7 Best Great British Baking Show Cookbooks [2023]
No matter how many times you try to look up a recipe online, you will never be able to replace the value and wisdom found in a good cookbook!
When it comes to the wisdom of beloved chefs like Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, there’s no way to get it unless it’s in a cookbook!
There may be plenty of information to glean from binge watching the Great British Bake Off, but it’s not the same as having recipes and tips on the page in front of you, either.
Plus, if you love cooking, you can never have too many cookbooks. They are an invaluable source of new recipes and techniques, and who doesn’t love trying new things in the kitchen?
It is amazing how good a Victorian sponge can make us feel when it turns out showstopper-perfect even when you’re a stressed-out amateur-baker!
If The Great British Bake Off (also known as the Great British Baking Show in the U.S.) was one of your favorites, and you want to try out your baking skills at home, you’re in luck.
There are several Great British Baking Show-based and affiliated cookbooks. Many include recipes from Mary and Paul themselves!
Which are the best Great British Baking Show cookbooks? The best Great British Baking Show cookbook is any that suits your needs and interests. Some books are meant for beginners, some have specific recipes from judges and contestants, and at least one focuses on baking tips rather than specific bakes.
Great British Bakeoff: How to Bake The Perfect Victorian Sponge and Other Baking Secrets, which goes through season 2 baking challenges, is perhaps the best overall choice, but there are other great choices.
Whether you are a beginner or a little more advanced in the kitchen, there is a Great British Bake Off cookbook for you!
If you are looking to buy yourself a new baking cookbook, or are wanting to gift a Great British Bake Off fan, read on to find the best cookbooks so you can make your own show-stopper bakes!
What Is The Great British Bake Off?
For those who are not already fans, the Great British Bake Off, or the Great British Baking Show in the U.S., is a British baking television program.
In this competition show amateur bakers compete to impress notable chef judges through different rounds, showing off both their technical baking skills and exceptional creativity with complicated and classic baking recipes.
To those who have never watched the show, it might not sound too riveting. But there really is something about The Great British Bake Off that captures viewers.
It has you coming back for each episode to see who will be the next Star Baker, and who will contend with a soggy bottom or underproofed loaf. The horror!
Most of the amateur bakers are quite good at what they do, and with help from the judges, they create some delicious and eye-catching treats that will have you itching to try your hand at beginner recipes yourself!
How To Choose A Cookbook
When buying a new cookbook, you need to consider a few things. Having a range of cookbooks at home is great, but you want to make sure that the cookbook you buy is one that you will actually use, and which will teach you new techniques and recipes.
Before buying a cookbook, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Check to see that the cookbook includes recipes that you actually want to try. Some cookbooks are quite specific, and others cover a wide range of recipes and cuisines. Make sure you are interested in the recipes in a particular cookbook.
- The cookbook should have pictures of the recipes and techniques it contains. While it might not have a picture for every single recipe, it is good to have a visually pleasing cookbook. Having step-by-step pictures for certain techniques is also so helpful, especially for beginners and intermediate bakers.
- The cookbook should be appropriate for your level of cooking or baking. Sometimes it’s good to challenge yourself, but when it comes to baking, it’s not a good idea to choose a book that is way out of your league. Baking takes time to learn, so pick one that will guide you along.
- If you cook or bake for your family, a cookbook with recipes that everyone will love is a good idea. Baked goods are loved by most, but if you have some non-adventurous eaters in your family, a book of classic bakes may be your best bet. You might also want to look for a cookbook with recipes that your children can help you make.
- A cookbook with recipes is great, but a cookbook with recipes and baking or cooking tips is even better. Tips and tricks from experts are how you better yourself in the kitchen whether you’re a beginner or a pro. Tips help you learn the ins and outs of cooking and baking.
7 Best Great British Baking Show Cookbooks
We have rounded up the 7 best Great British Bake Off Cookbooks for you to have a look through and choose from.
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Great British Bake Off: How To Bake: The Perfect Victoria Sponge And Other Baking Secrets | 2nd season baking challenges |
| 2. | The Great British Bake Off: How To Turn Everyday Bakes Into Showstoppers | Special bakes inspired by show |
| 3. | Great British Bake Off: Learn To Bake: 80 Easy Recipes For The Family | Beginner-friendly |
| 4. | Great British Bake Off: Everyday: Over 100 Foolproof Bakes | Straightforward recipes |
| 5. | Great British Bake Off: Big Book Of Baking | Recipes from judges & contestants |
| 6. | Great British Bake Off: Celebrations: With Recipes From The 2015 Series | Recipes from judges & 2015 contestants |
| 7. | The Great British Bake Off: How To Avoid A Soggy Bottom And Other Secrets To Achieving A Good Bake | Baking advice/a cookbook companion |
You can be sure that all are packed with amazing recipes and the best tips to turn you into an amateur baker in your own kitchen!
1. Great British Bake Off: How To Bake: The Perfect Victoria Sponge And Other Baking Secrets
This is the ideal baking book for most fans of The Great British Bake Off. The cookbook takes you through the second series or season of the show, following the best and most loved challenges and recipes the contestants had to get through.
Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, the main judges on the show, offer up some practical tips throughout the book on how to bake the perfect cakes, bread, biscuits, pastries, and treats. They also give easy-to-follow steps and instructions on how to bake the more practical recipes.
This book contains over 120 baking recipes, which range from classic British favorites to new, imaginative bakes using classic ingredients. Featured in the book as well are some of the contestants’ best recipes from the series as well.
For newbies and those who know their way around the kitchen, there are more than enough challenging recipes in the cookbook, with colorful step-by-step photography instructions along the way. With intricate recipes as well as simpler ones, it is sure to be your go-to baking book for years to come.
2. The Great British Bake Off: How To Turn Everyday Bakes Into Showstoppers
The “showstopper” challenge on The Great British Bake Off is one of the crowd favorites on the show, and now, you can buy this cookbook to help you make your own showstoppers at home.
The cookbook covers a wide range of bakes, from small cakes to large cakes, biscuits, sweet and savory pastry, bread, patisserie, and puddings. Not only does the cookbook help you make some great treats, but it also shows you how to make them ‘wow’ the crowd.
No matter the occasion, whether you need dainty cupcakes for afternoon tea with friends, or mouthwatering desserts for your next dinner party, there is a showstopper recipe for you to try in the cookbook – no professional experience required!
What makes this book so great is that it not only teaches you how to make a scrumptious cupcake or good loaf of bread, it also gives you those valuable tips. You can learn how to use chocolate curls and spun sugar to take a bake to the next level, making it look like it came right out of the show!
This is the ideal cookbook for those who have mastered the basics of baking, and now want to take their baked goods to a showstopper level.
3. Great British Bake Off: Learn To Bake: 80 Easy Recipes For The Family
Nothing is better than spending a Sunday indoors baking with the family, and now you can make it even better with the Learn To Bake book from the Great British Bake Off. The book contains 80 easy recipes for the whole family to bake together, and which the whole family will love to eat.v
This is the perfect book to use with the family. It starts from the beginning, explaining the different baking terms such as beating, folding, and so on, so your kids can learn the basics of baking along with you.
In the book, you will find some new recipes, and classics, that are great to bake for many different occasions, whether it be a cake for a party or treats to enjoy during movie night.
The recipes are all suited for the whole family to get involved. Get the kids in the kitchen, get messy, and make some of these amazing recipes! You might have some budding amateur bakers at home who will let their talents fly free thanks to this incredibly helpful book.
4. Great British Bake Off: Everyday: Over 100 Foolproof Bakes
For beginner bakers, this is the best book to start off with. The Great British Bake Off: Over 100 Foolproof Bakes, offers up a wide range of baked recipes that simply cannot fail!
In the book, you will find straightforward, easy-to-follow techniques that help make cakes, bread, biscuits, tray bakes, tarts, puddings, desserts, pies and so much more.
Once you have mastered the basics in the book, you can move to the end of each chapter to find the best recipes from the series, including recipes from Technical Challenges, Showstoppers, Mary and Paul’s Signature Bakes, and some of the baker’s best recipes from season 4.
To really help you out, there are step-by-step instructions with clear and colorful photographs, as well as very useful tips and advice from the experts on how to make a cake a success.
This is the book to get if you are just starting in the baking realm, or if you want a book with go-to basic bakes for bake sales, teatime, and parties. It has recipes to cover it all and it is an invaluable book to keep in your cookbook stash!
5. Great British Bake Off: Big Book Of Baking
The Great British Bake Off: Big Book Of Baking is the must-have cookbook for your collection, and it will definitely be one that you open up often to find something to bake for when you are bored at home, or for just about any other occasion.
This is the book for every baker. It’s a great tool to have to help you make up a quick batch of biscuits or a more elaborate showstopper cake. You will find recipes and tips on how to make both, with some beautiful photographs and pictures along the way.
A complete book, you will find reliable and trusted recipes for all types of bakes, including biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries (both sweet and savory), tray bakes, puddings, desserts and so much more.
Each chapter takes you back to the set of The Great British Bake Off and highlights challenges and recipes from some of the most memorable episodes, including recipes from Technical Challenges, Showstoppers, and Memorable Bakes.
Step-by-step photography and tips guide you through the more complicated recipes and techniques. Plus, the stunning photography really is quite captivating. It is the perfect book to add to your collection – or to give to your favorite amateur baker!
6. Great British Bake Off: Celebrations: With Recipes From The 2015 Series
Following the 2015 series, this Great British Bake Off book is all about celebrating, and features judge’s recipes from Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, as well as some of the contestant’s recipes from that season.
The book features a wide range of recipes, from three-tiered cheesecakes to crème brûlée, the book celebrates everything about British baking, and makes the recipes accessible to anyone, from the comfort of their own home.
You will discover a whole new world of flavor and techniques in this cookbook, and with the included baker’s guide, you will find some inspiring insight into the different contestant’s inspirations and how they come up with their ideas.
The book contains recipes for almost any occasion, for holiday celebrations and everyday treats, as well as some technical challenges for you to try out at home as if you were on the show yourself!
7. The Great British Bake Off: How To Avoid A Soggy Bottom And Other Secrets To Achieving A Good Bake
Not only is this a great book to have at home, but it is a beautiful one too!
This hardback cookbook is packed full of great and practical advice to help improve your baking, including some interesting facts on the history of baking, and how science and chemistry comes into play when making the perfect cake!
The book is set in a helpful question and answer format and features some gorgeous illustrations throughout the book.
It is the ultimate in-depth guide for bakers of all skill levels and actually works wonderfully as a companion to other Great British Bake Off books.
Whether you want an encyclopedia on all things baking at home or are looking for a gift for a Great British Bake Off lover, this is the perfect book, and will be an invaluable resource whenever it comes to your baking questions!
Related Questions
Is Baking Hard to Learn?
Baking does not need to be hard to learn if you are patient and if you have the right resources. A cookbook such as one of the Great British Bake Off books will hold great information and helpful tips on how to bake for beginners.
Do Great British Bake Off Contestants Have Cookbooks?
Yes, many of the Great British Bake Off contestants have written their own cookbooks. Many of them are all about baking, but some have recipes to make at home for the family, such as lunches and dinners.
Nadiya Hussain is one such contestant who has several cookbooks out, as well as cooking shows, featuring family-friendly, easy recipes for anyone to make.
The Best Great British Baking Show Cookbooks
There are some incredible Great British Bake Off cookbooks for all levels of bakers, and you could even start a collection of your own at home!
Whether you are just dipping your toes into the world of baking, or are more confident in your skills, there is a Great British Bake Off cookbook for you, with some helpful tips and advice, and most importantly, some great recipes from the show.
The above books are some of the best to keep at home to help with baking, or as a gift for a Great British Bake Off fan!
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