Published By: National Trust Books
Pages: 160
Released On: 14/03/2024
Supported by the National Trust, suppliers of fine cakes to the British public
40 essential classic and modern cake recipes plus expert tips and techniques
Little bits of interesting and quirky cake history
Packed with practical advice for baking the perfect cake every time, this beautifully illustrated book of tried-and-tested recipes includes all the classics – Coffee and Walnut Cake, Spiced Carrot Cake, Double Chocolate Brownies – as well as some new and exciting recipes to inspire and impress: Fresh Apricot, Saffron and Honey Cake; Sea Salt Caramel Sponge; Blood Orange Poppyseed Cake. Featuring loaf cakes, sponge cakes, small cakes and fruit cakes – with a side serving of cake-related history to go – these easy-to-follow recipes will appeal to anyone who enjoys a delicious homemade cake.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and The National Trust for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I love to bake. I used to do it every day practically. I baked for birthday parties, for weddings, for funerals, and mainly just for the hell of it. It’s the way I manage my emotions. Which makes it even sadder that my current physical disability has limited my ability in the kitchen. But that hasn’t stopped me buying recipe books and reading recipe books, and this one definitely caught my eye.
Linda has added an historical element to the different sections of this book, about the origins of baking and the history of that particular cake. I’ve read a lot of cookbooks and baked a lot of things, and so I already have a certain amount of knowledge and understanding, but Linda’s added a lot more detail that I wasn’t aware of, which was nice.
Linda has offered the basic recipe, and also gluten free and vegan options, which is definitely an important aspect in cookbooks now.
I have made several of the cakes mentioned in this book, but obviously the recipes she has provided are new to me, so it was interesting to compare those with what I know. On a personal note, it was nice to see a recipe for a Bara Brith in it. Fruit cake has gone down in popularity, and as a general rule, I am not a fan of fruit cake, but I do love making and eating a Bara Brith, but not many people have heard of it so for me, it was a nice little inclusion.
I reviewed a digital copy which meant the formatting wasn’t exactly what the final copy will be like and so I can’t comment on that, but it showed some of the illustrations which I really liked. I love an illustration and I feel more books need them – especially adult or non-fiction books.
I wasn’t 100% when I read this which meant I wasn’t able to test the recipes prior to this review, but I’ve saved them to try another day, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they bake.
There’s not much more I can say in a review about a cookbook really, as there isn’t a plot or characters to talk of. But I will say it’s a lovely little book with some exciting recipes, interesting facts, classics and modern classics, and wouldn’t look out of place on any baker’s bookshelf.
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