Soggy Bottom Girls

Puds, pavs, and plenty of opinions! 🍮🍫🍊

It's Dessert Week on The Great British Bake Off, and Lisa and Allison are diving headfirst into a tent full of sweet treats, retro favorites, and some seriously questionable flavor combinations!

From self-saucing puddings and a bread-and-butter pudding technical to an elaborate retro dessert trolley Showstopper, the Soggy Bottom Girls have plenty to chew on. Why are the Brits so obsessed with chocolate and orange? Does anyone really want bread pudding for dessert? And what exactly makes a dessert "retro"?

Plus, Nigella Lawson declares her love for a "pav,"...

Bread Week is here, and things are getting CRUMBLY in the Bake Off tent!🍞🥖😂

Lisa and Allison are back to break down Episode 4 of The Great British Bake Off, and they've got one burning question: How did so many bakers make it into the tent without knowing how to bake bread?!

From garlic bread that's either barely garlicky or loaded with 12 entire bulbs to a disastrous flatbread technical that left even Paul Hollywood stunned, this might be one of the most underwhelming Bread Weeks in Bake Off history!

The girls dig into proo...

Has The Great British Bake Off officially jumped the shark?🦈🇬🇧😂

It's Audience Choice Week in the Bake Off tent, and Lisa and Allison have THOUGHTS! For the first time, Bake Off is shaking up its beloved format with some seriously unusual challenges, and the Soggy Bottom Girls aren't entirely convinced it's a change for the better.

From cheesecake-making with loved ones (helpful or just plain distracting?) to a mystery-ingredient technical and a truly bizarre wearable-bakes Showstopper, this episode has the girls questioning just how far Bake Off should stray from tradition.

Plus, a surprise Hol...

It's Biscuit Week in the Bake Off tent, and the Soggy Bottom Girls have some serious questions about what the Brits think makes an American cookie! 🍪🇬🇧😂

Lisa and Allison are back to break down Episode 2 of The Great British Bake Off, and this week, things are getting delightfully crumbly.

From questionable American-style cookies and a recipe-free technical to edible biscuit mosaics, the girls have plenty to say about the bakers' creative choices. Lisa shares her obsession with cinnamon chips (seriously, Hershey's, call us!), while Allison reminisces about family cookie recipes and the simple joys of baking.

A new batch of bakers, a new judge, and a whole lot of cake! 🎂🇬🇧🍰

The tent is officially OPEN for Series 18 of The Great British Bake Off, and Lisa and Allison are back with their signature blend of baking banter, strong opinions, and delightfully unexpected tangents!

This week, the Soggy Bottom Girls welcome Nigella Lawson to the judging table (and have a few things to say about the internet's reaction), meet the newest batch of bakers, and unpack a Cake Week filled with stout-infused signatures, a recipe-free technical, and some seriously questionable self-portrait showstoppers...

The Soggy Bottom Girls are back! Lisa and Allison are officially pregaming Series 17 of The Great British Bake Off, and there is MUCH to discuss.

There are 12 new bakers headed into the tent, Nigella Lawson is joining Paul Hollywood at the judging table, and Lisa and Allison have questions. Will Nigella bring a whole new energy to the tent? Will this year's bakers actually feel like home bakers? And can Bake Off please, PLEASE just give us cakes, breads, biscuits and pastry instead of making someone construct a working transmission out of choux?

...

For the first time, Lisa and Allison are recording together in the same kitchen, and it's the perfect recipe for a special episode! As they dive into another Celebrity Bake Off in support of Comic Relief, the conversation is just as lively as the bakes, with plenty of laughter, spirited debate, and the unmistakable chemistry that comes from finally sharing the same table.

Together, they celebrate the celebrities who surprise, sympathize with the inevitable baking blunders, and delight in the joyful chaos that makes these specials so much fun. From ambitious...

The aprons are back on and the chaos continues as Lisa and Allison return for a second helping of Comic Relief baking antics. This follow-up special serves up everything we love about celebrity baking episodes: ambitious ideas, unpredictable execution, and the kind of joyful energy that reminds everyone not to take the crumb count too seriously.

PLUS, this episode features Warwick Davis, Professor Flitwick from the Harry Potter movies. From unexpectedly impressive moments to bakes held together by optimism and icing alone, the Girls delight in the personalities, celebrate the wins, and lovingly unpack the...

Things get delightfully unhinged as Lisa and Allison dive into a Comic Relief baking special packed with big personalities, chaotic energy, and bakes that range from surprisingly impressive to gloriously questionable. With celebrities in the kitchen and good causes at the heart of the episode, this one delivers laughs almost as often as the oven disasters.

The Girls savor the playful spirit of the episode, celebrating the moments where enthusiasm triumphs over technique — and lovingly calling out the creations that may have looked better in theory than in practice. Between the comedic timing, ambitious decorating ch...

Things get extra sweet (and delightfully unpredictable) as Lisa and Allison turn their attention to the world of junior bakers in this charming Kids Bake Off–inspired episode. With smaller hands and big imaginations at work, the stakes may be lower — but the creativity is sky-high.

Lisa and Allison revel in the joyful chaos that only kid-led baking can deliver, from wildly ambitious ideas to decorating choices that follow absolutely no rules (and that’s exactly the point). There’s plenty of laughter, aww-worthy moments, and genuine admiration for the confidence and creativity these young bakers b...

February gets a playful, slightly spooky spin as Lisa and Allison welcome a very special guest — Lisa’s mom, Martha— for this Frightening February Special. With Martha in the mix, the episode brings an extra helping of warmth, wit, and just enough motherly perspective to keep the scares charming instead of chilling.

Together, they dig into bakes that aim to startle, surprise, and maybe wobble a little under pressure. From bold flavor swings to decorative risks that toe the line between festive and frightful, the trio savor the creativity, clock the near-misses, and share...

In this heartfelt special edition episode, Lisa and Allison raise a (theoretical) glass to Prue as they reflect on her legacy, charm, and deliciously sharp judging eye. Equal parts celebration and gentle send-off, the Girls revisit what made Prue such a beloved presence in the Bake Off universe — her warmth, her wisdom, and her unapologetic love of good food.

With their signature mix of humor and affection, Lisa and Allison reminisce about standout Prue moments, memorable bakes, and the way she shaped the tent’s tone over the years. There are laughs, a few...

The holidays continue with round two of festive baking fun! After celebrating the British holiday episode, Lisa and Allison return for their second holiday special, this time diving into the American Baking Show Holiday episode. It’s a fresh batch of seasonal challenges, bold flavors, and holiday chaos — with an American twist.

They savor standout bakes, lovingly side-eye the questionable choices, and celebrate the moments that make holiday baking episodes so comforting and chaotic all at once. With warmth, wit, and plenty of butter-based opinions, the Soggy Bottom Girls compare vibes, flav...

t’s a festive bonus holiday episode of The Soggy Bottom Girls, and Lisa and Allison are joined by special guest from across the pond, Emma ,to celebrate all things gingerbread. With no tent pressure and no ticking clock, this episode is pure holiday joy — warm spices, ambitious builds, and plenty of opinions about what gingerbread can (and absolutely cannot) support.

Together, they delight in creative designs, commiserate over structural mishaps, and revel in the uniquely holiday magic of gingerbread season. It’s cozy, chatty, and filled with the kind of good-na...

Pull on your coziest jumper and head north to the Bake Off tent as Lisa and Allison celebrate a holiday special with a distinctly Scottish twist. With a lineup of Scottish contestants bringing their own flavors, traditions, and baking bravado to the table, this episode feels festive in a way that’s both heartwarming and delightfully specific.

Lisa and Allison dig into the bakes, the vibes, and the moments that made this episode stand out — from comforting classics to proudly Scottish touches woven into the challenges. There’s admiration for bold choices, gentle ribbin...

The Soggy Bottom Girls are tying a (slightly lopsided) bow on another season of delicious chaos — but first, they need a song. Or… any song. As Allison and Lisa debate their options, Allison casually drops a bombshell about possible Jasmine controversy?! 👀

Lisa, ever the voice of reason, breaks down the bakers’ true strengths. Meanwhile, Allison? She’s breaking down Aaron’s blouse. Thoroughly. And with great enthusiasm.

This week’s signature is all about hot dog buns, which naturally sends the girls into a spirited stroll down Hot Dog Memory Lane. They marvel at Tom’s illusion finger...

It’s Patisserie Week on The Soggy Bottom Girls, and the innuendos are rising faster than choux pastry in a hot oven! Lisa boldly declares her love for cream horns (yes, she’s eaten one), while Allison wonders if they’re simply too faffy for the average baker. The girls sift through Jasmine’s repetitive flavors, debate her soulless bakes, and side-eye her first-place finish in the technical. 

When it comes to the macaron showstopper, Lisa’s thrown in the piping bag, but Allison’s swooning over their adorable potential. With Tom’s chocolate beehive abuzz with brilliance, the...

It’s Dessert Week in the tent, and The Soggy Bottom Girls are serving up some seriously sweet (and slightly scandalous) opinions. Lisa and Allison dive into the mystery of the Basque bake — and after a few “why would you?” moments, they unanimously bin Tom’s black-as-night creation. A steamy bain-marie debate bubbles up next, with both hosts declaring it more trouble than it’s worth.

When the gluten-free pudding technical rolls around, Allison’s war on oranges continues, while Lisa questions the timing (and the taste appeal) of a gluten-free dessert challenge. Finally, the girls tackle the towering t...

It’s the first-ever Meringue Week in the Bake Off tent, and the Soggy Bottom Girls are whipping up pure delight! Allison and Lisa dive headfirst into clouds of sugar and egg whites—discussing mini meringue pies, soufflé struggles, and torches that never get used (looking at you, Allison). 

From chestnut mysteries to passion fruit obsessions, they mix in plenty of laughter, Bake Off lore (BinGate returns!), and a full-on Barry Manilow detour that somehow makes perfect sense. It’s pillowy, it’s faffy, it’s fabulous—and definitely one for the sweet tooth and the nostalgia lover alike.<...

It’s Pastry Week in the tent, which means laminated layers, questionable butter strategies, and at least one soggy bottom. Allison and Lisa roll out their thoughts on the seven sacred pastries (and the eighth, Pillsbury Crescent, obviously), while investigating Toby’s neck beard, Natalia’s giant collar, and whether Prue secretly runs an accessories empire. 

The gals debate the merits of tofu pies, gooseberries, and pork-filled mystery tubes from the ’80s, all while cheering on Jasmine’s pastry hat trick and mourning Natalia’s polite farewell. From sculpted tarts to hot water crusts, this week proves once and for...

It’s Chocolate Week on The Soggy Bottom Girls, and things are getting decadent! Lisa and Allison swoon over the adorable mini mousse creations that could pass for fancy café drinks, while Lisa treats us to a nostalgic 90s-style jingle for Nestlé chocolate. The girls can’t help but raise eyebrows at Aaron’s melted mousse mishap, and debate whether mousse should ever look like pudding.

In the technical challenge, Allison applauds the blind judging for bringing a rare moment of fairness to the tent, leveling the playing field. Pantry doughs come up in conversation as the g...

The classroom is open and the girls are back in session! With Allison out for the week, Lisa welcomes special guest and honorary Soggy Bottom Girl, Emma—a British baker living in Pittsburgh who’s here to decode the mystery of Back to School Week on The Great British Bake Off.

From flapjacks that aren’t pancakes to school fêtes (yes, that’s pronounced “fate”) that involve coconuts and queens, this episode is a deep dive into British school traditions that had Lisa more confused than a Bake Off contestant without a proving drawer. Emma breaks down the bril...

It’s Bread Week, and the Soggy Bottom Girls are rising to the occasion! Lisa and Allison kick things off by revealing their favorite “tear and share” bakes before diving into the bakers’ signature challenge — and those wildly over-the-top ingredient choices (truffle oil? Really?).

Things heat up as they unpack the technical: doughnuts. Is it even baking? The girls aren’t convinced. Lisa takes a nostalgic detour with stories of her “Fry Daddy” childhood and sweet Sunday mornings with her dad. Meanwhile, Allison lets loose on the never-ending stream of baker backstories — how emotional should a cruffin be?

They als...

Lisa states that biscuit week is her favorite, and the girls go back and forth about the biscuit/cookie difference.  Allison and Lisa discuss the difficulty level of the signature bake, and both girls praise Jessika's sliced bacon and egg cookie slices.  When the perfect hobnob presents itself as the technical, Lisa believes that she could do this challenge, especially given her skills in carmel making.

Allison questions whether or not the bakers are truly given NO instruction for technicals, and, Lisa shares a social media post about understanding the ratios in certain baked goods, insisting the kn...

The season's first episode is jammed with cakes cakes and so many more CAKES The girls get into a swiss roll discussion after Allison shares having made an inlaid swiss roll cake last spring.

Lisa shares her thoughts regarding this very first signature bake, and the degree of difficulty being higher than previous first episodes. With talent levels high, the girls only have some minor errors available for discussion.

Allison asks Lisa to rate this episode's new style of technical, and Lisa laments the changes made and wonders if every next technical will potentially set...

The girls go rogue and answer questions from the listeners after Allison labels it an 'after school special' episode. From the girls' favorite bakers to Lisa's obsession with gingerbread, the girls dive deep and get into some frequent fan queries. Midsummer moments-- from The Soggy Bottom Girls.

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From a Celiac diagnosis to founder of the gluten-free company, "Mightylicious", Carolyn Haeler shares some pieces of her own baking journey and delivers information for baking gluten free that any good baker can find useful. The girls get schooled in GF baking.

An "after school special" episode from the Soggy Bottom Girls. Enjoy!

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In 2016, former GBBO contestant Andrew Smyth made it to the finale after surviving a near elimination week six. 

 In 2020, Andrew combined his engineering career with his baking prowess- becoming a producer and judge for Netflix's episodic competition "Baking Impossible". 

In 2025, the Soggy Bottom Girls procure a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak with a bake-off legend, and, long time favorite of Lisa's.

Please enjoy Lisa and Allison's long-form conversation with the talented and lovely Andrew Smyth. 

MIC DROP!

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The girls tackle another one-off with a celebrity charity bake off - benefitting Stand Up to Cancer. The cast of the Derry Girls square off with a signature trifle. Lisa and Allison introduce the cast and their acting credits, Allison remarks that Dylan was the weakest baker of the episode. Both girls agree that this may be the funniest episode either had ever seen.  Lisa remembers receiving a trifle dish for a wedding gift and Alliison mentions never having seen a trifle before becoming an adult. Both girls take issue with Siobhan's addition of jelly, but both agree that S...

The girls review a celebrity bake-off from 2019 this episode.  Lisa explains the difficulty in finding recognizable British celebrities, and both girls embark on a John Lithgow discussion.  Sidestepping Russell Brand's current problems, the girls reject his use of fondant for the first challenge, and Lisa queries Allison on her go-to home-baked brownie.  A swiss roll technical prompts Lisa to challenge herself to try a patterned version of her own this summer, then, she recommends a frozen Little Debbie snack cake version. 

Tangentially, the girls discuss their favorite childhood sweet treat, and appropriate a kid's Christmas song from 1960.

The all-female final sparks an immediate discussion of the season 2 trophy, and, the ensuing street fair celebration. Lisa and Allison both assert their disdain for the mille feulle, and Allison thanks Lisa for catching the chick pea bug. An Austrian torte puts the contestants on even ground, though the girls agree the torte process was torture to watch.  The petit four showstopper sparks compliments for the bakers' meringues, especially those with the addition of color. Allison is disdainful of Maryannes's  use of "syllabub" and,  the award for the best baker is again rejected for appearing  "second hand"...

Conn...

With only four bakers and fiddly faffy challenges, Lisa and Allison quickly get off track with some details about Alliison's new chicks. Lisa waxes wise about the use of aquafaba as an egg replacement in mousse, and Allison wonders aloud about reaching out to the Indiana native who discovered it.

After referencing the episode's history lesson on the art of patisserie, both girls jump on the technical hot dog bun challenge. A hilarious 70's cereal riff leads to mentions of Richard Simmons and Lisa Kudro. Back on track at last, the girls say goodbye to wide eyed...

A cheesecake signature challenge has Lisa sharing her own experience baking a Paul Hollywood recipe consisting of a faffy sponge base. Allison notes the absence of raisins in American cheesecake, and both girls question anyone's desire for apricot flan. This episode is all female, and the girls comment on the double elimination that took place the week prior. The 'croque en bouche' show stopper leads to a lively remembrance of the dunce cap, and it's place in the history - or at least for Lisa and Allison!

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Allison and Lisa discuss the difference between the American offering of pie, and what the bakers come up with this week. Both girls agree that savory pie isn't really appealing, and Lisa shares her daughter's love for pot pies back in the day.  Lisa embraces the history lessons offered within the episode, and,  asserts her latent desire to become a food historian.  The final "your best meringue pie" challenge has the girls waxing about their own pie accomplishments, and both girls question the earlier show format of a double elimination.  

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"...Bake a dozen unique biscuits..." is this week's signature challenge. Lisa and Allison discuss how the bakers really ran with it, producing completely unique bakes with very little constraints. The girls discuss Jo's usage of lavender, and whether the judges' harsh critique was accurate. Lisa asks Allison to name her favorite cookie, and instead Allison guesses Lisa's correctly. The girls discuss the technical and Lisa shares her Mary Berry brandy snap recipe, sans brandy.  Lisa then wonders about the result of filling the snaps with cream ahead of time.

The girls discuss the bake show's "macaron" evolution,  an...

Lisa and Allison talk about how much more helpful Paul Hollywood used to be, and how bakers weren't nearly as supportive of one another.  Both girls throw themselves into the foccacia technical, and, Lisa shares some specifics about her own foccacia bakes. Lisa brings up the lengthy history intervals from this bread episode, and the girls discuss the potato famine and Irish soda bread. 

With a two part showstopper with one part inedible, Lisa recalls the 70's salt dough craft trend,  and a long-ago gift to her Grandma.  In closing, The girls discuss the meaning and value of t...

In this week of tarts, the term "soggy bottom" gets utilized so frequently, Allison proposes a drinking game for fans of the show.

Lisa and Allison are reminded of the differences between American and British quiche,  and they highlight several bakers offerings of haddock and watercress.

French accents are attempted by both girls as they discuss the lemon citron technical. Lisa thinks Allison should sing with baker Ben after he is caught doing so during the showstopper challenge.  Lisa speaks to the gentle disposition of Jason, and how Ian' s showstopper was completely overlooked- even by...

The girls kick off this episode with an old season made new. Season 2 of the Great British Bake Off has Lisa and Allison talking big about Paul Hollywood's helpfulness, Mary Berry's lack of make -up, and the strong Mel and Sue presence.  The girls gossip about Valentine's  Day and how kids' paper Valentines have jumped the shark.  

The simple signature bake leads the girls into a red velvet cake discussion after Allison reveals she made cupcakes for coworkers on Valentine's. Lisa points out the brevity of the episode's judging, but finds an enjoyment in the inserted history les...

Lisa and Allison are joined by Lauren Jacobs, known from The Food Network as 'The Cheerful Baker'.  Having gained notoriety for her exquisite cookie decorating, Lauren shares some of her favorite baking tips with the girls, as well as how she became The Cheerful Baker. Another Challenge Butter ambassador,  Lauren talks about several entrepenurial paths she has taken in life, and she and Lisa connect over their shared love for singing. Lauren's positivity pairs wonderfully with the girls' appreciation for all things GBBO, making this another 'very special' episode. 

Check out Lauren's site: www.cheerfulbaker.com

C...

Lisa and Allison discuss the most recent GBBO Netflix Christmas episode. After introducing all the bakers, the girls remark on the unremarkable mincemeat pie challenge.  A recognizable technical bake sparks a side conversation about the availability of old episodes on Roku TV. As the bakers struggle to redeem old bakes, Lisa and Allison heap praise on the winner, and give kudos to all the rest for such a lovely holiday episode.  

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