Baking took the world by storm in 2020 and it’s safe to say we probably had a fair share of successes and failures! With thousands of baking books out there, we have narrowed down the best of the best to kick start your baking successes! These books are perfect for students as they have the common themes of teaching techniques and ranging abilities for different recipes, meaning you can start easy, and work your way up.
1: Three Ingredient Baking by Sarah Rainey
This book is perfect for beginners or students who want to perfect baking, on a budget. These three-ingredient treats are perfect for trying new things without a daunting, long and expensive shopping list! With over 100 recipes to choose from, this minimal fuss baking book is perfect for anyone who is new to baking!
2: Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh
Yotam Ottolenghi has a profound collection of savoury cookbooks but venturing into sweet baking books has allowed him and Helen Goh to shine. This cookbook collaborates baking with exotic spices and complex flavourings in over 110 innovative recipes. From simple cupcakes and cookies to showstopping roulades, this book allows you to grow as a baker and experiment with flavours at the same time!
3: Nadiya Bakes by Nadiya Hussain
After winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015, Nadiya has wrote a collection of books documenting the collaboration culture and baking. Nadiya Bakes, released in 2020, seemed to come just in time as lockdown had us all trying to bake again! This book has a range of cakes, cookies and tear-and-shares as well as no-bake-bakes and sweet pizzas such as Blueberry and Lavender!
4: Marry Berry’s Baking Bible by Mary Berry
On the GBBO note, Mary Berry has been a national treasure since starting the show back in 2010 and has since sold over five million copies of her collection of 70+ published books! We found that her most successful and highly rated book was Mary Berry’s Baking Bible featuring over 250 ‘foolproof’ recipes! This book includes all the classics as well as more creative bakes and is said to be the ‘most comprehensive baking cookbook you’ll ever need’!
5: The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
Starting with their small bakery in Notting Hill, the Hummingbird bakery released their own cookbook, introducing London to all the American baking tips! This book has something for every season, and holds a few of my personal favourite recipes! From Hot Cross Buns to Chocolate Cola cake, it has it all! Also, if you find yourself around central London, be sure to visit one of their three cake shops!
Bravetart incorporates American classic desserts and simple recipes so you can recreate all your favourites from home. Those American sweet treats that we long for are now easier than ever to make! Although, it is important to note that the measurements used are in cups and ounces, so you might need to invest in measuring cups, or get your calculator out!
7: How to be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking by Nigella Lawson
Nigella is another baking legend, even referred to as the ‘Queen of the Kitchen’ by Observer Food Monthly. This book helps kick-start a passion for baking, dealing with even the emotional side of baking! According to Amazon, “How To Be a Domestic Goddess is not about being a goddess, but about feeling like one”. This book is perfect for everyone from entry-level to our keen bakers!
8: Beginner’s Baking Bible by Heather Perine
Beginner’s Baking Bible is perfect for any newbies! This book walks through all the essential techniques for baking to perfect the 130 recipes in this Bible, and you’ll get them perfect each and every time thanks to Heather Perine’s tips! Heather has sculpted out the building blocks to becoming a star baker for a range of recipes from muffins to quiches! Heather also shares her secret baking hacks which will become priceless knowledge as your friends and family watch you grow (and glow) as a baker!
9: All About Cake by Christina Tosi
Christina’s book All About Cake takes us to the manically creative universe of Milk Bar. This recipe book has everything from the two-minute microwave cakes to their signature naked layer cakes. Keeping in touch with original recipes, the flavours are comforting and rewarding to make and eat! Christina Tosi reveals the methods behind her teams creativity allowing you to invent any cake flavour that your heart desires.
10: Simple Cake by Odette Williams
Simple Cake acts as a love letter from Odette Williams to all her favourite treats. This book will address the fundamentals to getting your bakes perfect and reliable, making them fool proof and ready to go whenever the urge strikes. This book is full of easy-to-follow recipes and creative decorating to up your baking game for good!