For all the ardent fans of the Great British Bake Off, who have been captivated by every episode over the past 14 years, the prospect of tasting the sweet creations of one of the show’s winners is simply irresistible. If you’re a dessert lover like me, then there’s nothing more tantalising than this. So, when John Whaite, the third champion baker of GBBO, announced the launch of his own mail-order brownie business earlier this year, it understandably sent us cake enthusiasts into a frenzy.
John and his partner Paul kicked off Ruff Puff Brownies in February, operating from their home base in Wrightington, Lancashire. On their inaugural delivery day, a staggering 14,000 people attempted to place orders. Merely weeks after initiating production as a pair, due to the persistent demand, they found themselves needing to expand their team. It’s safe to say that Ruff Puff Brownies is thriving.
So, I’ve observed, quite ecstatically, as they’ve posted pictures of their brownies on social media – enormous trays of them – being manually cut and packed into boxes for dispatch to customers nationwide. The sight of the brownie batter being prepared has left me almost spellbound, and I’ve fantasised about the day I’d manage to log on in time to secure my own order, reports the Manchester Evening News. They release their coveted “drops” twice a week, and you’ve got to be glued to your phone, ready to pounce at exactly 10.01am to snag an order before they sell out in mere minutes – it’s a commitment for those with a sweet tooth.
Last week, I finally struck gold and managed to place an order on time. To say I was over the moon at the prospect of tasting these much-hyped treats would be an understatement. But my excitement got the better of me; I hadn’t realised that ordering on Thursday meant delivery wouldn’t happen until the following Tuesday – talk about an agonising wait. Was the anticipation worth it? Absolutely, yes.
The arrival of this parcel was possibly the most thrilling thing to ever land on my doorstep. The moment the DPD courier arrived at 6.30pm (after a day of nail-biting suspense), I was ecstatic. Unwrapping the package revealed Ruff Puff’s signature orange sleeve, sliding off to unveil a box emblazoned with “Bloody Beltin’ Brownies”. Inside, there’s a handy card detailing everything you need to know about your brownies, including a shelf life of “seven days from the day they arrive” at room temperature, or 10 if refrigerated. If they last that long, you’re not as big a brownie buff as I am.
Peeling back the parchment, a selection of eight delectable squares beckons. One’s senses are tantalised by four brownie varieties and an equal number of blondies. Unfortunately, for choosy sweet lovers, there is no option to select specific flavours, as they come packaged in the current seasonal collection. Yes, we’re talking summer vibes now, even if the cheeky weather refuses to acknowledge the season.
Particularly irresistible was the Odds ‘n Sods blondies – a sinful concoction marrying honeyed cashews, salty pretzels, rich pecans and indulgent caramel. Its foundation boasted a caramelised crunch that whispered more of a biscuit than brownie but oh, what a revelation! It earned a mental Paul Hollywood handshake from me. Frankly, these brownies have set such a high standard, it’s hard to imagine any future brownie not evoking a nostalgic pang for this unforgettable experience.
Then there’s Campfire Canoodle, their so-called “signature brownie”, and its clear why its the star of the show. Imagine a heavenly base, generously crowned with homemade marshmallow fluff, drenched in salted caramel, and scattered with biscuit fragments – it is a brownie that transcends its genre. Some flavours, like Midnight Eclipse – a masterful blend topped with velvety chocolate ganache and a layer of delicate blackcurrant liquorice jelly – grew on me throughout the week.
On the flip side, its tropical counterpart, ‘Tropical Eclipse’, just didn’t do it for me. Its cloying sweetness was a little too overwhelming. I must admit, I felt a bit like Prue Leith critiquing these treats, but the Boris the Eton Mess blondie left much to be desired; it was overdone, with the advertised fluffy white meringue turning into a brown sludge in my sample. Despite this, it remained quite the treat, albeit not the standout among the eight I sampled. The Signature Sexy Blondie also presented an overly crisp exterior and was too salty for my taste.
Here’s the dilemma… I’d gladly use up my entire daily calorie quota on a box filled solely with the Campfire brownies and Odds and Sods blondies. However, at present, you can’t pick your own flavours. You have to purchase the brownies in a full-sized variety box of eight, which is priced at £28, equating to £3.50 per brownie. This price point seems fair to me, as you’d typically pay that or more for a top-notch cake in a cafe.
They also offer a mini box of eight smaller pieces for £16. Remember to factor in shipping costs (mine came to £5.16). They even offer “crunch chunks” essentially the offcuts for £8, with proceeds going to charity. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with most of the brownie box, and it’s fantastic to see Strictly star John Whaite shine with his baking prowess on such a grand scale. The mail-order service allows his delectable creations to be savoured by sweet-toothed fans nationwide.
However, in a further blow to diets everywhere, John has now branched out into cookies. Customers are already claiming they rival, if not surpass, the brownies. I attempted to purchase some of the brown butter triple choc cookies (£10 for a pack of four) and the sticky scandi cookies (£11 for four), but these were all snapped up by the time I managed to place my order on Thursday. This implies that I’ll likely be revisiting the site next week, making another attempt to secure those. And I’m already eagerly anticipating the unveiling of the autumn flavours.
