The Baker's Blog

Equal Weight Victoria Sponge A British summer time classic – an Equal Weight Victoria Sponge Cake. When I crave a traditional light sponge, this is where I go - its truly delicious, fresh, light, with just the right amount of sweetness. Some people may call it a pound cake – but I always knew these classic sponges as an equal weight cake! It’s a great base when making any sponge ... Read more

Reverse Oat Cookies When you think of an oat cookie, it’s usually one packed with oats and held together with a touch of flour. But these Reverse Oat Cookies change the game! They’re made with oat flour, giving them that signature oaty sweetness, while malted wheat flakes take the place of traditional oats, adding a delightful crunch and depth of flavour. They’re ... Read more

Oaty Fruity Boost Bars These Oaty Fruity Boost Bars are a simple and satisfying mix of chewy oats, dried fruits and crunchy seeds. With a combination of dates and apricots, they offer just the right amount of sweetness. The mixed seeds add a nice crunch and a little extra nutrition, while the oats provide a hearty texture, making them a great snack for a quick energy boost at any time of day. ... Read more

Perfectly Plump Hot Cross Buns This is my favourite recipe for Hot Cross Buns, slightly adapted from Richard Bertinet's superb version. I find that making a tangzhong (a flour-and-liquid roux) gives these buns the perfect texture, a soft, pliable crumb with just enough tenacity to hold up under a generous smear of butter without tearing or collapsing. I’ve never been a fan of most ... Read more

Easter Simnel Muffins These Easter Simnel Muffins are a nod to the larger Simnel Cake often baked at Easter. A little easier and quicker than the large cake, they make for a great alternative, easy to share, store, and pack up for an Easter picnic! For a classic touch, top each muffin with a marzipan ball, symbolizing the apostles in the traditional Simnel Cake. Or, for a more playful, creative ... Read more

Blood Orange Upside-Down Cake  This Blood Orange Upside-Down Cake is a fragrant, light-textured sponge with a bold citrus flavour. The delicate zest of the oranges adds subtle depth, while the marmalade enhances the orange notes. If you don’t have blood oranges, regular oranges work just as well - I just love the incredible colour that blood oranges bring. Remember, this is an ... Read more

Spiced Carrot Cake Loaf This Spiced Carrot Cake Loaf is full of flavour, thanks to the well-balanced blend of spices. The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves enhances the natural sweetness of the carrots, creating a subtly spiced, delicious taste. The cake has a soft, moist crumb, that holds together well whether cut into thick or thin slices. Topped with a smooth cream cheese ... Read more

Homemade Nacho Chips Using Nixtamalised Maize Flour or Masa Harina If you've made tortillas and have any leftover, you can easily turn them into irresistibly crunchy nacho chips that taste leagues better than anything you'll find off the shelf.  Made with masa harina, these homemade nachos have the perfect crunch and a depth of flavour shop-bought chips can’t match. I feel I ought to ... Read more

Salt isn’t just a seasoning—it’s a powerful tool to enhance flavours and elevate your baking and cooking. But with different varieties, how do you know which salt to use?  Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the perfect salt for every dish or bake.   1. Fine Pink Himalayan Salt Flavour Profile: Subtle, clean, and slightly sweet, with earthy mineral notes.Best For: ... Read more

Welcome to the BakeryBits Christmas Gift Guide for 2024!  Are you after the ultimate festive gift to inspire your favourite baker in your life, or you’re seeking clever stocking fillers that are both thoughtful and budget-friendly, I’ve curated a list of top picks from our collection. With decades of baking passion and over 14 years in the baking industry, I’m thrilled to ... Read more

Tortillas Made with Nixtamalised Maize Flour or Masa Harina I like a tortilla as much as the next person, probably more, but what’s this "nixtamalised" business? Maize (corn) is traditionally used to make a flour for tortillas called masa harina. However, unprocessed corn has a tough outer skin, making it tricky to mill into flour and harder for us to digest. Thousands of years ago, the ... Read more

Poffertjes (Dutch for mini pancakes) are little flying-saucer-shaped snacks very popular in the Netherlands and gaining popularity elsewhere, such as Germany. They're made using a special Poffertjes pan and commonly sold from stands at events like Christmas markets, carnivals, on the street for passing shoppers or for a tasty breakfast at home. Served in a paper bag, on a skewer or simply on a ... Read more

We got ourselves a bit confused by these questions when adding the new Molino Bongermino range of Italian flours so we thought that we need to get our own house in order before confidently talking about them. Semolina or Semola or even Semolato - Here is our guide to demystify these flours which we hope you will find useful.   Some basics – Semolina or Semola and what is it for? Let's ... Read more

Fluffy Middle Eastern Sourdough Flatbreads I love Middle Eastern-style cooking, and having a pliable fluffy flatbread is indispensable for mopping up hummus, pesto or sauces and for wrapping and transporting falafels or fritters laden with labneh pickles and a zesty salad. These are easy to make and whilst being light and fluffy they are strong enough to let you to load them to the gunnels. ... Read more

Brown Bread Ice-Cream using the Ankarsrum Ice-Cream Attachment It might sound like a strange mix with brown bread and ice-cream but it works fantastically well. The toast infused ice-cream coupled with caramelised breadcrumb nuggets that give sweetness, light maltiness and texture to this delightful brown bread ice-cream made with the Ankarsrum Ice-Cream Attachment for the Ankarsrum Mixer. You ... Read more

Panettone Style Cookies   Making a panettone just before Christmas, when time is disappearing quicker than the evening sun, can seem like an indulgent project. However, if you love the taste of panettone and want to bake something everyone will enjoy, these cookies are something you’ll definitely want to "accept". They’re easy to make, the dough can be prepared ahead of time, ... Read more

Matthews Cotswold flour development baker Sophie has shared this recipe for Rustic Olive Rolls with us using the Matthews Cotswold Pizza Flour. "The Matthews Cotswold Pizza Flour is a much more versatile flour than you might realise – it’s obviously great for making delicious pizza bases, but it can also be used for a multitude of other recipes. As a baker, it’s one of my ... Read more

Torsten's Sourdough Pumpkin Croissants using a Dough Sheeter Great customers don't grow on trees but this one actually grows them. Torsten Junker of family-run "Junker's Nursery" not at all far from us in Wellington grows the kind of trees literally fit for a king. He's also an accomplished home baker and has been trying out one of our Japan Kneader Dough Sheeters to make, Sourdough Pumpkin ... Read more