Features
Top 5 Baking Books for Beginners
by Julia Pal
published on 10 September 2013, last updated on 26 August 2021
Baking can be a true pleasure. Producing a perfect Victoria Sponge for a relaxed afternoon tea, or a rich chocolate cake for a birthday celebration, is immensely satisfying, both for the baker and for those who enjoy the fruits of his or her labour. However, if you are new to baking or just can’t seem to produce the results you crave, it can be a disheartening experience. Never fear! If you want to up your baking game, the Happy Foodie can help. We’ve gathered together a collection of brilliant recipe books that will take you from shambles to showstopper in no time at all.
How To Be A Domestic Goddess
This was the book that brought the glamour back to baking and launched Nigella Lawson’s career into the stratosphere. An absolute cookery classic, it is an essential book for anyone who lacks confidence with their baking. Nigella’s warm, conversational style and relaxed approach make even the most complex recipes feel achievable.
Learn to make perfect bread
No-nonsense tips and tricks
Simple recipes with impressive results
Brilliant Bread
A finalist in 2012’s series of Great British Bake Off, James Morton won over the nation with his witty banter, fairisle jumpers and boundless enthusiasm for baking. In Brilliant Bread, he guides the reader through every aspect of breadmaking in a friendly, no-nonsense style. The recipes are graded from easy to challenging, and are accompanied by clear step-by-step guides to essential techniques.
The Great British Bake Off: Learn to Bake
From the team behind Britain’s favourite TV baking show, Learn To Bake is the ideal book to entice families into the kitchen to get baking together. With a comprehensive glossary of baking terms, notes about essential equipment and 80 family-friendly recipes, it is a wonderful starter book. Pick a bake, grab the kids and get messy in the kitchen!
A perfect guide for new bakers
250 foolproof baking recipes
The ultimate cakes and bakes from the nation’s favourite baker
Mary Berry’s Baking Bible
Who better to get you baking than the queen of Bake Off herself? This book lives up to its name, with over 250 recipes for cakes and bakes to suit every occasion. All the classics are here – from simple everyday bakes, to sumptuous celebration cakes. Mary’s simple pared back style inspires confidence and takes the terror out of trying something new.
Dan Lepard’s Short and Sweet
Fans of Dan Lepard’s writing for The Guardian appreciate his laid-back, accessible style and fuss-free recipes. Short and Sweet is full of these, covering every aspect of baking – from cake to pizza and sourdough. The straightforward explanations in the book are accompanied by stunning, inspiring photography.
Try some of our favourite cakes and bakes here:
Red Wine Velvet Cake with Whipped Mascarpone
Chocolate and Pear Cake
Yoghurt Pot Cake
View all
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