Laura Foo crowned champion of The Great Australian Bake Off 2023

Australia’s best amateur baker won the hearts of the judges with a signature high tea mixing sweet and savoury.

Laura Foo has been crowned Australia’s Best Amateur Baker after winning The Great Australian Bake Off 2023 against two fellow Victorians.

The Singapore-born baking whiz, dubbed Lozza by the new GABO panel, wowed judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese plus guest Maggie Beer across the traditional three challenges in the finale.

First up was a Signature high tea with a mix of savoury and sweet, followed up with the season’s trickiest Technical - Bake off royalty Beer’s Guinea Fowl Terrine.

The trio then baked their final Showstopper challenge – inspired by the trend that is taking social media by storm - a 3D illusion cake.

Melbourne's Laura Foo has been crowned 2023 Great Australian Bake Off winner. Picture: Foxtel

Laura’s was an incredible ‘Hawker’s Breakfast’ inspired by the food markets of Singapore where she grew up, recreating the serving counter, the cups of coffee including the plastic bag of ice and hard-boiled eggs on the side.

“I feel honoured to be standing beside my now lifelong friends, Adam, and Ilona, at the Grand Finale, and the win is truly the icing on the cake,” she said.

“I am full of gratitude for this incredible experience where I’ve learned and grown so much.

I am truly humbled to be lifting the trophy this year, and just so excited to see what’s to come.”

Along with the 2023 season title, Laura takes home the ultimate baker’s kitchen from Smeg.

JUDGE’S ADMISSIOIN BEFORE FINALE

New judge Darren Purchese bit off more than he could chew on his first season of Great Australian Bake Off.

Purchese hoed into the baked goods – instead of mimicking the delicate bites of his fellow newcomer British pastry chef Rachel Khoo, who would then follow up with a serving of her eloquent feedback,

“I quickly found out that’s not the way to go and had huge sugar spikes especially in the first few days where there’s loads of bakers,” Purchese said.

“I wasn’t quite prepared for that.”

The British-born pastry whiz wasn’t quite prepared that it was the Grand Finale of Khoo’s and his first season at the helm of the feel-good baking show, after they took over from beloved judges Maggie Beer and Matt Moran.

Great Australian Bake Off judge Darren Purchese says it’s going to be a close Grand Finale between Ilona Nicola, Adam Miller and Laura Foo. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victorians Adam Miller Ilona Nicola and Laura Foo tackled almost 30 rounds of bakes to see who was crowned Australia’s Best Amateur Baker on Tuesday night.

“It’s a pure fluke that there’s three Victorians in the final – I am sorry to the rest of Australia, but it certainly wasn’t rigged,” said Purchese, who’s also Melbourne based, said in the lead up to the finale.

“I can say it’s super close. Anyone on their day could win.

“They’re all going in with their own strengths – Laura’s storytelling, Adam’s fun and playful way and Ilona’s distinctive vintage style and impeccable presentation.”

Bake-off royalty returned for the Grand Finale – with Beer setting a terrifying technical challenge for the final three. That’s another pinch-me moment for Purchese.

“I’m lucky enough to count Maggie as a friend, but we’d never worked together,” he said.

“So to have the opportunity to do an episode of Bake Off with her is just a dream come true.

“And I know that she put in a word to producers for me – when they asked her who would be a good choice, she put me forward so I have a lot to thank Maggie for.”

Bake Offs fans have welcomed the new judges, and hosts Cal Wilson and Natalie Tran, and Purchese admitted he had been initially nervous.

“They are passionate, they love the show and they take ownership,” he said.

“I’m just really happy that the massive fans of the show appreciate what Rachel and I and Cal and Nat have done.

“I’m just I’m very humbled because, you know, the show’s bigger than the cast and will be going on for a lot longer than I’m around.”

The new four: Natalie Tran, Darren Purchese, Rachel Khoo and Cal Wilson have been welcomed by the passionate Great Australian Bake Off fans. Source: Supplied

The four reunited virtually to watch the Grand Finale, chatting through Instagram as they have throughout the series, before getting the band back together in real life in the coming months to start filming of the next season.

“I’m so excited to be doing another one very soon,” Purchese said.

“Especially to meet another batch of 12 of Australia’s greatest amateur bakers. There really is some amazing – and diverse – talent out there in this country.

“I’m there for my expert technical knowledge but there are still things that I haven’t come across. When I’m exposed to family bakes or new flavours, it really does excite me and I’m learning as well.

“So hopefully the audience is learning with me. And everyone’s just enjoying the world of baking.”