Fast Cakes

by Mary Berry

Most of the recipes in this book can be prepared in less than ten minutes and baked in under and hour. There are tray bakes, no-bake cakes, tea breads, scones, biscuits as well as such delights as praline meringue and mocha gateau.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

There are multiple authors in the Goodreads database with this name.

Mary Berry is an English food writer and television presenter. After being encouraged in domestic science classes at school, she went to college to study catering. She then moved to France at the age of 21 to study at Le Cordon Bleu school, before working in a number of cooking-related jobs.

She has published more than seventy cookery books (her first being The Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook in 1970) and hosted several television series for the BBC and Thames Television. Berry is an occasional contributor to Woman's Hour and Saturday Kitchen. She has been a judge on the BBC One (originally BBC Two) television programme The Great British Bake Off since its launch in 2010.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good recipe book, a huge range of bakes that work really well. They are simple to make, when Mary said some recipes take minutes to make we raised an eyebrow, but this wasn't an exaggeration, many are really quick and very simple.

Lots of cakes, traybakes, biscuits and breads. There's a section of very simple recipes that children can make, we've tried nearly all of these and they worked well and we're delicious. Some good ideas for packed lunches and budget treats.

Nearly all the recipes have photos, they're explained well and use store cupboard ingredients. We have had our copy for a couple of years now and it's in constant use! Well done Mary, a wonderful essential cookery book!

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Buy some self rising flour and bake your way through this book!
The recipes are as advertised; they come together FAST! They are also delicious, family cooking together friendly, simple enough to do on a weeknight. As a bonus reading, them you can hear Mary Berry's voice in your head like she is commentating on GBBO.
I am happy to report there weren't any soggy bottoms on the recipes I tried. -- Alexis S.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary pulls it off yet again with so many simple, quick cakes to whizz together in a flash! Would have liked pictures for every cake but I suppose that can't always be possible in a book crammed with nearly 200 recipes, but the pictures that are there really make you want to get baking straight away. The Jelly Tot cakes and Tray Bakes are irresistible..... Yum!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cookbook includes a wonderful variety of quick cakes that you might bake for every occasion, whether it's for an after school snack, or drop in guests. You might even choose one of the easy bakes to bake with a small person. Recipes include the marble cake my mum would make when I was small and the coffee walnut gateau which was one of my grandma's favorites.

In addition to the easy tray bakes and family cakes there are some recipes to interest the seasoned baker such as battenberg cake, or my favorite brandy snaps that need to be rolled around a wooden spoon while still warm to achieve their tube-like form, ready for filling with cream! There are a lot of different flavors to choose from also.

One thing to note is that there are quick a few recipes that call for golden syrup, which Americans may not be familiar with, and it just states in parentheses, "available online." I grew up in England and ate porridge (oatmeal made from scratch with oats & milk or water) with golden syrup on top for breakfast regularly. We also ate crumpets with butter & golden syrup each Saturday afternoon for tea. Golden syrup has the constituency of corn syrup, but is more flavorful. For example, I could eat it off the spoon much like you might eat maple syrup! I have found it available at my local Cost Plus World Market.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 STARS
2019; Quercus/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)

I "read" cookbooks like magazines...for the picture, lol. I like putting in stickies/photocopying/etc for the future, read "maybe someday before I die". I cook more than I bake, and when I have time to bake I love making cupcakes. I went for this one for both of those reasons, and I know with this one, I will be trying a few recipes. I will update as I do! I recommend this one to those that read cookbooks like me!

***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mary Berry. Everyone loves Mary Berry. This book is Mary Berry at her finest, sharing easy bakes that only take minutes to prepare. I will be trying out everything in this book, I hope. It's that wonderful.

Thank you, Mary Berry.

[BeccaJBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent cookbook from Queen Mary. Almost all the bakes in here are great. I have tried a couple of them and they have turned out well.

To start with the book is beautiful. It is so pretty, and heavy and everything that a cookbook should be.

There are hints and tips at the start of the book to help with common mistakes, tips to get the best out of your ingredients and equipment. Basically she answers the questions she knows you are going to ask.

The recipes are all well laid out, short instructions, no nonsense and easy to follow. She doesn't use complicated baking terms, so beginners and kids can have a go with ease.

Lot's of pictures. It makes your mouth water just looking at some of the bakes! :)

I've read through this book about 4 times since I got it on Friday - so 3 days ago. I took to it bed with me the first night, which resulted in some very strange dreams. :/ But I woke up and baked, so all good.

This weekend I made the Scones and the Chocolate Eclairs- neither of which I have made before. They both turned out excellently.

I would definitely recommend this book, to seasoned bakers and amateurs alike.

[Kaitlynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's be honest I'll probably never actually make anything out of this book... at least not for awhile because I just don't have enough time. But I loved all the recipes. And the pictures are beautiful.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Berry has gone and done it again. Lovely recipes, easy to follow and sumptuous results. Glad I am back into baking again. At least I know what goes into my cakes and friends and family are happily scoffing the results. No bad remarks/results yet!

[OneDayI'll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, it's the great Mary Berry, so, yeah, they're going to be good. Healthy? Maybe not so much lol. But every cake looks delicious. I've marked some recipes to try and the recipes are easy to follow with tips and beautiful pictures. Mine will probably not look so lovely lol.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious easy cakes that live up to their name!

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give 5⭐️ for the Victoria Sandwich, it was so easy and delicious. Now the grandchildren and I are going to work our way through it.

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mum gave me this book and it doesn't even look as if this paperback was ever opened, it's her 1981 version. It's very good and called fast cakes for a reason! There are tons of easy recipes for families to cook together if you like, and I loved the fact that she's given alternatives or additions to most of them. I particularly liked the no nonsense making of jam doughnuts, you simply make the dough, flatten it out put a teaspoonful of jam in the middle, bring the sides up and make a doughnut shape and chuck in the fat fryer, simples! No messing about with piping bags which I've never really got the hang of, so these are a winner with my family already. Although I won't be making them often, too much sugar!

I read some books at my mum's whilst caring for her over the summer but since coming home I realise that I didn't make a note of them, but mum has since read the contents of her bookcases out to me, which wasn't all that helpful as I wasn't expecting that so didn't have a pen with ink in it to begin making a note!! However they were in July/August so I'll just have to punch any date in for them. And this will be one of them!!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Berry's Fast Cakes: Easy bakes in minutes is a fantastic recipe book that has all the cakes and bakes you could need in one book! With around 200 recipes it is full of tasty treats and there's sure to be one everyone likes.

The recipes are laid out in a simple way that is easy to follow. It is said they can be made in 10 minutes and cooked in less than an hour but unless you have someone weighing out your ingredients for you then it takes a bit longer than 10 minutes from my experience. It is definitely quicker than some other recipes though and still gives a great result with delicious cakes.

The recipes are lovely and we have enjoyed trying out quite a few of them, our favourite is still a classic though, chocolate cake! It is nice to see the cakes in a variety of forms including cupcakes, traybakes, biscuits etc. This is a fantastic book that is perfect for new bakers but can be appreciated by all.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Berry’s Fast Cakes: Easy bakes in Minutes is an awesome book for people who love to bake but just don’t feel they have the time. It’s true these cake literally take only minutes to make. There is a very nice variety to choose from. This book can be for the most experienced baker down to the beginner. I have tried a couple and they turned out wonderful or at least the guys at work say they are. I love that there is a troubleshooting list of what if this happens, or what if my cake turns out like this. The book itself is very nicely put together to withstand heavy usage, it is very pretty. I love that the directions are very easy to follow and the cakes are simple to make they can even be done by kids.

[Erica Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids got me this for my 35th, It’s gorgeous, and the recipes are so easy - we're a ND household and found this really easy to follow and accessible.

I made the ginger thins with my 9yo and 5yo and it was so easy, especially since I decided ounces might be easier for kids to follow and this book provides that, along with grams. They turned out perfect and I haven't stopped thinking about them since!

Highly recommended. Such a cosy book to have in the kitchen, a serotonin boost for sure. 🎂🍰🧁

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I read most of the recipes in this book and makes me think that I need a kitchen scale so I can weigh ingredients. I loved the pictures included in the book and saw a lot things I would love to try and make. I remember when she was on tv and she would challenge people to make sure recipes. I am no pro baker but I would love to get better at the basic and this book makes me thing I now know where to start. 

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cookbook that delivers completely on its promise. All the recipes come together pretty quickly, and they taste great. Her instructions are clear, most recipes have photos (that was my one quibble - I would have liked all the recipes to have photos). Initially it may take you a little longer to put these together, if you have to gather ingredients, etc. But otherwise, the Battenburg cake, red velvet brownie traybake, and pretty much everything else I tried was completely delish.

[Barrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic recipes that are easy to make, pretty pictures, and a Mary Berry tone throughout the book, which is nice if you are a fan. Her voice really comes through in the introductions and the recipes- plain speaking, and clear. I have found her recipes to come off well, though not stand-outs. Worth checking out of the library for sure, or as a gift for a Mary Berry fan.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

These really do seem like easy bakes in minutes, as the cover advertises. Photos are lovely and the recipes are clearly written. It does seem a little padded with variations though. For example, a lot of traybakes that don’t seem to all merit their own page when they could’ve just been a paragraph like “to make chocolate traybake, substitute 3/4 c cocoa powder for the molasses” or whatever.

[Anna Catherman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Severely disappointing, this book was 1) not just cake (it also had a bunch of cookies), 2) called for ingredients I didn't have on hand/weren't traditional (I get that self-rising flour is a British thing, but since when do people use tub spread margarine in cakes??) and 3) had one sentence blurb for most recipes rather than any sort of narrative or description.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter brought me this book for my birthday and it’s my first ever book from Mary Berry. This book started my love of baking Mary’s recipes. Then Mary appeared on tv with her programmes. I think they are the best books. Inspiring

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Mary Berry (therefore lovable), but she doesn't really break new ground in this book.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book!

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few good choices, nice photo’s. But too many ingredients not readily available in USA.

[Alexandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the simplicity of the recipes. The downside for me is the use of margarine instead of butter because of the ease of use but doesn't explain how to substitute butter for the margarine.

[Lel Budge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cakes by Mary Berry, what’s not to love.

Easy to follow recipes that will quickly become favourites. Success every time. I love it.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly wide selection of delicious and relatively simple bakes.

[Elsa Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recipes are quite wide ranging. I have picked a few that I want to try, with them suitable for a beginner.

[Sharon Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this better than some of her other cookbooks. Quick, easy recipes!