In this episode of Baking Scraps, we sit down with the most recent baker to leave the Great Canadian Baking Show, Margaret Bose-Johnson, to dig into her incredible journey, her gluten-free baking expertise, and the highs and lows of competing in the tent.

Margaret shares how her love of baking began on her family’s sugar beet farm, opening up about supportive parents, early baking experiments that didn’t always go to plan, and the path that eventually led her to apply to the Great Canadian Baking Show three times before finally earning her spot. We explore Margaret’s deep dive into gluten-free baking and how years of testing, failing, adjusting, and experimenting helped her create her own custom gluten-free flour blend. She talks about the science behind GF baking, how excitement replaced frustration once she cracked the code, and how that passion shaped her time on the show.

Margaret reflects on the intense challenges of the tent, including weather, humidity, time pressure, and the underbaked pie (was it the oven???) that ultimately sent her home. She shares behind-the-scenes insights about equipment quirks, supporting fellow bakers, and the chaotic yet inspiring atmosphere that makes the tent unlike any other kitchen. We also chat about her bi-monthly bake-offs with fellow contestants, favorite technical bakes, gluten-free recreations, and why the Dubai chocolate cookie might be the wildest recipe tackled.

Beyond baking, Margaret opens up about balancing her love for dragon boating with her culinary passions, her joy in making puff pastry from scratch, and that age old question: how do you like your butter tarts? We wrap up with a playful round of “This or That,” where Margaret's charming indecisiveness steals the moment.

If you love baking, behind-the-scenes stories, and hearing directly from the heart of the Great Canadian Baking Show, you will love this conversation with Margaret.

Clips and footage from The Great Canadian 

Baking Show © 2025 Boat Rocker’s  

Proper Television Inc., in association with  

CBC/Radio-Canada and Love Productions.  

Used under fair dealing for review and  

commentary.  

Photography © Geoff George / CBC. Used  

for review and commentary under fair  

dealing.  

All other content © 2025 Baking Scraps  

Podcast. All rights reserved.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.