Great Chocolate Showdown episode 7: Everything is cracking

This week’s episode of Great Chocolate Showdown was the most stressful yet. With only four bakers left, the challenges were harder than ever and the judges were not holding back with their critiques. It was brutal.

The episode began with chef Steven Hodge showing the bakers how to make a 3D sphere out of chocolate. It always looks simple…until you try it. The bakers did not have an easy time with it.

Casey made a jack-o-lantern that covered her chocolate and pumpkin cake, T made a piggy bank which covered his lime curd tart, Renu made an Earth sphere that went over her mango and coconut mousse house, and Venessa made a dragon egg sphere which went over her red bean mooncake.

The biggest issue with the chocolate spheres was cracking. Almost all the bakers had issues with it and honestly, it was nerve-racking just watching it.

Great Chocolate Showdown was a rollercoaster this week

The final products were truly brilliant, but while I loved them all, the judges were very harsh with their critiques. They even pointed out fingernail marks on Renu’s chocolate Earth. Rude! But Renu ended up winning the challenge and got an advantage for the next challenge.

On to the elimination challenge! This time the bakers had to choose a flavored chocolate bar and make a dessert inspired by it. Renu’s advantage was that she got to choose her chocolate bar first.

During this round, Casey made a mint chocolate terrine that showed off her elegant side and T made a spiced orange swiss roll with a chocolate cage that was very refined.

This round also featured Venessa making a milk chocolate coconut panna cotta with macaroon and toasted coconut fudge that looked like an absolute dream while Renu created a chocolate torte with caramel ganache and toffee bits that looked delicious.

Unfortunately, the bakers were once again met with issues. Renu had problems with her toffee and ran out of chocolate ganache and T’s chocolate cage started cracking. But everyone did finish their desserts in time for judging and again, the judges had at least one negative thing to say about every dessert.

But someone had to come out on top and this week it was Casey! T also made it into the top which meant Venessa and Renu were in the bottom two. At the end of the day, Venessa was the one to go home.

This episode was an absolute rollercoaster and it was incredibly anxiety-inducing!

Next week is the finale and the final three bakers will have to make a “bake shop” display with a centerpiece, six chocolate confections, bonbons, and a dessert inspired by the one they made in the first episode. But they won’t have to do it alone. They will get help from a previously eliminated contestant. I cannot wait!

What did you think of this week’s episode of Great Chocolate Showdown? Let us know in the comments below!