From Gwyneth to Nigel: this year's tastiest recipe books to leave under the Christmas tree
Season's readings: there's plenty of cookbooks to choose from this year Photo: Alamy
Unlike many recipes, where disaster seems an intrinsic part of the process, it is possible to follow (closely) instructions on how to make a cake and find that a cake is exactly what you get at the end of it. Magic. That partly explains the charm – and quantity – of books about baking that decorate bookshop shelves. Only partly, mind you. The other reason that there are so many baking books out at present is the all-conquering Great British Bake Off on the telly. So, which to buy?
This year two titles, both surfing the wave generated by GBBO, hit the spot. Great British Bakes by Mary-Anne Boermans (Square Peg, £20) is an inspired collection of historical recipes ranging from yeast-raised currant cakes made in 1685, lacy pancakes like edible crewel work (1625) and chocolate meringue pie (1777) to cornflour cakes (1909) and Maids of Honour, which originated, according to some sources, in the court of Henry VIII.
The second is James Morton’s Brilliant Bread (Ebury Press, £20), a good starting point for the novice dough maker. Morton’s cheerful, geeky enthusiasm communicates itself on every page, and step-by-step pictures make learning the various techniques needed easy. The recipes are a good mix of basic whites, wholemeals and sourdoughs as well as fancier tortillas, muffins, croissants and ciabatta.
