Baking Fever

If our TV screens are anything to go by, baking is the new national obsession. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has been hooked on the Great British Bake Off and more recently bewitched by the lovely Paul Hollywood’s own Bread series. Any master of his craft makes the whole thing look so easy, but alone in the kitchen at home it can be a different story. Bread dough that won’t rise and cakes that stick to the tin can be pretty dispiriting, but that’s where a really good baking book comes in. With far more tips and techniques than you can fit into a 30 minute TV show, they are worth their weight in gold dragees. Here’s my pick of the baking books currently available from Waterstones:

Clear and concise – If you’re looking for one book that will cover all bases, that you can refer to over and over again, it’s got to be Mary Berry’s Baking Bible. She didn’t get to where she is today without knowing a thing or two about baking! The best thing is, she tackles every task from a home cook’s perspective which can sometimes be forgotten by professional chefs and bakeries.




Comprehensive cake cookery – If you want to start with one type of baking and get it spot on every time, Cake is the book for you. We loved watching Rachel’s cookery demonstrations at the Festival Place Food Festival last year and her warm, easy-going style shines through in every recipe.

Fashionable and fabulous – For beautiful bakes that are bang on trend, you can’t go wrong with the newly released Home Sweet Home. Written by the people at the ultra-hip Hummingbird Bakery in Notting Hill, we loved their first book and can’t wait for a second helping.







Truly show-stopping – If you’re already a confident baker but want to take your bakes to the next level, try The Cake Parlour’s Sweet Tables. Author Zoe Clark gives detailed and helpful instructions on how to produce themed displays of the most glamorous goodies.





Gluten-free and gorgeous – Written by Phil Vickery in conjunction with Coeliac UK, this book shows you how to make gluten-free versions of all your favourite bakes.  Perfect for treating gluten-intolerant friends and family members.




Brilliant breads – The Women’s Institute is a baking icon, so it’s no wonder that their Bread book is a
treasure trove of tips and techniques for making the perfect loaf. With sections on gluten-free, celebration bakes and speciality breads from around the world, it’s perhaps unexpectedly up to date too.

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Jane Robinson, author of “A Force to be Reckoned with: A History of the Women's Institute” is coming to Basingstoke Discovery Centre on Tuesday 16th April to talk about how the celebrated British institution goes far beyond baking . Girl power, old school style! Click here for details of how to book.


Happy nibbling!
Fiona B x