pasties are the ultimate picnic food. Once packed in miners’ lunches, they’re now ubiquitous in every British supermarket, corner shop and petrol station – but you can’t beat a homemade one. Paul Hollywood's recipe sticks to tradition, with flaky pastry and a juicy filling. Be careful not to handle the pastry too much for the best results.

Get the recipe for Cornish pasties here

20. Kim-Joy’s tiger-inspired Swiss roll

Kim-Joy’s cute baking style charmed everyone in The Great British Bake Off’s ninth series, and she’s continued to dream up eye-catching bakes in the years since. With this Swiss roll recipe, she gives the (slightly fiddly) cake a radical makeover that’s sure to have everyone roaring for more. This technical cake isn’t all about looks, either; if you put in the effort to pull it off, you’ll be rewarded with a delicious mix of complex flavours, including marmalade, chocolate and orange blossom.

Get the recipe for tiger-inspired Swiss roll here

19. Jo Wheatley's ultimate chocolate cake

A true showstopper, this chocolate cake from Jo Wheatley – who won season two of GBBO in 2011 – is actually very simple. It’s all the more impressive when you consider how easy it is to make, and the sour cream and cream cheese in the sponge give it a truly indulgent feel. Decoration is a breeze; just use chocolate ganache to stick ready-made chocolate bars to the sides, then finish with your choice of truffles, sweets or fruit.

Get the recipe for ultimate chocolate cake here

18. John Whaite’s Mojito cake

John Whaite's brilliant Mojito cake recipe takes the flavours of a classic cocktail and turns them into a stunning dessert. The series three winner uses fresh mint leaves, white rum (optional) and lime curd, juice and zest to create a supremely citrussy, minty cake that mimics the tall, cool drink in the tastiest possible way. You’ll immediately feel like you’re on a sunny beach somewhere when you bite into your first piece, and you’ll be going back for more once it’s gone.

Get the recipe for Mojito cake here

17. Ham and cheese Danish pastries

Made by folding cheesy sauce, ham and asparagus within flaky Danish pastry, these little parcels from The Great British Bake Off: A Bake for All Seasons would make the perfect party food or picnic fodder. Laminating the dough takes time and patience, but your reward will be a rich, buttery bite of heaven – a result that you can’t quite achieve with ready-made pastry.

Get the recipe for ham and cheese Danish pastries here

16. Luis Troyano’s rose and pistachio Battenberg cake

Retro favourite Battenberg gets a revamp in this recipe from the late Luis Troyano, a much-loved finalist from Bake Off series five. Luis chose to give the humble British bake a Persian twist by adding floral rose water and fragrant pistachios – plus pink and green food colouring, to really bring the creation to life. It still has that old-school look, but the flavours will transport your taste buds to the Middle East.

Get the recipe for rose and pistachio Battenberg here

15. Mary Berry’s beef Wellington

The ultimate savoury Sunday showstopper – and great for special occasions, too – beef Wellington is a challenge worth taking on. Mary Berry’s recipe makes things a little easier with shop-bought pastry (there's no need to make your own), but it still offers rich beef fillet, liver pâté and mushrooms, with a flavourful gravy for that final drizzle. Be sure to serve it with all the trimmings.

Get the recipe for beef Wellington here

14. Jo Wheatley’s cheesy tear-and-share bread

Whether eaten as a snack, with soup or even as a starter, these cheesy tear-and-share rolls are real crowd-pleasers. Filling them with both mozzarella and Gruyère makes them doubly cheesy, with a gorgeous taste and texture. Even if you’re new to making bread, they’re not too challenging. A stand mixer can make it easier to mix and knead the dough, but it’s not essential.

Get the recipe for cheesy tear-and-share bread here

13. Vegan forest fruit crumble cookie bars

There’s no need for butter or eggs to get a get a perfectly crumbly finish on these fruity biscuit bars. Packed full of forest fruits – with a hint of zesty lemon – they’d make the perfect sweet snack or dessert (or maybe even a cheeky breakfast). Taken from The Great British Bake Off: Comfort Bakes, they’re sure to help create a moment’s peace as you revel in that delectable first bite.

Get the recipe for vegan forest fruit crumble cookies here

12. Nadiya Hussain’s Her Majesty’s Cake

This pretty cake is a simpler version of a bake that Nadiya Hussain created for Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. While it's not quite as elaborate as the original, it’s still worthy of a celebration – and it’s easy to make at home. The orange drizzle cake is neatly decorated with buttercream and a vibrant lilac-coloured fondant drip. You could stick with the suggested sugar roses, or add whatever finishing touches you like.

Get the recipe for Her Majesty's Cake here

11. Benjamina Ebuehi’s vegan peanut butter cookies

Gooey peanut butter holds together these delectable cookies from series seven contestant Benjamina Ebuehi, meaning there’s no need for eggs. There’s plenty of chocolate in them, too – and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt before baking gives you that wonderful sweet and salty contrast. If you don’t want to eat them right away, you can freeze the dough for later.

Get the recipe for vegan peanut butter cookies here

10. Kim-Joy’s crème brûlée cake

With this celebration cake recipe from Kim-Joy, you can pick up a new skill; it uses an unusual reverse creaming method. Instead of creaming the butter and sugar, the butter is mixed with all the dry ingredients. This might look odd at first, but trust the process and you’ll find it comes together beautifully in the end – resulting in a moist cake with a delicate crumb. The bake's creamy vanilla and caramel flavours definitely make it worth the effort.

Get the recipe for crème brûlée cake here

9. Butterscotch and pecan shortbread biscuits

Chewy pockets of butterscotch are the secret to the success of these delicious biscuits from The Great British Bake Off: Comfort Bakes. The soft and buttery shortbread marries perfectly with the creamy caramel flavour of the butterscotch, creating the ultimate treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee. These are really easy biscuits too, and you can have them on the cooling rack within 45 minutes.

Get the recipe for butterscotch and pecan shortbread biscuits here

8. Edd Kimber’s old-fashioned cake doughnuts

Doughnuts are typically made with a yeasted dough, which is left to rise like a bread dough. But if you want to skip the kneading and proving, Edd Kimber’s cake doughnuts are a fantastic alternative. They still have a soft and pillowy texture, as well as a crisp exterior from frying – and they’re finished with a vanilla glaze for a pretty shine.

Get the recipe for old-fashioned cake doughnuts here

7. Mary Berry’s carrot and walnut cake with cream cheese icing

This easy Mary Berry recipe takes classic carrot cake and jazzes it up with a deliciously walnutty bite. It’s moist, rich and has a delicate spice to it – and the full-fat cream cheese topping is wonderfully indulgent. Sunflower oil ensures your cake won’t come out dry, and it means you can simply mix all the ingredients together, with no need to cream butter and sugar or slowly add eggs.

Get the recipe for carrot and walnut cake here

6. Lottie Bedlow’s millionaire shortbread with boozy ganache

Millionaire shortbread gets a tipsy makeover in this recipe from Lottie Bedlow, who competed in Bake Off series 11. Here, the boozy ganache topping contains a glug of Irish cream liqueur for an indulgent finish. This bake takes a little time due to its multiple layers, but it’s relatively simple, and you can still get it done in an afternoon and have time to enjoy a slice (or two) with your favourite drink.

Get the recipe for millionaire shortbread with boozy ganache here

5. Paul Hollywood’s Sicilian lemon and orange sweet bread

Paul Hollywood's citrus creation shows that bread doesn’t have to be savoury, and it’s often best when it’s sweet. Using an enriched dough with eggs and butter, it’s a bake with a slightly cake-like crumb – not to mention plenty of zesty flavour from the lemon and orange. Almonds, candied peel and dried cranberries give this bread a Christmassy feel, but it’s fantastic all year round.

Get the recipe for Sicilian lemon and orange sweet bread here

4. Mary Berry’s brioche frangipane apple pudding

Looking for a way to use up the leftovers from a brioche loaf? Give Mary Berry's apple and almond pudding a go! This thrifty recipe takes half a brioche, then tops it with a frangipane that’s a breeze to whip up – plus a pretty pattern of apple slices. A great recipe for making ahead, it reheats beautifully and is sure to wow everyone at the dinner table.

Get the recipe for brioche frangipane apple pudding here

3. John Whaite’s clementine and cardamom upside-down cake

Sweet, sour and warming spices intermingle in this citrus take on a pineapple upside-down cake from John Whaite. The clementines give the classic bake a modern update, with flavours that will only improve if you leave the cake for a day or two before serving. It’s ready for the oven in 30 minutes – and once baked, it's finished with a sticky glaze of apricot jam.

Get the recipe for clementine and cardamom upside-down cake here

2. Nadiya Hussain’s triple chocolate cheesecake brownies

There’s nothing understated about these flavour-bomb chocolate brownies from Nadiya Hussain. A little coffee and some crunchy nuts, along with the creamy cheesecake, cut through the sweetness of the chocolate brownie and dulce de leche, resulting in a dreamy dessert. They’re super indulgent and guaranteed to be a new favourite among friends and family – if you can bear to share them.

Get the recipe for triple chocolate brownies here

1. Mary Berry’s vanilla cupcakes with swirly icing

Everyone needs a solid cupcake recipe in their back pocket. This one from Mary Berry turns plain cakes pretty with the addition of a colourful swirl of icing. These cakes are really fun to make with the kids, who can help with measuring, mixing and dolloping batter into cupcake cases – but when it’s time to decorate, you might prefer to take charge if you want a neat finish.

Get the recipe for vanilla cupcakes with swirly icing here

See more delicious recipes from Bake Off legend Nadiya Hussain