Do you watch the Great British Baking Show or the Great Holiday Baking Show? If you don’t, you have some serious bingeing to do over the holidays. They are both excellent shows and besides the stellar bakers, they have one other thing in common: Mary Berry.
She is one of Britain’s best bakers and now we all know about her in the States. Along with the TV shows (which again, seriously, you have to watch them), Mary has a new cookbook: Baking with Mary Berry.
I was so excited to get to check out a review copy. There are so many wonderful recipes, many of which are easy to make. There are lots of classics like Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Key Lime Pie, plus plenty of recipes that I was pretty unfamiliar including Dundee Cake and Treacle Pudding.
The first recipe that caught my eye was the very first in the book for Flapjacks, again a recipe I was unfamiliar with. I wanted to share them with you today, but I am sorry to say they did not turn out. I followed the recipe but I couldn’t get the sticky bars out of the pan. I would recommend lining the pan with parchment and then they may be okay.
Despite that disappointment, I am still eager to try the Banoffi Pie and Christmas themed desserts just in time for the holiday.
There are lots of great photos in the book, which is always nice because I want to know what my end product should look like. I also really enjoyed the variety of recipes from breakfast to dessert as well as the primer on important techniques.
One thing I noticed was that many recipes use self-rising flour. I don’t know about you, but this isn’t something I typically keep in my kitchen. While it isn’t a deal breaker for me, I wanted you all to be aware of that before you consider buying the book. While this makes it more difficult to just whip up a treat, it isn’t a deal breaker for me. I would just pick up a bag of the flour like I would the treacle for a particular recipe.
I’m excited to do some more baking from the book and definitely rewatch some of Mary’s TV shows!
Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of the cookbook, but all opinions, as always are mine!
I almost never keep self-rising flour in our kitchen. It’s easy enough to add baking powder and salt, but I always have to look up the formula for it! Sounds like a fun book, though. Happy Holidays!
I had no idea there was a formula – I will have to look into that. Thanks, John!
I’ve never used self-rising flour in my life! There were a few recipes I followed that used it, so I just had to look up the formula. The fact that Flapjacks didn’t turn out well for such experienced cook as you tells me the book is not the best 🙂
I know … I really had high hopes for the book, and I was a bit disappointed.
Well, you know me, I live vicariously through you for all my baking needs…..I probably won’t check out the book but I love your review!
Yeah, the self-rising flour as a frequent ingredient would drive me nuts. I’ve made a substitution when needed, but the recipes to do that were all a bit different! I’m sure our recipes drive the British bonkers, too 🙂 Hope you had a Merry Christmas!!! xo
Yes … recipes don’t translate well across boarders. I once got criticized for measuring my butter in sticks :0 Oops! Happy New Year, Liz 🙂