Remit: Any baking with no added sugar, honey or syrups.
Entry 1
Entry One: Coffee and Walnut Cake
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Followed a sugar free recipe
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Granulated sweetener
Was it gluten free? Yes
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 3.5
RESULTS (9 respondents)
Did you notice it was sugar free? 9/9 said yes!
Would you have another slice? 5 said no, 1 said yes, one said with honey on-top and 2 said only of the sponge.
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? 7 gave it 5/5 one 4/5 and one not so generous 2/5. Look at the picture and judge for yourself.
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Equally split between 2/5 and 3/5 with one unsatisfied respondent giving it 1/5
Any constructive comments? ‘More sweetener needed’, ‘missing the sugar’, ‘sponge was good’, ‘icing too buttery’, ‘A nice idea to use nuts and coffee instead of a traditional ‘sweet’ cake’
Entry 2
Entry Two: Dark Chocolate Brownie
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Followed a recipe
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Dark Chocolate and Cocoa
Was it gluten free? Yes
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 5
RESULTS (5 respondents- less respondents as some ate multiple pieces before others had a chance!)
Did you notice it was sugar free? 5/5 said no!
Would you have another slice? 5/5 said yes and some greedy entrants did!!
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? 1 gave it 5/5 and 4/5.
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Three tasters gave it full marks with the others giving it 4/5.
Any constructive comments? ‘Really yummy’, ‘Would have worked well with icing’, ‘Beautiful’, ‘Delicious! Are you sure that there was no sugar?’
Entry 3
Entry Three: Cocoa Truffles
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Adapted a recipe
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Splenda and homemade sugar-free condensed milk
Was it gluten free? No
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 3 (Due to making own sugar-free condensed milk.)
RESULTS (6 respondents- less respondents as some ate multiple pieces before others had a chance!)
Did you notice it was sugar free? 7/7 said no!
Would you have another one? All respondents said they would with one stating definitely.
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? 5 respondents gave it 5/5 with one 4/5 and one 3/5
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Everyone rated the taste 5/5
Any constructive comments? ‘Good’, ‘Tasted really good! Yum, Yum’, ‘Tasted like a normal truffle!’, ‘B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!’, ‘More, more, more’, ‘Yum.’
Entry 4
Entry Four: Spiced Apple and Raison Muesli Bars
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Followed a recipe
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? None
Was it gluten free? Yes
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 5
RESULTS (5 respondents- less respondents as some ate multiple pieces before others had a chance!)
Did you notice it was sugar free? 3/5 said no!
Would you have another slice? 2.5/5 said they would have another slice. They others stated muesli was not there thing.
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? It didn’t score high on looks with three people giving it 3/5 and the others lower.
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? 40% gave it 4/5, 40% 3/5 and the other an unimpressed 1/5.
Any constructive comments? ‘Nice and fruity but a bit soggy’, ‘Tasty and healthy’, ‘I don’t like cinnamon and would have rather had it without’, ‘Nice and fruity’, ‘I’m not the biggest fan of muesli bars but thought it was nice.’
Entry 5
Entry Five: Banana Bread
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Adapted a recipe
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Canderel
Was it gluten free? No
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 4
RESULTS (8 respondents- less respondents as some ate multiple pieces before others had a chance!)
Did you notice it was sugar free? 6/8 said no!
Would you have another one? Everyone said that they would have another slice (some even did!)
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Two gave it 3/5, one 3.5/5, two 4/5, one 4.5/5 and one 5/5 (so a wide range on the aesthetic appearance.)
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? One gave it 3.5/5, four 4/5 and two 5/5!
Any constructive comments? ‘Great tasting- loved the hazelnut and walnut topping’, ‘Nice’, ‘Yum J’
Entry 6
Entry Six: Chocolate cake
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Yes
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Erythritol
Was it gluten free? yes
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 4
RESULTS (6 respondents- less respondents as some ate multiple pieces before others had a chance!)
Did you notice it was sugar free? Only 2/6 noticed it was gluten free.
Would you have another one? Four said they would, with one ‘definitely’ and one ‘probably not.’
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? One hard to please customer gave it 4/5, everyone else was knocked over by its fabulously tempting appearance. (See the photo and judge for yourself!)
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Again one respondent was hard to please scoring it 4/5, another rated it 4.5/5 but everyone else gave in full marks for taste.
Any constructive comments? ‘Very tasty, would not think it was sugar free. Loved the butterscotch and raspberries, great flavours!’, ‘So yummy! J’, ‘Are you sure it’s sugar free?’, ‘Had a sugar rush later with a cupcake.’ ‘Loved the butterscotch filling!’, ‘Tasted as amazing as it looked. The competition maybe over!’
Entry 7
Entry Seven: Healthy Gluten Free Sugar Free Carrot cake
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Yes
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Erythritol
Was it gluten free? yes
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 3/5
RESULTS (4 respondents- less respondents due to staff illness- not from the bake off!!)
Did you notice it was sugar free? No one noticed it was sugar free!
Would you have another one? Everyone would have another slice.
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? One hard to please customer gave it 4/5, everyone else was knocked over by its fabulously tempting appearance. (See the photo and judge for yourself!)
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Half of the ‘tasters’ gave it 5/5, and the other half 4.5/5.
Any constructive comments? ‘very nice’, ‘possibly less carrots to make it lighter?’, ‘Really good cake, tasted lovely’, ‘a little heavy’
Entry 8
Entry Eight: Cheese Scones
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Yes
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? None
Was it gluten free? No
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 5/5
RESULTS (5 respondents)
Did you notice it was sugar free? Three respondents didn’t notice it was sugar free. The other two did.
Would you have another one? Only one person won’t have another one as they aren’t keen on cheese.
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? One hard to please customer gave it 4/5, everyone else was knocked over by its fabulously tempting appearance. (See the photo and judge for yourself!)
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? One respondent rated it 4/5, everyone else gave them full marks.
Any constructive comments? ‘Loved it!’, ‘Lovely flavour, difficult as sugar free anyway’, Was hoping for something sweet but lovely scones!’
Entry 9
Entry Nine: Blueberry muffins and Lemon shortbread
Did you follow or adapt a recipe? Followed recipes
What sugar alternatives did you use if any? Canderel
Was it gluten free? Yes
How easy was it to make out of 5 (5 being very easy)? 5/5
RESULTS (5 respondents)
Did you notice it was sugar free? Three respondents didn’t notice it was sugar free. The other two did.
Would you have another one? Everyone would have had more!
Presentation out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? 3 respondents gave it 4/5 for presentation, the other 2 gave it full marks!
Taste out of 5 (with 5 being the best)? Unanimous 4/5
Any constructive comments? ? ‘Great sugar free ideas’, ‘Worked really well!’, ‘More lemon?’, ‘Really lovely shortbread and muffins.’
