150 Baking Recipes: Inspired Ideas For Everyday Cooking

by Love Food

The 150 Recipes series is a must-have in your kitchen! Check out these simple, quick, home-cook baking recipes in this little book. If you are looking for new recipes to spice up your baking routine then look no further and delve into these delicious recipes. This collection of 150 recipes gives you easy step-by-step instructions to make amazing baked goods. From classic cupcakes to decadent souffles you are sure to find a recipe your heart desires. Why not try Vanilla Whoopie Pies or a delicious Peach Crumb Pie? This is a great introduction to amazing baked goods.

Genres: Cookbooks

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 2014

About the author

In 2007, Parragon Books launched its global cookbook imprint, 'LOVE FOOD'. Core series include Step by Step, Good Food Made Simple, Food Heroes, and 100 Best Recipes as well as stand alone titles.

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of small stature (9781472359964 - 12.3 x 15cm) to fit in the palm, this is a convenient size for including in gift baskets, Christmas stockings, or tiny kitchens. It was for sale at a school fundraising fair, and I was strong-armed into purchasing it (by donation). I didn't especially want to. It had 'cheap gift book' written all over it...

It's just... here's the thing. If you have a copy of The Joy of Cooking (and you should, particularly the revised 90s edition), it has virtually all of these recipes (except maybe the 'flapjacks', which are just granola bars) and better, fuller instructions and technical tips and tricks. A lot of love and obsession went into writing it, and you know that the recipe won't steer you wrong. I use that phone-book sized book several times a month - it's indispensible for reference purposes, and has a basic, acceptable recipe for just about everything.

But these are just the sort of recipes you get off the internet, after you 'Jump to Recipe'. 3 stars because 1. It has no embedded adverts or pop-ups, 2. No self-promoting, boring intro to reinforce a personal brand or blog that needs 'jumping over', and 3. It doesn't eat up my battery charge.

But as far as cookbooks go... I mean, there are no names attached. No editor took credit for this (just 'Parragon Books'). I'm fairly certain that a team of lackeys just had to search and average out several well-reviewed online recipes and then spat them out again onto paper (metric and imperial (UK) given). There's nothing here that I haven't seen before. There's nothing I want to try to make, either. The introduction by Anne Sheasby is... well, it's there. To be fair to her, how do you meaningfully preface a bound volume of already established, uninspired dessert recipes when you can't even say they were perfected by a team of culinary wizards in a high-spec test kitchen, or curated by Michelin-starred patisserie chefs? Here's how the intro starts:

Baking has always been popular and the best news for all budding home bakers out there is that it has become even more so in recent years - baking mania is back! Baking is hugely enjoyable, relaxing and satisfying (not forgetting, delicious to eat too!) and the variety of delicious goodies you can create at home is considerable. Baking can also be therapeutic, as it can take your mind off more immediate everyday concerns and allows you to focus on something positive and fulfilling, with very tasty results indeed!
Baking is enormous fun and it brings people together, thus creating the perfect opportunity to share and enjoy a bounty of home-baked delights. So, be inspired, get set for a blitz on baking and then enjoy munching your way through some sensational cakes, bakes, bars, breads, tarts and pies. We feature a magnificent medley of brilliant bakes, from a selection of easy small bakes and bars to some more elaborate and impressive cakes and desserts.
We begin this baking bonanza with some marvellous cupcakes and muffins,...

I mean, this pretty much sums it up.

I seriously doubt I'll ever make a single recipe in this book, because if I'm inspired by a picture (they're just alright), I'd probably haul out The Joy of Cooking and see if it's there instead. And it more than likely is. Again, nothing new or particularly exciting here.

Maybe a good book for someone who doesn't have any cookbooks at all. Otherwise, this is going to pale in comparison to the others on their shelf.

I keep thinking it would fit nicely in a canal boat's galley kitchen, or an RV/caravan's. ;) And it would be fine to find on the shelf of an AirBnB or rental property, when the beach day turns out to be a total wash-out.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book a lot for baking recipes and everything I have made so far have turned out delicious the recipes are easy to follow, when it comes to baking all you need is in this little book brilliant.