Over many years, Mary Berry has perfected the art of cake-making and her skills have earned her a reputation as the queen of cakes. Now she has updated her classic home baking bible, the Ultimate Cake Book, and once again shares with you the secrets of he

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most underrated of all the cooks- I love Nigella too-.

Quality food that can be prepared quickly, 01 May 2007
This book is excellent. It is full of simple wholesome recipes. Everything can be made with easy to obtain ingredients and the results are always fantastic.

Some of my favourite recipes include:

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Lasagne al Forno (made with pork rather than beef)
Red Thai Curry with lime

If you work long hours, but want to cook/eat decent food, this book is perfect.

Simple, Fast and Tastey, 19 Feb 2007
First borrowed from the library and so impressed that I now have my own copy of this book. The recipes are simple and quick - ideal for a busy working mum. I tried the '3 cakes at the same time' recipe and was amazed when each cake turning out perfectly and with a minimum of fuss. The pasta and stir frys are also excellent.
An excellent cookery book for quick and tasty every day meals.

quick, easy and delicious, 21 Feb 2006
I love this book as the recipes are quick to make, don't require thousands of ingredients, and taste delicious. Instructions are easy to follow and you can prepare most of the meals in advance for the next day, when you just pop them in the oven for the required time.

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most underrated of all the cooks- I love Nigella too-.

Quality food that can be prepared quickly, 01 May 2007
This book is excellent. It is full of simple wholesome recipes. Everything can be made with easy to obtain ingredients and the results are always fantastic.

Some of my favourite recipes include:

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Lasagne al Forno (made with pork rather than beef)
Red Thai Curry with lime

If you work long hours, but want to cook/eat decent food, this book is perfect.

Simple, Fast and Tastey, 19 Feb 2007
First borrowed from the library and so impressed that I now have my own copy of this book. The recipes are simple and quick - ideal for a busy working mum. I tried the '3 cakes at the same time' recipe and was amazed when each cake turning out perfectly and with a minimum of fuss. The pasta and stir frys are also excellent.
An excellent cookery book for quick and tasty every day meals.

quick, easy and delicious, 21 Feb 2006
I love this book as the recipes are quick to make, don't require thousands of ingredients, and taste delicious. Instructions are easy to follow and you can prepare most of the meals in advance for the next day, when you just pop them in the oven for the required time.

This book is fantastic, 29 Oct 2008
I bought this book having tasted chocolate brownies baked by a friend. I am sure she is an excellent cook, however I am not. I can cook many things but for some reason cakes fail me...until now! Very simple recipies with basic ingredients, fantastic results. I can now bake cakes!

Fast Cakes - a classic, 30 Sep 2008
I love Fast Cakes. Like others here, I am writing this review as I wanted to replace my battered old copy and found it on this site.
The best thing about the recipes is they are fast, easy and cheap. So many other cookery writers (especially celebrities) only ever seem to give recipes that produce a gigantic cake and cost a fortune in snobby ingredients. You can rest assured that Mary Berry wont be insisting you buy 'unsalted butter' when marg will do fine, or organic 3000% dark chocolate when cocoa powder will do fine in a cake.
Tip: the chocolate caramel shortbread is the best version of this stuff ever. Only draw-back to book is it's paperback, and void of photographs.

The easiest cake book ever, 20 Jun 2007
i have used this book for years and it is well used. So many good recipies and easy to follow instructions. You will not be dissapointed with this one.

Best and easiest cake book ever written!, 02 Apr 2006
I started baking using this book at about the age of 11. Thats how easy this book is to use! Ten years on and its still my favourite baking book!

A large range of recipes for tray bakes, small cakes, large cakes, no bake cakes, scones, children, and biscuits. Each recipe has a little introductory sentence which recommends each cake for a particular occasion. Helpful tips on how to store the cakes and a fantastic introduction make this book really easy to use.

All the cakes I've made from this book have worked really well and been very tasty!

The only draw back is lack of pictures but in the hardback version there are a few. In fact I find pictures often put you off making the cake as it looks too difficult!

Highly recommended!

brilliant!, 29 Jan 2006
I bought this book about a week ago and have done 3 of the cakes already. They have been all delicious and so easy to make. That makes me wonder, why do all the other cook book writers make us whisk cakes for hours having to be carefull to add the egg very slowly that the mixture will not separate, when you can just put all the ingredience in the bowl and the results are fluffy and delicious?
There are some phrases in the book, where I'm thinking: "what is she talking about?!" I lived in this country for 7 years and think that my english is pretty good but some of the things I do not understand. Another think I came across...what is evaporated milk? could be powder milk, or condensed milk. I found out the hard way, but for those who would not understand either...it is condensed milk.
All in all I love the book already and think that is great value of money. Would definitelly recomend.

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most underrated of all the cooks- I love Nigella too-.

Quality food that can be prepared quickly, 01 May 2007
This book is excellent. It is full of simple wholesome recipes. Everything can be made with easy to obtain ingredients and the results are always fantastic.

Some of my favourite recipes include:

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Lasagne al Forno (made with pork rather than beef)
Red Thai Curry with lime

If you work long hours, but want to cook/eat decent food, this book is perfect.

Simple, Fast and Tastey, 19 Feb 2007
First borrowed from the library and so impressed that I now have my own copy of this book. The recipes are simple and quick - ideal for a busy working mum. I tried the '3 cakes at the same time' recipe and was amazed when each cake turning out perfectly and with a minimum of fuss. The pasta and stir frys are also excellent.
An excellent cookery book for quick and tasty every day meals.

quick, easy and delicious, 21 Feb 2006
I love this book as the recipes are quick to make, don't require thousands of ingredients, and taste delicious. Instructions are easy to follow and you can prepare most of the meals in advance for the next day, when you just pop them in the oven for the required time.

This book is fantastic, 29 Oct 2008
I bought this book having tasted chocolate brownies baked by a friend. I am sure she is an excellent cook, however I am not. I can cook many things but for some reason cakes fail me...until now! Very simple recipies with basic ingredients, fantastic results. I can now bake cakes!

Fast Cakes - a classic, 30 Sep 2008
I love Fast Cakes. Like others here, I am writing this review as I wanted to replace my battered old copy and found it on this site.
The best thing about the recipes is they are fast, easy and cheap. So many other cookery writers (especially celebrities) only ever seem to give recipes that produce a gigantic cake and cost a fortune in snobby ingredients. You can rest assured that Mary Berry wont be insisting you buy 'unsalted butter' when marg will do fine, or organic 3000% dark chocolate when cocoa powder will do fine in a cake.
Tip: the chocolate caramel shortbread is the best version of this stuff ever. Only draw-back to book is it's paperback, and void of photographs.

The easiest cake book ever, 20 Jun 2007
i have used this book for years and it is well used. So many good recipies and easy to follow instructions. You will not be dissapointed with this one.

Best and easiest cake book ever written!, 02 Apr 2006
I started baking using this book at about the age of 11. Thats how easy this book is to use! Ten years on and its still my favourite baking book!

A large range of recipes for tray bakes, small cakes, large cakes, no bake cakes, scones, children, and biscuits. Each recipe has a little introductory sentence which recommends each cake for a particular occasion. Helpful tips on how to store the cakes and a fantastic introduction make this book really easy to use.

All the cakes I've made from this book have worked really well and been very tasty!

The only draw back is lack of pictures but in the hardback version there are a few. In fact I find pictures often put you off making the cake as it looks too difficult!

Highly recommended!

brilliant!, 29 Jan 2006
I bought this book about a week ago and have done 3 of the cakes already. They have been all delicious and so easy to make. That makes me wonder, why do all the other cook book writers make us whisk cakes for hours having to be carefull to add the egg very slowly that the mixture will not separate, when you can just put all the ingredience in the bowl and the results are fluffy and delicious?
There are some phrases in the book, where I'm thinking: "what is she talking about?!" I lived in this country for 7 years and think that my english is pretty good but some of the things I do not understand. Another think I came across...what is evaporated milk? could be powder milk, or condensed milk. I found out the hard way, but for those who would not understand either...it is condensed milk.
All in all I love the book already and think that is great value of money. Would definitelly recomend.

Festive Food Over Christmas And New Year, 04 Jan 2007
As a fan of Mary Berry's recipes and a keen cook myself, I was delighted with the variety of recipes in season and the great results! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking and entertaining, a must for next Christmas!

Disappointing, 09 Oct 2006
If you have Mary Berry's Real Food Fast and Cook Now, Eat Later books do not bother to buy this cookery book. Nearly all the recipes in Mary Berry's Christmas Collection are in these previous books.

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most underrated of all the cooks- I love Nigella too-.

Quality food that can be prepared quickly, 01 May 2007
This book is excellent. It is full of simple wholesome recipes. Everything can be made with easy to obtain ingredients and the results are always fantastic.

Some of my favourite recipes include:

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Lasagne al Forno (made with pork rather than beef)
Red Thai Curry with lime

If you work long hours, but want to cook/eat decent food, this book is perfect.

Simple, Fast and Tastey, 19 Feb 2007
First borrowed from the library and so impressed that I now have my own copy of this book. The recipes are simple and quick - ideal for a busy working mum. I tried the '3 cakes at the same time' recipe and was amazed when each cake turning out perfectly and with a minimum of fuss. The pasta and stir frys are also excellent.
An excellent cookery book for quick and tasty every day meals.

quick, easy and delicious, 21 Feb 2006
I love this book as the recipes are quick to make, don't require thousands of ingredients, and taste delicious. Instructions are easy to follow and you can prepare most of the meals in advance for the next day, when you just pop them in the oven for the required time.

This book is fantastic, 29 Oct 2008
I bought this book having tasted chocolate brownies baked by a friend. I am sure she is an excellent cook, however I am not. I can cook many things but for some reason cakes fail me...until now! Very simple recipies with basic ingredients, fantastic results. I can now bake cakes!

Fast Cakes - a classic, 30 Sep 2008
I love Fast Cakes. Like others here, I am writing this review as I wanted to replace my battered old copy and found it on this site.
The best thing about the recipes is they are fast, easy and cheap. So many other cookery writers (especially celebrities) only ever seem to give recipes that produce a gigantic cake and cost a fortune in snobby ingredients. You can rest assured that Mary Berry wont be insisting you buy 'unsalted butter' when marg will do fine, or organic 3000% dark chocolate when cocoa powder will do fine in a cake.
Tip: the chocolate caramel shortbread is the best version of this stuff ever. Only draw-back to book is it's paperback, and void of photographs.

The easiest cake book ever, 20 Jun 2007
i have used this book for years and it is well used. So many good recipies and easy to follow instructions. You will not be dissapointed with this one.

Best and easiest cake book ever written!, 02 Apr 2006
I started baking using this book at about the age of 11. Thats how easy this book is to use! Ten years on and its still my favourite baking book!

A large range of recipes for tray bakes, small cakes, large cakes, no bake cakes, scones, children, and biscuits. Each recipe has a little introductory sentence which recommends each cake for a particular occasion. Helpful tips on how to store the cakes and a fantastic introduction make this book really easy to use.

All the cakes I've made from this book have worked really well and been very tasty!

The only draw back is lack of pictures but in the hardback version there are a few. In fact I find pictures often put you off making the cake as it looks too difficult!

Highly recommended!

brilliant!, 29 Jan 2006
I bought this book about a week ago and have done 3 of the cakes already. They have been all delicious and so easy to make. That makes me wonder, why do all the other cook book writers make us whisk cakes for hours having to be carefull to add the egg very slowly that the mixture will not separate, when you can just put all the ingredience in the bowl and the results are fluffy and delicious?
There are some phrases in the book, where I'm thinking: "what is she talking about?!" I lived in this country for 7 years and think that my english is pretty good but some of the things I do not understand. Another think I came across...what is evaporated milk? could be powder milk, or condensed milk. I found out the hard way, but for those who would not understand either...it is condensed milk.
All in all I love the book already and think that is great value of money. Would definitelly recomend.

Festive Food Over Christmas And New Year, 04 Jan 2007
As a fan of Mary Berry's recipes and a keen cook myself, I was delighted with the variety of recipes in season and the great results! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking and entertaining, a must for next Christmas!

Disappointing, 09 Oct 2006
If you have Mary Berry's Real Food Fast and Cook Now, Eat Later books do not bother to buy this cookery book. Nearly all the recipes in Mary Berry's Christmas Collection are in these previous books.

Big disappointment, 18 Nov 2008
As a keen fan of Mary Berry's books I ordered this but was extremely disappointed to discover when it arrived that it was just a reissue of a book first published in 1991. Things have changed a lot in 17 years and the recipes in this book were SO 1990s. Who makes Chocolate Cream Pie or Custard Cream Pie nowadays ? Do you really want to use 2lb of ricotta cheese plus 7 oz of full fat cheese as part of the filling for something called Cannoli cake? Lemon Tartufo looks like one of those preprepared desserts in a Chinese or Indian restaurant. There should have been some indication somewhere that these recipes were so horribly old fashioned.

Mary Berry's Desserts, 27 Oct 2008
If your looking for inspiration for 'party puddings' this is the book for you! Well illustrated,as are all Dorling Kindersley publications.Clear well laid out instructions and excellent photographs of the finished product. Ideal for the novice or the experienced cook.Already a favourite on my bookshelf!

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most underrated of all the cooks- I love Nigella too-.

Quality food that can be prepared quickly, 01 May 2007
This book is excellent. It is full of simple wholesome recipes. Everything can be made with easy to obtain ingredients and the results are always fantastic.

Some of my favourite recipes include:

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Lasagne al Forno (made with pork rather than beef)
Red Thai Curry with lime

If you work long hours, but want to cook/eat decent food, this book is perfect.

Simple, Fast and Tastey, 19 Feb 2007
First borrowed from the library and so impressed that I now have my own copy of this book. The recipes are simple and quick - ideal for a busy working mum. I tried the '3 cakes at the same time' recipe and was amazed when each cake turning out perfectly and with a minimum of fuss. The pasta and stir frys are also excellent.
An excellent cookery book for quick and tasty every day meals.

quick, easy and delicious, 21 Feb 2006
I love this book as the recipes are quick to make, don't require thousands of ingredients, and taste delicious. Instructions are easy to follow and you can prepare most of the meals in advance for the next day, when you just pop them in the oven for the required time.

This book is fantastic, 29 Oct 2008
I bought this book having tasted chocolate brownies baked by a friend. I am sure she is an excellent cook, however I am not. I can cook many things but for some reason cakes fail me...until now! Very simple recipies with basic ingredients, fantastic results. I can now bake cakes!

Fast Cakes - a classic, 30 Sep 2008
I love Fast Cakes. Like others here, I am writing this review as I wanted to replace my battered old copy and found it on this site.
The best thing about the recipes is they are fast, easy and cheap. So many other cookery writers (especially celebrities) only ever seem to give recipes that produce a gigantic cake and cost a fortune in snobby ingredients. You can rest assured that Mary Berry wont be insisting you buy 'unsalted butter' when marg will do fine, or organic 3000% dark chocolate when cocoa powder will do fine in a cake.
Tip: the chocolate caramel shortbread is the best version of this stuff ever. Only draw-back to book is it's paperback, and void of photographs.

The easiest cake book ever, 20 Jun 2007
i have used this book for years and it is well used. So many good recipies and easy to follow instructions. You will not be dissapointed with this one.

Best and easiest cake book ever written!, 02 Apr 2006
I started baking using this book at about the age of 11. Thats how easy this book is to use! Ten years on and its still my favourite baking book!

A large range of recipes for tray bakes, small cakes, large cakes, no bake cakes, scones, children, and biscuits. Each recipe has a little introductory sentence which recommends each cake for a particular occasion. Helpful tips on how to store the cakes and a fantastic introduction make this book really easy to use.

All the cakes I've made from this book have worked really well and been very tasty!

The only draw back is lack of pictures but in the hardback version there are a few. In fact I find pictures often put you off making the cake as it looks too difficult!

Highly recommended!

brilliant!, 29 Jan 2006
I bought this book about a week ago and have done 3 of the cakes already. They have been all delicious and so easy to make. That makes me wonder, why do all the other cook book writers make us whisk cakes for hours having to be carefull to add the egg very slowly that the mixture will not separate, when you can just put all the ingredience in the bowl and the results are fluffy and delicious?
There are some phrases in the book, where I'm thinking: "what is she talking about?!" I lived in this country for 7 years and think that my english is pretty good but some of the things I do not understand. Another think I came across...what is evaporated milk? could be powder milk, or condensed milk. I found out the hard way, but for those who would not understand either...it is condensed milk.
All in all I love the book already and think that is great value of money. Would definitelly recomend.

Festive Food Over Christmas And New Year, 04 Jan 2007
As a fan of Mary Berry's recipes and a keen cook myself, I was delighted with the variety of recipes in season and the great results! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking and entertaining, a must for next Christmas!

Disappointing, 09 Oct 2006
If you have Mary Berry's Real Food Fast and Cook Now, Eat Later books do not bother to buy this cookery book. Nearly all the recipes in Mary Berry's Christmas Collection are in these previous books.

Big disappointment, 18 Nov 2008
As a keen fan of Mary Berry's books I ordered this but was extremely disappointed to discover when it arrived that it was just a reissue of a book first published in 1991. Things have changed a lot in 17 years and the recipes in this book were SO 1990s. Who makes Chocolate Cream Pie or Custard Cream Pie nowadays ? Do you really want to use 2lb of ricotta cheese plus 7 oz of full fat cheese as part of the filling for something called Cannoli cake? Lemon Tartufo looks like one of those preprepared desserts in a Chinese or Indian restaurant. There should have been some indication somewhere that these recipes were so horribly old fashioned.

Mary Berry's Desserts, 27 Oct 2008
If your looking for inspiration for 'party puddings' this is the book for you! Well illustrated,as are all Dorling Kindersley publications.Clear well laid out instructions and excellent photographs of the finished product. Ideal for the novice or the experienced cook.Already a favourite on my bookshelf!

100+ recipes in this `simple cookery course and recipe book all-in-one', 04 Apr 2008
from Mary Berry.

n.b. Previously published as `The New Cook'.

From the back cover:-

`Need to learn how to cook for yourself?
Want to start producing home-made food for your family?
Long to create a delicious meal for your friends?
Follow Mary Berry's guidelines in `How to Cook' and begin a new life in the kitchen.
A simple cookery course and recipe book all in one.
Step-by-step photography with clear instructions.
Over 100 foolproof recipes.......


Small hardcover format with 256 high quality shiny pages split over 5 chapters:-

Master Recipes
Recipe Collection
Techniques
Ingredients
Equipment

sandwiched between an introduction, cook's notes and an index.

From the introduction:-

`I have so enjoyed writing this book and the process of going right back to the beginning and rethinking cooking techniques and how to simplify them. I have written this with a clear eye for today's new cooks who want fresher, lighter food.
I have a soft spot for people who are just beginning to cook, and I want them to have fun with cooking and enjoy the results. For the novice, even opening a recipe book can be incredibly daunting, so my aim with this book is to make cooking as easy and uncomplicated as possible.

The twelve Master Recipes are designed to get you off to a good start. These will be your master keys, opening up a collection of basic, but essential cooking skills........'

Each of the `Master Recipes' is well laid out with the list of ingredients on the left, the title, the number of servings, an opening note and a clear, numbered method, followed by a full-page colour photograph of the finished dish then the `step-by-step' procedure, including variations, if applicable, and pictures over at least a further two pages.
These recipes include how to make:-

Classic French Omelette
Tagliatelle Bolognese
Chilli con Carne
Roast Chicken
Double-Crust Apple Pie
Victoria Sponge

The recipe chapter opens with relevant notes, then the recipes which follow the same written format as the Master Recipes, described above.
This section is sub-divided into:-

Egg Dishes
Soups
Pasta
Grains & Pulses
Pan-fries
Stir-fries
Char-grills
Grills
Roasts
Accompaniments
Salads
Fruit Desserts
Cakes and Cookies
Bread

This section is only lightly interspersed with photography....which may be a little disappointing for those who like to see what they are aiming for on the plate!

A taste of the other recipes within:-

Quiche Lorraine
Crepes Suzette
Cheese Soufflés
Minestrone
Clam Chowder
Meat or Vegetarian Lasagne
Tabbouleh
Garlic Prawns
Cajun-Style Chicken
Hoisin Pork
Steak with Onion Marmalade
Real Beefburgers
Tandoori Chicken
Vegetable Curry
Beef Wellington
Yorkshire Pudding
Coleslaw
Caesar Salad
Meringues with Raspberry Coulis
Lemon & Lime Cheesecake
Chocolate Brownies
Lemon Slices
Anchovy Pizza

The main recipes all have a `nutritional information' table.

The `Techniques Section' includes preparation and cooking of various ingredients such as:-

Eggs
Rice
Fish, Poultry and Meat (inc `Cuts of')
Vegetables
Fruit
Pastry
Sauces
Crumbs & Croutons
Leaves and Herbs

as well as basic recipes e.g. Polenta, Mashed Potatoes, Custard, Mayonnaise and Bouquet Garni.
This section is very well laid out and has plenty of photographs, including `step by step', where applicable, e.g.:-

`Carving a Large Bird'.

It is littered with helpful tips, such as the making and keeping/freezing of chicken stock or beating and making meringues.

The last two chapters are recommended ingredients and equipment.

Good value for an all round reference for the beginner, but could also prove useful to those more experienced, needing a helping hand in greyer areas, e.g. `Skinning Fish Fillets' or `Making a Pastry Case'.

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most underrated of all the cooks- I love Nigella too-.

Quality food that can be prepared quickly, 01 May 2007
This book is excellent. It is full of simple wholesome recipes. Everything can be made with easy to obtain ingredients and the results are always fantastic.

Some of my favourite recipes include:

White Chocolate Cheesecake
Lasagne al Forno (made with pork rather than beef)
Red Thai Curry with lime

If you work long hours, but want to cook/eat decent food, this book is perfect.

Simple, Fast and Tastey, 19 Feb 2007
First borrowed from the library and so impressed that I now have my own copy of this book. The recipes are simple and quick - ideal for a busy working mum. I tried the '3 cakes at the same time' recipe and was amazed when each cake turning out perfectly and with a minimum of fuss. The pasta and stir frys are also excellent.
An excellent cookery book for quick and tasty every day meals.

quick, easy and delicious, 21 Feb 2006
I love this book as the recipes are quick to make, don't require thousands of ingredients, and taste delicious. Instructions are easy to follow and you can prepare most of the meals in advance for the next day, when you just pop them in the oven for the required time.

This book is fantastic, 29 Oct 2008
I bought this book having tasted chocolate brownies baked by a friend. I am sure she is an excellent cook, however I am not. I can cook many things but for some reason cakes fail me...until now! Very simple recipies with basic ingredients, fantastic results. I can now bake cakes!

Fast Cakes - a classic, 30 Sep 2008
I love Fast Cakes. Like others here, I am writing this review as I wanted to replace my battered old copy and found it on this site.
The best thing about the recipes is they are fast, easy and cheap. So many other cookery writers (especially celebrities) only ever seem to give recipes that produce a gigantic cake and cost a fortune in snobby ingredients. You can rest assured that Mary Berry wont be insisting you buy 'unsalted butter' when marg will do fine, or organic 3000% dark chocolate when cocoa powder will do fine in a cake.
Tip: the chocolate caramel shortbread is the best version of this stuff ever. Only draw-back to book is it's paperback, and void of photographs.

The easiest cake book ever, 20 Jun 2007
i have used this book for years and it is well used. So many good recipies and easy to follow instructions. You will not be dissapointed with this one.

Best and easiest cake book ever written!, 02 Apr 2006
I started baking using this book at about the age of 11. Thats how easy this book is to use! Ten years on and its still my favourite baking book!

A large range of recipes for tray bakes, small cakes, large cakes, no bake cakes, scones, children, and biscuits. Each recipe has a little introductory sentence which recommends each cake for a particular occasion. Helpful tips on how to store the cakes and a fantastic introduction make this book really easy to use.

All the cakes I've made from this book have worked really well and been very tasty!

The only draw back is lack of pictures but in the hardback version there are a few. In fact I find pictures often put you off making the cake as it looks too difficult!

Highly recommended!

brilliant!, 29 Jan 2006
I bought this book about a week ago and have done 3 of the cakes already. They have been all delicious and so easy to make. That makes me wonder, why do all the other cook book writers make us whisk cakes for hours having to be carefull to add the egg very slowly that the mixture will not separate, when you can just put all the ingredience in the bowl and the results are fluffy and delicious?
There are some phrases in the book, where I'm thinking: "what is she talking about?!" I lived in this country for 7 years and think that my english is pretty good but some of the things I do not understand. Another think I came across...what is evaporated milk? could be powder milk, or condensed milk. I found out the hard way, but for those who would not understand either...it is condensed milk.
All in all I love the book already and think that is great value of money. Would definitelly recomend.

Festive Food Over Christmas And New Year, 04 Jan 2007
As a fan of Mary Berry's recipes and a keen cook myself, I was delighted with the variety of recipes in season and the great results! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking and entertaining, a must for next Christmas!

Disappointing, 09 Oct 2006
If you have Mary Berry's Real Food Fast and Cook Now, Eat Later books do not bother to buy this cookery book. Nearly all the recipes in Mary Berry's Christmas Collection are in these previous books.

Big disappointment, 18 Nov 2008
As a keen fan of Mary Berry's books I ordered this but was extremely disappointed to discover when it arrived that it was just a reissue of a book first published in 1991. Things have changed a lot in 17 years and the recipes in this book were SO 1990s. Who makes Chocolate Cream Pie or Custard Cream Pie nowadays ? Do you really want to use 2lb of ricotta cheese plus 7 oz of full fat cheese as part of the filling for something called Cannoli cake? Lemon Tartufo looks like one of those preprepared desserts in a Chinese or Indian restaurant. There should have been some indication somewhere that these recipes were so horribly old fashioned.

Mary Berry's Desserts, 27 Oct 2008
If your looking for inspiration for 'party puddings' this is the book for you! Well illustrated,as are all Dorling Kindersley publications.Clear well laid out instructions and excellent photographs of the finished product. Ideal for the novice or the experienced cook.Already a favourite on my bookshelf!

100+ recipes in this `simple cookery course and recipe book all-in-one', 04 Apr 2008
from Mary Berry.

n.b. Previously published as `The New Cook'.

From the back cover:-

`Need to learn how to cook for yourself?
Want to start producing home-made food for your family?
Long to create a delicious meal for your friends?
Follow Mary Berry's guidelines in `How to Cook' and begin a new life in the kitchen.
A simple cookery course and recipe book all in one.
Step-by-step photography with clear instructions.
Over 100 foolproof recipes.......


Small hardcover format with 256 high quality shiny pages split over 5 chapters:-

Master Recipes
Recipe Collection
Techniques
Ingredients
Equipment

sandwiched between an introduction, cook's notes and an index.

From the introduction:-

`I have so enjoyed writing this book and the process of going right back to the beginning and rethinking cooking techniques and how to simplify them. I have written this with a clear eye for today's new cooks who want fresher, lighter food.
I have a soft spot for people who are just beginning to cook, and I want them to have fun with cooking and enjoy the results. For the novice, even opening a recipe book can be incredibly daunting, so my aim with this book is to make cooking as easy and uncomplicated as possible.

The twelve Master Recipes are designed to get you off to a good start. These will be your master keys, opening up a collection of basic, but essential cooking skills........'

Each of the `Master Recipes' is well laid out with the list of ingredients on the left, the title, the number of servings, an opening note and a clear, numbered method, followed by a full-page colour photograph of the finished dish then the `step-by-step' procedure, including variations, if applicable, and pictures over at least a further two pages.
These recipes include how to make:-

Classic French Omelette
Tagliatelle Bolognese
Chilli con Carne
Roast Chicken
Double-Crust Apple Pie
Victoria Sponge

The recipe chapter opens with relevant notes, then the recipes which follow the same written format as the Master Recipes, described above.
This section is sub-divided into:-

Egg Dishes
Soups
Pasta
Grains & Pulses
Pan-fries
Stir-fries
Char-grills
Grills
Roasts
Accompaniments
Salads
Fruit Desserts
Cakes and Cookies
Bread

This section is only lightly interspersed with photography....which may be a little disappointing for those who like to see what they are aiming for on the plate!

A taste of the other recipes within:-

Quiche Lorraine
Crepes Suzette
Cheese Soufflés
Minestrone
Clam Chowder
Meat or Vegetarian Lasagne
Tabbouleh
Garlic Prawns
Cajun-Style Chicken
Hoisin Pork
Steak with Onion Marmalade
Real Beefburgers
Tandoori Chicken
Vegetable Curry
Beef Wellington
Yorkshire Pudding
Coleslaw
Caesar Salad
Meringues with Raspberry Coulis
Lemon & Lime Cheesecake
Chocolate Brownies
Lemon Slices
Anchovy Pizza

The main recipes all have a `nutritional information' table.

The `Techniques Section' includes preparation and cooking of various ingredients such as:-

Eggs
Rice
Fish, Poultry and Meat (inc `Cuts of')
Vegetables
Fruit
Pastry
Sauces
Crumbs & Croutons
Leaves and Herbs

as well as basic recipes e.g. Polenta, Mashed Potatoes, Custard, Mayonnaise and Bouquet Garni.
This section is very well laid out and has plenty of photographs, including `step by step', where applicable, e.g.:-

`Carving a Large Bird'.

It is littered with helpful tips, such as the making and keeping/freezing of chicken stock or beating and making meringues.

The last two chapters are recommended ingredients and equipment.

Good value for an all round reference for the beginner, but could also prove useful to those more experienced, needing a helping hand in greyer areas, e.g. `Skinning Fish Fillets' or `Making a Pastry Case'.

Big disappointment, 18 Nov 2008
As a keen fan of Mary Berry's books I ordered this but was extremely disappointed to discover when it arrived that it was just a reissue of a book first published in 1991. Things have changed a lot in 17 years and the recipes in this book were SO 1990s. Who makes Chocolate Cream Pie or Custard Cream Pie nowadays ? Do you really want to use 2lb of ricotta cheese plus 7 oz of full fat cheese as part of the filling for something called Cannoli cake? Lemon Tartufo looks like one of those preprepared desserts in a Chinese or Indian restaurant. There should have been some indication somewhere that these recipes were so horribly old fashioned.

Mary Berry's Desserts, 27 Oct 2008
If your looking for inspiration for 'party puddings' this is the book for you! Well illustrated,as are all Dorling Kindersley publications.Clear well laid out instructions and excellent photographs of the finished product. Ideal for the novice or the experienced cook.Already a favourite on my bookshelf!

Lots of great recipes, 26 Oct 2008
This is an excellent book and one of the best about baking. I've made lots of the recipes and they've all turned out well. The photos of the finished items look inviting and inspiring. I think that the various writers of recipe have areas of cooking that they particularly enjoy and the books on that topic are their best and I feel that Mary Berry likes baking.

Mary Berry, my saviour!, 05 Oct 2008
My Mum gave this to me as a present several years ago and I haven't looked back since. I had failure after failure with cakes until I got this book. Very easy to follow and great results. I have had to adjust some baking times due to having a fan oven. It has given me so much confidence that I have now entered the local horticultural society's baking competitions for different cakes and have been over the moon to get lots of 1st and 2nd places. I also do the traybakes and cakes for my son's local rugby team (U18's) which are always cleared away, even the crumbs! My favourite cookbook of all time, thank you, Mary Berry, from a once reluctant baker.

A wonderful book of recipes, 06 Sep 2008
I have tried several recipes from this book and the end result have always been scrumptious. My family's firm favourite at the minute is the carrot cake.



Delicious, 24 May 2008
I have made several of the recipes in this book and all have been delicious, i particularly like the section on Traybakes, which as a mum is perfect for school teas and birthdays, i have had lots of compliments from the results of this book and am always recommending it to others.

The Bible!!, 18 Mar 2008
I've loved this book - it turned me into a confirmed cake baker! It's simply written, the recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've had a go and more than half of them with only a couple of disappointments. I'm about to buy two more copies for friends who are inspired by tasting my cakes (v. flattering) to try making their own, they'll soon realise it's not me - it's Mary Berry!

Up to date cooking on state of the art cooker!, 17 Apr 2001
This is a fantatstic book and saved the day when we bought an old house and inherited a 16-year old AGA. I was petrified of it at first but once I read through this book I was able to get going straight away. The book falls roughly into 3 parts. The first tells you all about AGAs - the different sorts you can get, a little bit of history and some of the other things you can do with an AGA (other than cooking!). The next section explains about the equipment you'll need and arrangements for servicing, with the final section covering recipes and techniques. I was expecting some really dull, stodgy recipes but I got it totally wrong. The recipes range from the traditional game casseroles through to risottos and pasta dishes. There are some really good puddings too. This is a book that builds confidence beacuse once you've mastered the cooking techniques - which are very clearly explained, you'll be willing to experiment and try most things. Well done Mary Berry! An excellent book for people like me who grew up in towns and are scared of AGAs!

Yummy book, 25 Nov 2007
I've only made two cakes from the book so far but, they both turned out scrummy. Lovely pictures and clear instructions. There is a great section which explains cake tin dimensions and gives basic baking instructions. I can't wait to make more cakes from this book!

Good book but too similar to Ultimate cake book, 26 Dec 2006
Mary Berrys cook books are great.This one is a good book but I would recommend buying Ultimate cake book by Mary Berry instead.Nearly every single recepie was duplicated. This book has much less in it and Ultimate is far better with the same and many more cake recepies.I would say buy that one instead-it is a much bigger and better book on cakes.

Simple Cakes, 10 Dec 2006
I have to say the truth is in the title simple (but wonderful) cakes we tried the lemon drizzle cake and it was amazing the ginger cake was even better if you like your cakes but don't have much time like me to do baking then this is the book for you

simply brilliant, 22 Sep 2008
I bought this book a year ago and still use it regularly. It uses easy to find ingredients, sets the instructions out easily and most things are easy to cook. There are a couple of recipes which are a bit more complicated or take longer but not too many.
The little tips she gives are very helpful.

Mary Berry the wonderful!, 21 Aug 2007
My daughters in law and me all adore the food in Mary Berry's books- this new one is superb- we also love her Cook now Eat later. We love simple delicious food, we don't want to be in the kitchen slaving when guests arrive- Mary Berry has this cracked- our culinary creations now look effortless!.She must be the most und