What do you see when you think of a cake? A thick biscuit base? Layers of oozing chocolate, cream and jam? Rich buttery sponge with a dusting of icing sugar? Well, this week’s sweet-tooth competitors faced the dreaded words that can stop any baker in their tracks… sugar-free.

In a scene reminiscent of Chariots Of Fire, our bakers raced back to their desks when they heard the brief and frantically began scrolling through guilt-free recipes from Deliciously Ella and Madeleine Shaw. Panicked conversations about raw honey and agave nectar erupted around the room.

By the time Tuesday morning rolled around, rows of oddly coloured bakes lined the sideboard ready for judgement, and an over-powering aroma of banana and carrots filled the air. After last week’s glutinous cheesecake spread, everyone needed a break from the sweet stuff. The tension, however, was palpable – how to survive the competition without relying on the winning combination of butter and sugar to placate the taste buds?

This week, the Stylist office welcomed Sophie Michell from the Cook Yourself Thin website to judge. She cast her discerning eye (and palate) over the entries and decided whose bake could satisfy a sweet tooth without causing a cavity.

The Stylist Cake Off Competition Week Four: Sugar-free