The Thrifty Baker

About the Author

HERMINE DOSSOU was a semi-finalist in the 2020 series of The Great British Bake Off, Hermine is one of the most talented bakers to have appeared on the show, creating delicious and visually stunning bakes that wowed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. In addition to earning a 'Hollywood Handshake' (for inventing a new bread flavour combination), Hermine was twice crowned Star Baker. Her laid-back charm and infectious laugh won her numerous fans amongst Bake Off's 10 million-plus viewers, and for many she was 'the people's winner'. Born and raised in Benin, West Africa, Hermine always helped her mum to bake for family occasions, and at the age of eight she decided to try baking something for herself, buying the ingredients for a savarin cake. From that moment she was hooked. She moved to the UK in 2001 to pursue her further education and now works as an accountant. She's a single mum to her son Steven. The French influence in Benin has given Hermine a passion for pâtisserie such as intricate mille-feuille, entremets and éclairs. Creative and experimental, she is fascinated by the 'why' of baking as well as the 'how'. Understanding why ingredients and flavours work together helped her through some of the most difficult challenges ever seen on Bake Off. Since her appearance on Bake Off, Hermine has been steadily building her profile. She has worked with brands including Amazon Fresh, Galaxy, Monsoon, Rowse, ProCook and Panasonic, written recipes for Waitrose Weekend and made four appearances on ITV's The Lorraine Show. She has proved a great hit at cookery events, including demos for the Foodies Festivals in Oxford and Cambridge.