Aspiring bakers at Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus showed off their skills and creativity last week in a high-pressure challenge inspired by popular TV cooking competition.
Students from the NC Bakery course took part in Ready, Steady, Bake! — a team challenge where they were asked to choose from a mystery selection of four boxes filled with unusual ingredients. The task: to create three unique baked products using their chosen ingredients and items from the College’s bakery larder.
The results were nothing short of impressive. Stand-out creations included a spiced sweet potato pie, white chocolate and raspberry choux buns, and a savoury mushroom and cheese quiche with a wholemeal crust.
Judging the competition were college staff members Robert Myler, Zak Stark, and Kasia Slapek, who evaluated each team on presentation, originality, flavour, and texture. With only three points separating the top teams, it was a close contest but congratulations went to students Beatriz Torres Aviles and Nathan Pirson for their winning entry.
The event not only highlighted the students' talent but also gave them valuable experience in problem-solving and innovation, key ingredients for success in the bakery industry.
Lecturer John Meechan, who teaches the NC Bakery course, praised the students’ performance: “This challenge was all about thinking on your feet, experimenting with flavours, and showcasing fundamental bakery skills under pressure. The students really rose to the occasion — their creativity and teamwork were fantastic to watch.”
