After weeks of spectacular bakes, high-stakes challenges and sweet surprises, Pamela Buchanan has been crowned the winner of The Great Australian Bake Off 2026, impressing judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese with a showstopping performance in the Grand Final.
In the season’s ultimate test, the finalists faced three of their most ambitious challenges yet, pushing their skill, imagination and nerve to the limit. The Signature challenge saw them create patisserie tacos, before tackling the elegant classic Mont Bleu in the Technical. For the Showstopper, the finalists delivered breathtaking tessellate cakes – bold, geometric masterpieces designed to impress.
Pamela triumphed against tough competition from fellow finalists Branden Khou and Matt Perillo-Phipps, proving herself across ten sweet-filled weeks. From world-class cakes and intricate biscuits to savoury sensations, Greek-inspired creations and outdoor bakes, she brought imagination and precision to every challenge.
For her stunning showstopper, Pamela created a sumptuous multilayered tesselate cake that left the judges in awe. The top tier featured pistachio cake layered with rhubarb and bitter orange compote, sitting atop a lower tier which paired hazelnut cake with hazelnut praline and rich dark chocolate ganache. The spectacular creation was finished with 240 multicoloured chocolate bonbons, meticulously arranged to form a sophisticated geometric outer layer.
Pamela said: “Being on The Great Australian Bake Off was a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience and a dream come true. Baking has always been a huge part of my life, and having the opportunity to completely immerse myself in that passion was such a gift. I called it my “baking retreat”, and I loved every part of it, from the briefs and challenges to the energy of that fast-paced shed. I learned so much, grew as a baker, met incredible people and discovered just how much I thrive under pressure.”
“One of the great joys was meeting the other 11 bakers and seeing how differently we could interpret the same brief. We each brought our own style, ideas and personality to our bakes, and I loved watching those differences come to life. Being named Australia’s Best Amateur Baker is a huge honour and something I am deeply proud of. As a self-taught baker, having Darren and Rachel taste my creations, appreciate my flavours and recognise my creativity and individual style was a privilege I will always value. To have them ultimately award me the title was an incredibly special moment.”
Along with the title, Pamela takes home the ultimate baker’s kitchen from Smeg.
The Great Australian Bake Off is proudly produced by BBC Studios Australia Productions for FOXTEL and BINGE, bringing expert storytelling and production excellence to one of the country’s most beloved series.
The Bake Off franchise began in 2010 with The Great British Bake Off, where it became a ratings phenomenon. The Love Productions format is distributed by BBC Studios and has been produced locally for the Foxtel Group since 2015, as well as in the US, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Ireland, Kenya, Norway, Finland, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, Algeria and France.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fans can stream the current season and past favourites of THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF on FOXTEL and BINGE.
