Brits share their 20 most common baking fails ahead of new Bake Off series

A poll of 1,200 adults found that only three per cent of British bakers said everything they make comes out perfectly – with the average person having two baking fails a year

As The Great British Bake Off makes its much-anticipated return tonight, Brits have been revealing their most common baking blunders. Nearly half of the nation admit they’re more inspired to don their aprons and grab the whisks when the beloved show is back on the telly. For 55 per cent, it reignites their love for the fun of baking, while 54 per cent relish the chance to pick up new ideas to try out.

However, a recent study found that only a mere three per cent of British bakers claim everything they bake turns out perfectly. Most confessed that an average of two recipes went awry in the last year, with one of these being a complete catastrophe.

The survey of 1,200 adults, commissioned by Lyle’s, revealed common baking blunders such as forgetting to add crucial ingredients like sugar, flour and eggs. One in ten confessed their mixture has ‘curdled’ when attempting a showstopping bake.

Olivia Haley, from the golden syrup maker, said: “Whether you’re a baking pro or just testing the waters, we’re all about turning those sticky situations into absolutely golden moments.

“Behind every sunken sponge or slightly too golden pastry lies a lesson, helping bakers turn mishaps into mastery. In our world, there’s no such thing as failure in the kitchen, and mistakes are just the start of becoming a better baker.”

Lyle’s has created a series of recipes as well as a quiz to help bakers test their knowledge in various scenarios. The quiz uncovers your unique ‘baking personality’, from a daring Recipe Rebel to a precise Golden Baker, and even suggests a recipe tailored to your skill level.

The highest percentage of fails occurred when baking cookies (23 per cent), followed by a Victoria sponge (21 per cent) or a loaf of bread (20 per cent). Cupcakes, cheesecake and scones were also prone to disaster.

Half of the bakers who have faced a kitchen disaster try to learn from their mistakes but still feel frustrated when things go awry. In the event of a baking fail, 45 per cent would attempt to salvage it by scraping off burnt bits, or re-icing or desperately adding sauce.

Despite the mishaps, 18 per cent of bakers say they eat their creations ‘out of principle’, with some of the best baking memories coming from unexpected results.

Most bakers prefer to stick to simple bakes they know and love, compared to 18 per cent who enjoy experimenting with new or complex recipes.

Olivia Haley added: “Some of the most creative bakes come from trying to fix the ones that didn’t go to plan. Failure isn’t just part of baking – it’s the ingredient that makes success taste even sweeter.

“The best bakers aren’t the ones who get it right every time, they’re the ones who try, savouring the small golden moments in everything they create. After all, it’s the thought that counts, and that’s absolutely golden to us.”

THE TOP 20 BAKING FAILS:

1. The edges were burnt
2. The cake didn’t rise
3. The bottom was soggy
4. I forgot to add a crucial ingredient (e.g. sugar, eggs, flour, golden syrup)
5. The icing or decoration was a disaster
6. I misread the recipe
7. I forgot to grease/line the tin
8. I over-mixed the ingredients
9. I opened the oven door too early and it ruined the bake
10. The mixture overflowed in the oven
11. I used the wrong oven temperature
12. The cookies spread into one big sheet
13. I substituted an ingredient for something that didn’t work well
14. The bake collapsed (e.g. a soufflé or sponge)
15. I didn’t preheat the oven
16. I spilt the mixture/ingredients
17. It turned out too sweet
18. I ran out of ingredients halfway through
19. I used out-of-date ingredients
20. The cake mix curdled