Kids Baking – The Junior Bake Off

Following on from my post the other week in praise of the Great British Bake Off we were delighted to then be treated to the junior version, now showing on CBBC.

With the redoubtable Mary Berry and rather appealing Paul Hollywood again judging, 32 children compete, 4 at a time with two bakes - a standard recipe and then something to match a theme with one winner going through to the semi-final round. The creations have been impressive and offer some interesting ideas that "grown-ups" might not even consider. I'm loving this for many reasons - the cute kids and their enthusiasm, something more warming to the soul than The Simpsons to watch together, Paul Hollywood (he has a baking course in Kent next year - I'm saving my buttons...) and the ideas being suggested to my two. Because they also love watching, it's our current "must see together" at 6.20pm each week day and they are so encouraged that this weekend they will each make something on their own. My boy has his own cook book by the trendy (too much so for his liking - I think girls might appreciate this young man more!) Sam Stern and has selected some chocolate orange cookies to bake and already noted the next dozen things he wants to have a go at.  My girl wants to make some cupcakes with nice icing!  And I shall join in too with the Victoria sponge recipe with duck eggs that was featured this week on the Great British Food Revival - another surprising treat for us foodie types. I'm not sure how much more mileage the BBC are intending with this topic - there is wind of a celebrity version, and someone suggested that a teens series would be welcome. Anything that gets us baking real food has to be a good thing, is my view. What do you think?