Local 'The Great British Bake Off' contestant to launch baking business in Macclesfield
By Alex Greensmith
27th Jan 2024 | Local News
A man who is rapidly becoming one of Macclesfield's best-known bakers, is to launch his own baking business in the town.
Dan Hunter, who was a contestant on last year's The Great British Bake Off, will start taking baking commissions in 2024.
Whether you want a bespoke celebration cake, or elegant pastries for a wedding, Dan will have you covered.
A runner-up in the Channel 4 baking programme, Dan is now a familiar face across the country.
But it is locals that Dan wants to provide for with his new business.
Macclesfield Nub News met with Dan, to reflect on his time on Bake Off, and indeed to detail his future business plans.
""I'm thinking of starting a local delivery service for bakes", said Dan.
"At the moment, I am devising a list of bakes to focus on, to get local businesses around Macc to potentially stock [and for people to order].
'I'd like to start things organically with a delivery service, and see where it goes from there.
"And you never know in the future, maybe move to a shop potentially.
"I've also spoke to a few people locally about doing baking schools for adults.
"A lady in Bollington has approached me about working together teaching as well.
"I'd like to get into teaching kids life skills as well. I've been to Just Drop In on Brook Street in Macclesfield about teaching there."
Dan's passion for cooking started when he went travelling in South America in 2007.
The trip even inspired his social media handle 'dancazador9', as 'Cazador' is Spanish for 'Hunter', which is his surname.
Dan took us back to the winter of 2022, when he first applied for the show.
"At the end of every series when the advert comes up inviting you to apply, it is always in the back of my mind," he recalled.
"But there was something about this time, that I said to my wife [Natalie] I might apply for that. And she goes 'Yeah, whatever'.
"Out of curiosity, I opened my application during my lunchbreak at work. And sort of sent it off not thinking anything of it, and literally the next day we got an email back asking for a telephone conversation.
"Throughout the audition process, my wife kept saying 'You're getting on the show, you're getting on the show.' And I got on it, it was a complete whirlwind."
Dan spoke to Macclesfield Nub News in his kitchen, just feet away from his fondant figurine of himself served to him on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice.
He beamed with a smile of relief, when he was asked 'What it was like to keep a secret from family and friends about his experiences on the show, until it aired.'
"For the vast majority of people that know me, I have been living a secret double life for well over a year," he said.
"I made the foolish mistake of telling quite a lot of people that I'd applied for the show, before I knew I got on, so lots of parents on the school run and mates were asking 'What happened with that?'
"I had a 'circle of trust', which was four or five families who knew, but kept it a secret.
"In return, they enjoyed my practice bakes for the show. I would go out and deliver to them and get feedback before recording. They were a great taste testing team!
"I had to make loads of excuses and miss events. On Patisserie week, I was meant to go and see a Sam Fender concert with a load of my mates.
"I had to tell them that I had other commitments and was short of money. But that led to my inspiration in the tent.
"I'm keeping my eye out for another Sam Fender tour!"
"Keeping it a secret was tough for the kids as well, my son Rory, nine, he's been amazing. It is tough to keep that quiet, especially while the show was on, he was getting asked every day by his mates about how I did.
"He even got a special award from the school for keeping a secret. He kept the secret better than me!"
As well as being one of the best-performing Cheshire contestants across the show's 14 series, Dan held the honour of being the first Star Baker of the series during Cake Week.
A feat more impressive, when you realise how foreign of an environment it is to throw twelve amateur bakers who have never been on TV before onto a living, breathing, TV baking competition.
"It felt absolutely amazing to be the first Star Baker of the series", explained Dan.
"Cakemaking isn't my strongpoint, so it was a lot of just trying really hard.
"I came first in the Technical Challenge, my head was spinning. But whilst they liked my Signature Rhubarb and Custard Cake, you have no idea ahead of the Technical if you are going to make it to the next round."
Dan would later go on to win Star Baker again in Dessert Week, then he reached the Bake Off final three, but lost out to Cambridgeshire teacher Matty Edgell.
Along the way, Dan notably won over Paul Hollywood and converted him away from his hatred of matcha, so much so that it earned Dan the infamous 'Hollywood Handshake'.
His bold flirting with flavour culminated in the curious sounding - but delicious tasting - Thai Green Curry Crème Caramel.
Another scrumptious highlight included his Wild Garlic and Rosemary Loaf, which reflects his enjoyment of foraging, another activity he partakes in locally.
And in the final, Dan was pictured chatting with friends and family at The Vale Inn in Bollington.
"The whole experience was incredible", added Dan.
"Barring my family, it is the best personal achievement I've ever done. Being on the show was in itself was monumental, but add to that the two Star Bakers, winning three technicals and getting to the final it was absolutely amazing.
"I've seen the cast loads since the show. We've just been to see a panto together.
"I think I will be boring people for the rest of my life about how amazing of an experience it was."
Macclesfield: If you want to order from Dan, get in touch with him via Facebook.
"I'd love to hear back from any cafés in Macclesfield who would like to stock my bakes," he concluded.
"Big shout out to Yas Bean [of Buxton Road, Macclesfield] who have been very supportive of my Bake Off journey, I want to do a collaboration with them this year as well.
"Finally, I'd like to give a massive thank you to everybody for their support in the local area.
"From the word go, it has been absolutely overwhelmingly amazing.
"To everyone, thank you so much for your support it means everything to me."
Dan also has an Instagram @danhunter9.
He is posting recipes on his Instagram @danhunter9. (Image - @danhunter9)
Macclesfield: You can learn more about Dan's time on the Channel 4 programme on the show's official website and watch it on this link.
Dan Hunter is not the only person from our area to have featured on a Channel 4 programme of late, as a Tytherington woman is also currently featuring on one. Please click here for more information on this story.
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