Great Australian Bake Off winner crowned in thrilling grand finale

The Great Australian Bake Off winner has been crowned - and with this clever geometrical baking creation, it’s easy to see why they took out the title.

The winner of The Great Australian Bake Off’s eighth season was revealed in a thrilling finale that aired on Wednesday night.

After 10 weeks and 10 challenges, Filipino nurse Arvin Garcia from Melbourne was crowned Australia’s Best Amateur Baker on the hit Foxtel show – and he still can’t believe his luck.

“Someone tell me this is real. It still feels like a dream!” he tells news.com.au of his win.

“I honestly never imagined I’d be on TV, let alone winning the Great Australian Bake Off. It’s surreal. I’m beyond happy and incredibly proud of myself for achieving something so amazing – it truly feels like a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment.”

Arvin Garcia wins Great Australian Bake Off in 2024. Picture: Stuart Bryce

The Melbourne nurse was a hit with the judges. Picture: Stuart Bryce

Judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese chose 36-year-old Arvin over two other finalists, early childhood teacher Dimi Jayamardene and singing teacher Elliot Styche, both from NSW. But after seeing (and tasting) Arvin’s showstopping final bake in the grand finale, it’s easy to see why he emerged victorious.

“My final bake, the ‘Rising Phoenix’ cake, was such a symbolic culmination of my Bake Off journey,” Arvin tells us of the bold chocolate phoenix filled with delicious apple compote, salted caramel, cream cheese and crunchy pecans.

Stream Great Australian Bake Off on BINGE and Foxtel, available on Hubbl.

Arvin puts the finishing touches on his final bake: a rising Phoenix cake. Picture: Stuart Bryce

“The phoenix represents resilience, growth, and transformation, which perfectly captured how I felt throughout the competition – pushing myself to take risks and rise above challenges.”

Arvin says he was a “whirlwind of emotions” in the finale as his nerves almost got the hold of him when the chocolate on his geometric phoenix kept melting in his hands.

“Still, I committed to the vision, pouring everything I had into that bake,” he shares. “When I finally saw the phoenix standing tall and the judges praising both the flavours and the look, it was such an emotional moment. All the cake elements came together beautifully.”

“Seeing that phoenix rise was a reminder of how far I had come, not just in the competition, but in my baking journey as a whole.”

Host Natalie Tran and judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese rate Arvin’s final bake. Picture: Stuart Bryce

Arvin moved to Australia from the Philippines in 2014 to pursue a career in nursing – and he says the skills he picked up in his profession have definitely helped him win the series.

“My experience as a nurse in high-pressure environments definitely helped me stay calm and focused,” he reflects.

“Multi-tasking was second nature to me – I was used to juggling several tasks at once, so managing multiple bakes while being filmed, talking to the judges, and interacting with the hosts and producers felt surprisingly familiar. My attention to detail, especially when it came to intricate designs, was a huge advantage.”

After making the “exciting and daunting” move to Australia, Arvin says he missed the Filipino bread Pan de Sal, so he tried to perfect the recipe here. That’s where his love for baking began.

Arvin was inspired by his Filipino heritage when baking on the show. Picture: Nick Wilson

He now draws on his Filipino culture for inspiration in his bakes. Flavours from his culture were incorporated into his creations on the show too – from his scones inspired by ‘‘bibingka’ (a glutinous Filipino rice cake) to his cheesecake infused with ‘ube’ (a sweet purple yam).

“Filipino culture is such a rich source of inspiration for me, especially when it comes to flavours and storytelling. Many of my bakes on the show were inspired by memories of home,” Arvin says.

“Filipino sweets are so diverse, with flavours like ube, pandan, coconut, and mango, and I loved weaving those into my bakes to share a piece of my heritage with everyone.”

Arvin (third from back left) among the other 12 contestants of Great Australian Bake Off 2024. Picture: Foxtel

“These bakes allowed me to celebrate my roots while showing how Filipino desserts can shine on a global stage. It’s my way of honouring where I come from and sharing the joy and creativity of our culture with others.”

Despite his new-found success and fame, Arvin remains committed to his nursing career, but he is open to taking his passion for baking to the next level.

“I’m excited about the new opportunities that have come my way, but I’m also deeply committed to my work as a nurse, and it’s important to me to continue supporting others in that role. That said, I’m finding ways to balance both my day job and my growing love for baking,” he says.

“I’ve always dreamed of taking my baking further – whether it’s through a business, creating content, or projects that allow me to share my culture and creativity with a wider audience. I’m also very close to completing my pastry chef qualification, so I’m taking it one step at a time and excited to see where this journey leads.”

The Great Australian Bake Off streams on Foxtel and BINGE, available on Hubbl