It’s that time of the year again as Christmas is around the corner and we’re all scrambling to find the perfect gifts for friends and family.
We’re hoping to make your life a little bit easier with our curated gift guides, where we pick the best gift options out there in a bid to save you some time. For those of you with wannabe bakers or cooks in the family, this is the gift guide for you!
Whether your Mum fancies herself as a contestant on the next series of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ or your brother is gearing up to apply to ‘MasterChef’, we’ve picked out some great books that would make brilliant stocking fillers.
Keep reading to find out which books we’ve chosen…
Bake It Better – Matt Adlard
One of the best baking ‘influencers’ on social media, Matt Adlard is a true force of nature. Known for pushing the boundaries of baking, particularly in Patisserie, Adlard has built up a loyal following thanks to his down-to-earth persona and his tendency to showcase his failures, as well as his successes. This book came out in 2023 but it’s still one of our go-tos when it comes to desserts that are going to impress. Adlard makes the impossible possible with his simple-to-follow recipes and his creative ideas.
Doma – Spasia Pandora Dinkovski
There are plenty of books out there that cover cuisines such as Italian, Mexican and French but what about the Balkan Diaspora? Well if you know someone who wants to branch out with their cooking, Spasia Pandora Dinkovski’s ‘Doma’ is a great gift choice. This is more than a cookbook – it teaches you some of the history of the region so you can appreciate where all of these tantalising recipes come from. On first glance, the book may be a little intimidating but all of these recipes are achievable. Before you know it you’ll be serving up your own Burek and Crunchy Potatoes with Fried Pepper Cream. If it’s dishes to share with the whole family, then Kjufte with Hot Chips, Spicy Tomato Sos and Cold Feta is a good shout or Hot Kebapcinja with Chilli and Honey Relish, which is surprisingly simply to make but endlessly moreish.
Elly’s Plate – Elly Smart
Plant-based cooking has been having a moment the past few years and Elly Smart is here to share her incredible recipes in ‘Elly’s Plate’. Often dismissed as lacking the same impact as meat dishes, plant-based food has plenty of detractors but this book should help change your mind. What’s so smart about this book (no pun intended) is that Elly has suggestions for every kind of meal whether it’s breakfast or dessert. Her ‘One Pan Full English’ is simply mouth-watering and she gets creative with jackfruit and chickpeas for ‘Thai-Style Fish Cakes’. Our favourite chapter though is ‘Prepped Plates’, which delivers protein-filled recipes such as ‘Smoky Tofu Chorizo Tacos’ and ‘Mega Protein Meatballs’. Perfect for anyone thinking about a shift in their diet for 2025!
Good Vibes Baking – Sandro Farmhouse
Sandro Farmhouse won the hearts of the nation when he was the runner-up on ‘The Great British Bake Off’ back in 2022. During his time in the tent, he showcased his remarkable artistic baking skills and his ability to impress with his flavour combinations. ‘Good Vibes Baking’ is his first book and with it Sandro aims to share his optimistic outlook on life, as well as his incredible recipes. From easier bakes such as ‘Brownie & Strawberry Cookies’ and ‘Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls’ through to more challenging bakes like ‘My Signature Splatter Cake’ and ‘Sticky Caramel Celebration Cake’, there really is something for everyone. Sandro’s personality is all over this book from the bright colours to the tasty recipes and everything in between.
Jane’s Patisserie Easy Favourites – Jane Dunn
Is there anyone on the planet who hasn’t heard of Jane’s Patisserie at this point? Jane Dunn has become a social media sensation thanks to her approach to making baking accessible to everyone. Through her website and her social media accounts, she’s shared hundreds of recipes that are easy to recreate at home including traybakes, muffins, cakes and savoury bakes and dishes. Her fourth book ‘Easy Favourites’ puts the emphasis on bakes that don’t take a long time to make but deliver flavour and satisfaction every single time. Expect loaf cakes, cookies and, of course, traybakes!
Buy ‘Jane’s Patisserie Easy Favourites’ now
You Can Cook Everything
We don’t say this lightly – ‘You Can Cook Everything’ is one of the best kitchen companions we’ve ever come across! Catering to both bakers and cooks, the book is a compendium of how to master the basics in a variety of areas such as Eggs, Chicken, Pasta and Bread. Each chapter takes you through the basic steps e.g. roasting a chicken and then offers a series of recipes to make. Full of pictures and easy-to-follow steps, this book is perfect for those who are just starting out on their kitchen journey or those who need a little more confidence. It’s a HUGE book and honestly, it would take you at least a year to work through if you started on Christmas Day!
Buy ‘You Can Cook Everything’ now
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