If you're a baking enthusiast, Linda Collister's "Book of Cakes" is a must-have addition to your kitchen bookshelf! This gem goes beyond just a list of recipes; it takes you on a delightful journey through the history and cultural significance of cakes, all while offering practical tips and gorgeous images to inspire your baking adventures.

Collister includes a fabulous mix of recipes that cater to everyone, whether you’re just starting out or have been baking for years. The clear instructions and handy tips make it easy to achieve great results, no matter your skill level.

What really sets this book apart is its friendly storytelling. Collister dives into the fascinating history of cakes, sharing fun facts like how early cakes were more like sweetened bread, and how the Victorians turned tiered cakes into stunning symbols of luxury. These tidbits add a wonderful depth to your baking experience!

Each recipe features mouth-watering images that will surely get you excited to start baking. The straightforward instructions also help beginner bakers feel confident as they create their own treats.

With a fantastic range of recipes from simple everyday cakes to show-stopping desserts, there’s something here for everyone’s taste.

Plus, "Book of Cakes" makes for a fantastic gift for anyone who loves to bake! Whether it's a birthday, the holidays, or just a thoughtful surprise, this book is sure to bring a smile to any baking lover’s face. Happy baking!

A Delightful Blend of History and Recipes!

As someone who loves to bake, Linda Collister's Book of Cakes immediately captured my attention. This cookbook goes beyond mere recipes, delving into the historical origins of various cakes, enriching the baking experience with fascinating context. I appreciated the inclusion of gluten-free and vegan options, making the book accessible to a broader audience.

The recipes are inviting, and I was thrilled to find a Bara Brith recipe, a personal favorite of mine. Although I wasn't able to test the recipes due to a temporary limitation in my baking ability, I look forward to trying them soon. The illustrations are stunning and enhance the overall appeal of the book.

In summary, Book of Cakes is a charming and informative addition to any baker's collection, combining classic recipes with engaging historical insights. I highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy!

What I was looking for: A collection of traditional British bakes. And I already knew Linda Collister from the Great British Bake Off cook books.

What I liked: The drawings are beautiful and I appreciate the additional information on the history of the bakes.

What I did not like: Although the drawings were beautiful, I do prefer photos for cook books.

Conclusion: A beautiful, informative book with great recipes, many staples of British baking. Great cook book and definitely a fantastic present especially for your friends who do not live in the British Isle as it has traditional bakes plus information on their history.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc. An easy to follow guide to making cakes that is perhaps let down by using illustrations rather than actual photos to explain the baking process.

I have the national trust book of scones and liked that all the recipes came from their properties. This one has lots of good recipes for cakes and the history behind them but apart from 3 cakes don’t really have a connection to the charity. I will enjoy testing the recipes though. A few pictures would have been good as well.

The layout of this book is very cute and the watercolour illustrations make it stand our from modern recipe books (which seem to be professionally staged photos these days)

I love the little blurb of history behind each of the recipes at the beginning and most importantly; the instructions seem clear and easy to follow and I can't wait to try some of them out.

Also, as someone who doesn't have a great success rate when it comes to baking, I really appreciated the helpful tips at the beginning of the book which might help me make the (almost) perfect cake

This book is full of so many recipes that I would love to try. I really liked how the information is shared, and the introduction shows which recipes you would use which method of making. So if you prefer the rubbed in method then it shows you which recipes are for that method. The recipes as in sections. I really liked that each recipe tells you a bit about the history of it. I found the recipes easy to read and follow. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love to bake. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this brilliant book.

I loved this little cookbook. I specifically loved the lemon drizzle recipe and even made it at home. It was delicious! It’s a great cookbook for those that love to bake and aren’t shy with baking. It’s a great book and I’d happily buy it if I see it in any of my local stores.

There is nothing to not love, a fabulous book full of cakes to make. Really liked the history parts about cake making and the little tips. Can’t wait to start baking. Great illustrations which I like in a cook book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Some good looking recipes here. I like the sound of the malty tea loaf which has All-bran in it and there is a welsh tea cake made with yeast.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Seeing as this book is linked to the National Trust, I expected each cake to be linked to that institution - as far as I could see only three out of the fifty-five recipes within this book had any sort of link. It almost seems pointless linking this book and the Trust without providence or where one could go and get this cake on their estates. It's just another cookery book with cake recipes.

And disappointingly, it only has illustrations and no photographs of the cakes themselves.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

A lovely varied selection of recipes for all sorts of cakes from small individual ones to robust fruit cakes.
Instead of photos, charming illustrations adorn each recipe.
Would make the ideal present for an avid baker

• Simple but eye catching layout. A nice vintage feel, it was like a recipe book my gran would have had I loved it
• The introduction was interesting, the recipe notes were helpful and I liked the good things to know section
• I think pictures or drawings of each recipe would be a good addition
• I loved the art
• A good mix of recipes and they were easy to follow. I liked the little note before each recipe
• Delicious recipes that I can't wait to try!

What a lovely book! I have read it cover to cover and can't wait to try some of the recipes. I was not born in england and sometimes I feel that I'm missing part of the heritage because I didn't grew up her. This is the perfect book to fill some of my culinary gaps - thank you for the ARC

What a fabulous baking book for making delicious UK cakes! The soft illustrations are beautiful and the easy-to-follow instructions make cake baking a breeze. I want to make every cake featured, from loaf cakes to sponge cakes to fruit cakes to small cakes, starting with the Sea Salt Caramel Sponge. Yum! Kitchen here I come!

This was a wonderful cookbook filled with some delicious cakes. I've baked some of them for friends and family and they've always been a hit.

Just the type of book that I would expect from National Trust. A well-designed, informative, contains recipes for cakes I have not known before. The pictures are a great match.
A book to keep for the next generations.

There are some lovely recipes in this book from the National Trust which always seem to turn out perfectly

This is a gorgeously illustrated book full of lovely recipes which span the UK. Clear instructions are provided. I had never made Parkin and am inspired to do so. I especially enjoyed learning about the brief history of the cakes especially those that are regional. It ends up being a mini socio-economic history lesson too, which I enjoyed. Finally, the illustrations add a touch of vintage to the book. I look forward to baking many recipes!

Title: National Trust Book of Cakes
Author: Linda Collister
Genres: Cooking, Food & Wine
Pub Date: 14 Mar 2024
Pages: 170
Format Read: EPUB
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐

What an utterly delightful little book!

This 'edible history' of British treats starts off with a very well-curated (not too basic, not too complex) introduction that includes a lovely, helpful roundup of baking basics & techniques as well as standard measurements, pan sizes, and simple tips to set even the most nervous baker up for success.

These are, like many British bakes, very approachable recipes that invite you to get inspired & roll up your sleeves. The recipes range from very easy loaf cakes & brownies to simple rolled sponge & madeleines - recipes that require a tiny bit of focus, but don't require you to learn complex patisserie or buy specialist ingredients.

Many of the recipes are historical, and either served at National Trust cafes or inspired by the history of various National Trust properties. This end doesn't get heavy-handed at any point, and certainly never feels like a forced advertisement or anything of the sort.

Each recipe is prefaced by an introduction that often includes interesting historical or cultural titbits.

There aren't any photos, but there are cosy illustrations - very cottagecore, in a sweet way - and these are very well-done and, as someone who loves photos in cookbooks, I find these perfectly appropriate for the size & scope of this little book.

Recipes include include Elderflower Yogurt Cake (GF), Bara Brith, Peach Melba Cake, Fresh Apricot, Saffron and Honey Cake, Kentish Ale Fruit Cake, Tiffin (GF) & Little Chelsea Buns.

There's something for just about everyone, with a few nods to substitutions for vegan, gluten-free or nut-free versions, and with recipes this straightforward, if you are used to basic recipe adaptations for dietary needs, you won't struggle here.

Overall, a completely delightful little gem of a cookbook.

Thank you to Collins Reference, NetGalley, and the Author for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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