Griphook returns!
In our second episode, our baking teams were taken to explore the majestic Gringotts Wizarding Bank set at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - enjoying its opulent architecture, detailed goblins and... Warwick Davis?!
Yes, the Harry Potter legend came to visit the teams this week to observe their Gringotts-inspired bakes. Warwick played not one, not two, but three roles across the eight Harry Potter movies, including Professor Flitwick - but most pertinently for this episode - the prickly Griphook: a goblin Gringotts worker, who gets caught up in Harry's adventures.
From handling gold to judging gold-standard cakes... how will Warwick fair with our baking experts, who must create delicious showstoppers framed around the themes of the Wizarding Bank?
Baking duels
And this time around, there is a twist! The teams will partake in 'baking duels' (well, they can't be as messy as Snape facing off Lockhart in Duelling Club...) having their showstopping desserts judged head-to-head with select other teams. In different groups, the teams are tasked with creating three-feet high cakes full of surprises, including an enchanting effect inspired by the spell, Revelio, with the risk of going home if they do not succeed in their 'duel'.
Beyond the cakes
While the bakers set about preparing their showstoppers, we learnt a little more about the contestant's backstories. Miko reveals his background as a painter, a skill he has taken into his baking ("cakes are my canvas") while Juan reveals he was going to be a doctor before pivoting to this very different life!
We're also seeing that Lisa is becoming the joker of the group. When asked how her cake was going (inspired by the underground Gringotts cart sequence from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2) there could only be one answer: "on track!"
A vault with a fault
But it's all fun and games until someone's bake starts going wrong... poor Ricardo found himself having a literal meltdown in the kitchen when his chocolate bank vault started losing shape.
Meanwhile, Zoe and Jordan were having similar struggles with their showpiece, trying to perfect the details on the chandeliers we see in the Gringotts' main hallway on time.
"I'm in beaded hell!" Jordan admitted.
Thankfully, the finished piece came out absolutely beautifully. If it was us, we would've probably cried at our kitchen counters, but hey, that's just us.
Showstopper of the episode
We hate to pick favourites, but one of the particular highlights of the episode was Elizabeth and Juan's 'Teller's Desk' cake, complete with a smoking dragon and magically wriggling quills. Oh, and it had champagne in it - which always, always helps.
Glimmering details
But it wasn't just this particular piece that had our mouths watering. In fact, we were imagining goblin a lot of these cakes up.
From chocolate jewels to golden skulls, the bakers once again excelled themselves with some of the finer nuances of their creations. We particularly enjoyed the easter egg of capturing Vault 687 here - eagle-eyed Potter experts will know all too well that's Harry's number!
Once again, we're not going to spoil the ending for you here on which team got eliminated... but suffice to say it was a tough decision for judges Carla and Josef. After consuming all that sugar, how could you possibly send anyone home?
Alas, one team did indeed have to respectfully withdraw (yes, that's another banking joke) - but at least they got to impress Warwick Davis before they left.
Spell-binding new competition series Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking to launch exclusively on Prime Video in the UK and Ireland on 17th December.
The show is out now to Max and Food Network - and you can learn more about the show at our handy hub.
