GBBO viewers stunned as bakers asked to craft sprinkles from scratch for school cake challenge

The Great British Bake Off returned on Tuesday night with a demanding twist for the technical challenge. Prue Leith instructed the bakers to recreate the iconic school cake from scratch, not only baking a vanilla sponge and applying white icing but also making the custard and, unusually, the sprinkles themselves.

As the contestants reentered the famous tent, Leith told them that every component must be handmade. Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding teased that the sprinkles would be created by hand, a remark that quickly sparked social media chatter as viewers described the request as ridiculous and a bit tight. The show did not shy away from the spectacle, with fans reacting to the idea of milling flour by hand and assembling thousands of tiny decorations for the cake.

When the technical judging concluded, Jasmine emerged at the top of the field, while Aaron finished in second. Prue complimented the overall cake and the sprinkles, saying they looked well made, and Paul Hollywood offered a note that the sprinkles were interesting. The outcome for the showstopper and show results provided the kind of contrast GBBO fans have come to expect in a season defined by ambitious challenges. Jessica struggled through the task and was the latest baker to exit the tent.

The social media reaction around the episode focused on the sheer difficulty of making sprinkles by hand. Viewers took to X to express disbelief at the requirement, with posts calling the challenge ridiculous and noting the unusual level of elbow grease needed to execute the instruction. Some fans joked about the scale of the sprinkles, while others praised the bakers who managed to deliver a neat and evenly decorated cake under the unusual constraint.

This episode follows a recent week of excitement in the competition and a broader season that has featured dramatic moments and bold bakes. The show also sparked chatter last week when fans noticed Nadia, a contestant from Liverpool, handling her hair during the bread week bake, prompting discussion over kitchen hygiene and professional presentation on social media.

Great British Bake Off airs Tuesdays on Channel 4 and is available to stream on channel4.com, continuing to showcase a rotating cast of amateur bakers as they tackle new formats, classics, and increasingly complex challenges in the famous tent.