Review: The Hairy Bikers' Big Book of Baking and Scandinavian Tea Ring

Si King and Dave Myers, The Hairy Bikers', have been touring Europe on a bakeation. They went on a four month, 7,000 mile journey to discover European baking. The Hairy Bikers' Big Book of Baking is a wonderful collection of recipes and many are classics of their country.

If you have been watching the TV series to accompany the book you will be inspired to try many of the recipes you have seen the Hairy Bikers' baking.
I made a Scandinavian Tea Ring, and as the Hairy Bikers' say, it tastes as good as it looks. This tea ring is made with a sweet bread dough, rolled out, spread with a cinnamon infused butter containing ground and flaked almonds, glace cherries, candied peel (I used sultanas), rolled up as you would a swiss roll and then baked. After baking, the ring is decorated with glace cherries, flaked almonds and icing - delicious.

The book covers both sweet and savoury baking with recipes from Norway to Spain. There are recipes for biscuits, breads and rolls, cakes, puddings, sweet tarts, savoury bakes, pies, tarts and snacks.

Limoncello Babas from Italy, Hazelnut and Chocolate Vacherin from France, Lazybones Buns from the Low Countries, Black Forest Gateau from Germany and Grandma Bonka's Apple Streudel from Austria are just a few of the recipes which will inspire us to get busy in the kitchen.

This isn't just another baking book, but one which you will turn to time and time again. The book is a source of inspiration for everyday baking and baking to impress friends and family. There are recipes for the beginner through to the more experienced. The recipe is accompanied by a stunning photograph of the finished dish and every chapter has a collage of photographs taken during their tour.

The Hairy Bikers' provide a fascinating insight into some of the beautiful baking across Europe and I will use this book many times. My husband already has his eye on the Black Forest Gateau......

Thank you Waterstones for the review copy.