





Happy Pi Day! Today is the day where we celebrate a constant number in an unsteady world, the intricate beauty of mathematics and — oh, yeah — pie, of course. In honor of the holiday, we’re celebrating by counting down some of the best pies from The Great British Baking Show. And this wouldn’t be Baking Show without a little competition, so we’re ranking them from stodgy to stunning, judging by both look and taste. Now, on your marks, get set, bake!

Dana decides to tackle the savory picnic pie challenge by taking some inspiration from the French. But what she doesn’t know is that her delicious cheese and potato concoctions are verrrry similar to the pthivier technical challenge ahead (helping her score a second place finish).

Kim-Joy’s banquet pie is a puff pastry mermaid named Silke, who’s a vegetarian (luckily, her filling is as well). Unfortunately, since she’s a mermaid, she’s also got a soggy bottom. Not Paul’s favorite thing.

Inspired by her Grandma Elsie’s mincemeat, Stacey’s neat short-crust pies are decorated with dyed-red egg wash. Clearly, Elsie’s genius works on Paul, who says the flavors “remind [him] of his nan.”

In honor of his final bake’s Mad Hatter tea party theme, Chigs, the Collection 9 heartthrob, shaped these chicken, sweet leek and mushroom pies to look like miniature pocket watches. Though they don’t earn him the ultimate prize, both judges agree that these pies are a good time (and thyme!).

These petite pastries are also featured in Collection 9’s Mad Hatter final bake. But Crystelle’s teeny tiny pies have a big kick, thanks to her chickpea and potato curry filling.

The fruit topping and checkerboard interior on Yan’s hand-raised pie make for a stunning visual. Luckily, it tastes as good as it looks: the judges praise her for the light pastry and variety of sausage meats.

Keeping with the tradition of Mad Hatter–themed pies, Briony made this venison and sweet potato banquet pie, featuring playable croquet on top. Prue’s favorite part? The tiny bottle of port, of course!

We wish we could put these pies higher on the list. We really do! This octopus is so realistic, it’s practically stealing our voice with the help of two eel sidekicks. But unfortunately, Paul says these pies taste “a little bit soapy.” Guess we’ll save the lavender for our baths.

These delicate short-crust pies are filled with butternut squash, spinach and blue cheese. Prue enjoys them so much she slaps Sophie’s hand, calling them a “triumph” — which Sandi labels the “Prue pat.” It’s coming for the Hollywood Handshake any day now.

Rahul’s lamb and rice butterfly banquet pie only gets points deducted because there aren’t enough holes to steam. But the design is so intricate, it’s obviously flown straight to the top of this list.

Filled with chicken curry and rice, Ruby’s pie is shaped like the Kohinoor crown, which India surrendered to Great Britain in 1846. The judges praise her hot water crust pastry, which remains crisp despite the size of the pie and juices from the meat.

This delicious pistachio praline panache tart is punched up with a raspberry filling and a blue crème diplomat, but the real showstopping element is the beautiful swan that Nataliia sculpts to sit on top. Originally hailing from Ukraine, the baker constructed the graceful bird as an homage to her grandparents — especially her late grandfather — whose surname translates to “swan.”

This owl is so neat that it’s a perfect indicator of why Giuseppe was awarded the ultimate prize in Collection 9. An ode to his wife’s favorite animal, this watchful bird is stuffed with two different kinds of cheeses.

During Baking Show’s first 1920s week, the bakers make custard pies, popular during that decade. David’s classic vanilla custards — depicting flappers atop various glazed fruits — look so good we’re thinking about reviving the trend. Prue calls them “silky smooth,” Paul labels them “perfect.” Our mouths are watering just thinking about them.

Crystelle makes a second — and winning — appearance on our list with an adorable terrine pie, filled with two different kinds of curries. The pastry flowers! The pastry birds! The pastry shingles on the pastry roof! It’s a work of pastry art. The judges clearly agree: The masterpiece earns Crystelle her first (and certainly not last) Hollywood Handshake of the season. Happy Pi Day!

































































