We caught up with Great SA Bake Off winner, Bianca Breytenbach, to find out what this achievement means to her.
Find out more about SA Bake Off judge, Zola Nene
How does it feel to be the winner of season 3?
It honestly feels fantastic. I worked my butt off in the competition, so it’s great to know that it paid off. I pushed myself until the very last second. I know I was seen as the underdog, but I never really saw myself like that – I’ve been baking for over 20 years.
Yes, I was dramatic at times, collapsing to the floor after a challenge here and there, but I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I feel so proud and privileged to have been part of such an amazing show.
What were some of the tensest moments in the tent?
The technical challenges got harder and harder, so those bakes saw some stressful times for the bakers. But the worst thing was not really knowing why the judges picked a specific person to eliminate – that only made sense afterwards as I watched the show unfold on TV.
Emotions always ran high on elimination days and I was constantly asking myself if I’d done enough. That tent has an atmosphere of its own!
Were you a fan of the show before?
Absolutely! I’ve been watching the UK version for years, and I kept up with the two previous local seasons. I actually wanted to audition for season one and two here, but I kept missing the application deadline. This year, I made sure I was organised and applied early on.
Try out the recipe for Bianca’s Matcha Dark Chocolate Lamingtons With Pistachio Crumbs
What now?
Firstly, I’m getting married next month, so wedding planning is taking up most of my head space at the moment – especially because I’ve decided to bake my own black floral wedding cake!
I’m a social worker and work with many special needs kids, so I’d love to find a way to use what I’ve done on Bake Off to help them. My dream is to start training programmes so children can learn a skill like sugar work or baking that will help them advance in society.
What’s your favourite Christmas bake?
There’s a trifle in my house every year – and not always the traditional kind. I also love a good Christmas cake that’s loaded with brandy and nuts – yum!
