The best Great British Bake Off cookbooks for aspiring star bakers

On your marks, get set, bake...

Great British Bake Off cookbooks

by Arabella Horspool |
Updated on

The Great British Bake Off returns next month and it's fair to say we're excited. šŸ˜ Looking for baking tips, tricks and recipes from the GBBO pros? Weā€™ve found some of the best Great British Bake Off cookbooks from the show. They will have you unleashing your inner star baker in no time.

With each new series, we've been up for the challenge of recreating signature bakes, technical challenges and showstoppers, often with varying results...

If youā€™re a big fan of the show, weā€™d recommend adding these staples to your recipe collection in your kitchen. From occasion cakes and favourites from the tent, there are so many great books to reach for that will have you creating seriously impressive bakes.

Learn how to make delicious cakes, biscuits, bread and other yummy treats from the top bakers on the show. It is sure to cure your sweet tooth.

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The best Great British Bake Off cookbooks

The Great British Bake Off: Love to Bake1 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

The Great British Bake Off: Love to Bake

This cookbook from the latest series has plenty of easy-to-follow recipes for you to have a go at, including buns, biscuits, pies and pastries. One of our favourites is the raspberry and salted caramel eclairs. Delicious.

Review: "After the 2020 GBBO, I've been making the rainbow bagels a few times, following the recipe online, which is fine but I still definitely prefer having a recipe book I'm front of me and that's why I decided to finally buy this one.. just because of that one recipe! But this book has got lots of lovely recipes that I can't wait to try.. and one of the first ones that I already have ingredients ready for is the doggy biscuits (yes, this book has a dog biscuit recipe! It's fantastic and we don't even have a dog.. but hoping a beloved dog in the wider family will enjoy them..)

Yet another thing I love about this book is the theme for the recipes, like random acts of kindness, baking with kids etc. The way everything is presented also brings up memories of 2020 back, when the whole nation was baking. And the bake-off still took place and it's just all nostalgic and lovely."

The Great British Bake Off: How to turn everyday bakes into showstoppers, Ā£17.992 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

The Great British Bake Off: How To Turn Everyday Bakes into Showstoppers

Once you've mastered the basics, take your amateur baking skills up a level by jazzing up your cakes with pretty decorations and TV-worthy finishing touches that are sure to wow.

Review: "I love this book as much as l loved the series. I would recommend it for people with some baking experience as some of the recipes may be a little tricky for beginners - but what the heck - have a go anyway (that's what life is about and practice makes perfect!). I find the instructions easy to follow and each section contains useful advice and tips on equipment, methods and good practice. I would have liked a few more pictures for the completed bakes, but this is a minor criticism and in no way affects my enjoyment of the book. I have a number of recipe books and this I am sure will rank as one of my favourites. I have made the chocolate teacakes and they are absolutely delicious!"

The Great British Bake Off: Get Baking for Friends and Family, Ā£7.003 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

The Great British Bake Off: Get Baking for Friends and Family

If you know your way around the kitchen, why not try out your bakes on family and friends? If they don't have a sweet tooth, there are plenty of savoury recipes, too.

Review: "I bought this book with a view to upping my baking game, inspired by the programme. It is based on the two Channel 4 series (8 & 9). Encouragingly, after intros by Paul and Prue, there are good bios of each baker in series 9.

Recipes are organised by type. There are 25 baker's signature bake recipes which do not seem to have been 'dumbed down'. (It would have been good if the bakers could have been named). In addition, there are 7 judge's recipes and 14 step-by-step guides to creating showstoppers. The remainder is contributed by members of the bake-off team and seems to belong to the same company.

The book is very well written. There's a useful guide to the baking kit plus sections with basic recipes (e.g. for creme Chantilly) and baking tips and techniques. Photography is extremely good with photos from the series and of each finished dish. Kindle navigation is fine with active links and a good index. It would have been good to have a linked list of recipes at the start of each chapter though. I'm looking forward to trying a number of the recipes and heartily recommend the book to aspiring and improving bakers."

Nadiya Bakes4 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

Nadiya Bakes

Everyone remembers Nadiya Hussain's emotional win in 2015, right? Her baking is so good, that she was tasked with making the Queen's 90th birthday cake. With this book, you'll be able to recreate some of her most popular recipes.

Review: "I loved Nadiya's first book and was a little reluctant to purchase the second one - I've been burnt before with second cookery books. But the book is pure delight. Everything from the looks to the writing and of course the recipes. Although I've only had it about a week, it is already covered in splashes just like a good cookery book should! I like the fusion of English with Asian flavours, seeing old favourites with a new twist and trying unknown recipes. This book has vaulted into my top three favourite cookery books of all time."

Great British Bake Off - Perfect Cakes & Bakes To Make At Home, Ā£15.995 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

Great British Bake Off - Perfect Cakes & Bakes To Make At Home

Inside this book are over 100 brilliant recipes from the contestants and judges of the 2016 series (the last one before it moved to Channel 4). There are plenty of tips and step-by-step instructions.

Review: "Goes through a range of different recipes with a range of different treats with the help of the latest series bakers. Very good quality and the recipes seem very easy to follow and the design is very nice. Good for experienced and amateur bakers alike."

A Baker's Life: 100 fantastic recipes, from childhood bakes to five-star excellence, Ā£7.006 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

A Baker's Life: 100 Fantastic Recipes, From Childhood Bakes To Five-Star Excellence

Paul's the one to impress in the tent, with half a dozen cookbooks and a decade's worth of experience. In A Baker's Life, he shares his hints and tips of the trade, which will soon make your treats worthy of a Hollywood handshake.

Review: "A genuinely warm, lovely book. Not only does it feel very personal and inspiring but the recipes range from very simple and basic, great for kids, the very busy and beginners, to the most trying and ambitious bakes. If you were to follow the book from the first recipe to the last, you would certainly grow leaps and bounds as a baker. I especially loved the Cypriot section, it gave a real insight into Paul's life and his journey as a baker. I would recommend this to any amateur baker, I received it today and already made a loaf of bread and a cake!"

Fast Cakes: Easy bakes in minutes, Ā£19.517 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

Fast Cakes: Easy Bakes In Minutes

No GBBO list would be complete without the queen of baking, Mary Berry, herself (we miss you on the TV Mary!) Almost every recipe inside this cookbook takes just ten minutes to prepare, so no matter how busy you are, you'll always have time to make the perfect cake.

Review: "A staple of any baker's recipe collection, this book is absolutely fantastic for anyone with even a passing interest in baking as the recipes are simple and very easy to follow. Perfect for someone with a busy life or not much time as almost all the recipes use the one bowl method. Everything I've tried has turned out great and I absolutely swear by the basic traybake recipe - it's amazing! There is a variety of recipes including simple layered cakes, biscuits, cheesecakes and even some more challenging recipes for more adventurous bakers like a Battenburg.

The recipes aren't boring either, with a collection of classics as well as more interesting recipes such as a red velvet traybake or spiced toffee traybake (strongly recommend this one, it's divine!). There is even a very helpful troubleshooting page at the beginning of the book that helps explain the causes of common baking problems if something goes wrong. I would definitely, definitely recommend this book to anyone from beginners to more skilled bakers. Also works as a great foundation for basic cake recipes that you can experiment with to make your own."

Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and creative bakes to make you smile, Ā£10.818 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and Creative Bakes To Make You Smile

If cute and quirky is your thing, then check out finalist Kim-Joy's debut book. It's full of animal-themed bakes that are sure to impress at a party or gathering.

Review: "This is a really lovely book with easy-to-follow instructions, lovely pictures and cute illustrations. I'm not the most ambitious baker so I was a bit worried some of the recipes would be too complex for me (having seen some of Kim-Joy's creations on the Bake Off) but she includes instructions on how to simplify everything and I especially liked the parts she put throughout about the joy of mistakes and imperfection! It's refreshing to read. There are also a lot of recipes for less common bakes; my favourite is the melonpan turtles. And of course, a few of her famous Bake Off creations too. I would recommend anyone buy this book- I got extra copies for some of my family!"

Liam Charles Cheeky Treats, Ā£14.599 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

Liam Charles Cheeky Treats

Since being a contestant on series 8 of GBBO, Liam has been busy being a judge on Junior Bake Off and presenting Bake Off: The Professionals. Cheeky Treats is full of fun ideas and tip-top creations.

Review: "Liam Charles is a maverick. You only have to flick through the first few recipes to get clear evidence that the man's mind is a veritable baker's version of Willy Wonka! Were it not for the fact that we've witnessed his culinary genius on our screens for ourselves during the last series of Bake Off, you would think he was indeed a character from the most whacky works of fiction. But he's real, as are the insanely brilliant recipes within.

From the sumptuous rhubarb & custard cake that has to be seen to be believed to the "nod to nan" pie (as seen on the aforementioned Bake Off) there is something for everyone and every palate, and, indeed, there is something for every level of skill. Liam has given precise and clear instructions throughout, kept it entertaining and fun yet informative, and packs it with his own "cheeky" brand. It oozes his character and is sure to have you heading straight to the kitchen (via the supermarket for the all-important ingredients) and baking up a storm. And WHAT a storm. As I say, a maverick. And a cheeky one at that."

Comfort: Delicious Bakes and Family Treats, Ā£12.5310 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

Comfort: Delicious Bakes and Family Treats

Candice won the show back in 2016 and is just as well remembered for her weekly lipstick change as she is for her gorgeous bakes.

Review: "Candice has lovely, tasty recipes in this wonderful cookbook. No weirdo ingredients. Comfort is the word for her lovely bakes sweet and savoury. She shares her Nan's recipes. Good family food...fit for commoner or king. The nice family memories included will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. It is rare to find a cookbook that is filled with recipes worth trying."

The Great British Bake Off: The Big Book of Amazing Cakes, Ā£16.4911 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

The Great British Bake Off: The Big Book of Amazing Cakes

Who isn't a fan of cake? From angel cakes to bundt cakes and Battenburg, get your hands on the best recipes from inside the tent.

Review: "A beautiful, bright book with TONNES of recipes and handy hints. I have loads of cake/baking books, this being the first from the bake-off series. I agree with a previous review that all the recipes were not necessarily from this year's series but this didnā€™t bother me so depends on what you are looking for. Sections on classic bakes, chocolate, fruit & nut, ā€˜free fromā€™ etc. One of my favourite baking books already, really pleased! Looking forward to testing out the bakes šŸŽ‚ šŸ§"

The Great British Bake Off: A Bake for all Seasons12 of 12
CREDIT: Amazon

The Great British Bake Off: A Bake For All Seasons

An ode to nature, this book features recipes that showcase seasonal ingredients and recipes from different times of the year. From fruity summertime favourites to earthy autumnal bakes, you'll be prepped for every season.

Review: "I brought this for my future son-in-law who has taken up baking as a hobby when he realised he had a flair for it his cakes are so amazing he is making their wedding cake for October 2022. They have just brought their first home so this book will kick start his collection of cookbooks."

When does Great British Bake Off 2022 start?

Channel 4 has yet to release an official starting date for The Great British Bake Off 2022. However, going off last year's starting date- we should be seeing the famous white tent in late September.

Who is presenting The Great British Bake Off 2022?

Along with Mary, the show's original hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc jumped ship when the show left the Beeb. They were replaced with comedian Noel Fielding and actor and director Sandi Toksvig. A strange choice, perhaps, but Noel and Sandi were the unlikely presenting duo from heaven and totally worked.

In January 2020, it was announced thatĀ Sandi was quitting her role, amidĀ reports she was ā€œunhappyā€ at work and had been ā€œdesperate to leave for agesā€.

She was replaced by comedian Matt Lucas, and he and Noel presented the 2021 series pretty successfully. Noel and Matt will be returning to present GBBO 2022, and we can't wait.

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