If you are a fan of the Great British Bake Off, then you know exactly who Mary Berry is. However, that is not the only TV series that Berry has been a part of. You may have watched her on Britain's Best Home Cook or perhaps A Berry Royal Christmas. Honestly, she has definitely proven prolific when it comes to not only her TV appearances, but also her cookbook.
It is said that Mary Berry has written over 70 cookbooks. And if you were to head over to Amazon and look her up, you will find a number of those cookbooks.
I decided to head to my local library and see just how many of her cookbooks they had on their shelves. And I was surprised that my local library had five of Mary Berry’s cookbooks, and they were able to get even more of them. This allowed me the opportunity to check out almost 20 of her 70 cookbooks.
I will admit that I wish I have been able to get my hands on more of her cookbooks. However, I do think that 20 is a great representation of what she has to offer. One cookbook that I was determined to get my hands on based on the fact that I had a 4.8 star rating on Amazon was Baking with Mary Berry: Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and Pastries from the British Queen of Baking. And I am so glad I did. I have to say that not only is this my favorite cookbook of the almost 20 that I checked out, but I completely understand why it is so well reviewed on Amazon.
Not only were there a lot of recipes that were very easy to follow, even for a less experienced baker, but a lot of these recipes were relatively affordable. It was like she truly considered the fact that a lot of us are on a budget and we can’t necessarily spend a lot of money on ingredients.
Baking with Mary Berry: Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and Pastries from the British Queen of Baking is cookbook gold for home bakers
I think when a cookbook author takes into account that not everyone has an unlimited budget for baking, it can go a long way towards giving us a cookbook that we actually can use and enjoy. And that’s exactly what Mary Berry did. She gave us a cookbook that not only had amazing recipes, but it was also something that was attainable. This was something we could do. It was something we could afford to do.
One Amazon review from a user named Brida Ragnarson reads, “Wow. If you're an American and a fan of Mary Berry, then this recipe book will make you feel like you have Mary Berry in your home, as your grandmother, teaching you the basics for her incredible recipes and techniques for perfection along the way. The measurements are American/ United States. You can really hear her voice and her personality though this book with well-written, clear recipes. This book makes my kitchen feel like a classy, delicious, British baking adventure.”
Honestly, I completely agree with this review. And it’s not the only one.
Another review from user Lori Sarah reads, “I received this book and sat right down to read it cover to cover. So easy to follow and create these wonderful recipes. Also leaves room to create and augment to your own taste. Looking forward to baking and more of Mary Berry's cook books.”
I have to say that I appreciate the fact that I was able to follow her recipes without struggle. And that can be hard with some cookbooks. I also love that there are so many amazing pictures in this cookbook. I like pictures in my cookbook because I want to see what the recipe should look like at the end. And this cookbook was loaded with them.
Mary Berry seems to be the queen of baked goods, which makes this cookbook a must have. And if you are truly a fan of a GBBO, this will likely remind you of those early seasons. So if you’re looking for a new cookbook to add to your collection and kitchen, check out Baking with Mary Berry: Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and Pastries from the British Queen of Baking.