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John Whaite Bakes: Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood
John Whaite Bakes. He always has. Whether he is happy or sad, in love or heartbroken, on his own or with friends, he believes that whipping up his favourite Dishes provides nourishment for both the body and the soul.
Now, fresh from winning the 2012 Great British Bake Off, he wants to share his mouthwatering creations with us so we can find the perfect recipe to fit our mood too.
There are comforting dishes here like Self-Saucing Chocolate Mud Pud and Pork, Apple and Thyme Sausage Rolls that will warm up the coldest of winter evenings, inspiring flavour combinations such as Fig and Rose Savarin and Salted Caramel Rum Babas, romantic dishes to share such as Pizza Puttanesca and Passionfruit Tart and some new showstoppers too, including the brand new Hellfire and Brimstone Cake.
So, whether you need a pick-me-up for dinner or a lazy Sunday breakfast treat, John Whaite Bakes is full of indulgent, delicious recipes to suit your every day and every mood.
Now, fresh from winning the 2012 Great British Bake Off, he wants to share his mouthwatering creations with us so we can find the perfect recipe to fit our mood too.
There are comforting dishes here like Self-Saucing Chocolate Mud Pud and Pork, Apple and Thyme Sausage Rolls that will warm up the coldest of winter evenings, inspiring flavour combinations such as Fig and Rose Savarin and Salted Caramel Rum Babas, romantic dishes to share such as Pizza Puttanesca and Passionfruit Tart and some new showstoppers too, including the brand new Hellfire and Brimstone Cake.
So, whether you need a pick-me-up for dinner or a lazy Sunday breakfast treat, John Whaite Bakes is full of indulgent, delicious recipes to suit your every day and every mood.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2013
3 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 8, 2015
I was rooting for John from the off on GBBO, and only grew to love him more as it went on, when he won, and after the series. You would think this an admission of bias, but 'John Whaite Bakes' is more than good enough to stand entirely alone from all that. It is obvious that this book has been a labour of love as opposed to a cash-in. John may have won the Bake-Off, but he did so because he was talented and deserving, and it is for these reasons that he has published a cookbook, also.
The design and photography make the book itself a treat to look at, and the photos are plentiful - nearly every recipe has at least one, if not more than one accompanying picture. There are also some lovely shots of John himself, but not so many as to overwhelm the rest of the content. They simply lend the book a very personal feel, as do John's words. I don't think I've ever seen so much writing in a cookbook before, but again, this is far from being to the detriment of the recipes and images. Quite the opposite: it is John's thoughts and anecdotes that truly make his book. Yes, it would still be a really great cookbook without them, but they give it such depth and character, and he is the kind of person - humble, witty, smart and warm - whose personality provides the heart of what he does. I found his introduction touching, particularly as he says that he has suffered, and does suffer, with depression, and finds solace in baking - as I do.
To begin with, John offers notes about ingredients and equipment, how to know when a cake is risen and bread sufficiently kneaded. Following on from this, the first chapter is about the essentials of baking, with plenty of tips on pastry-making. The rest of the book is then organised into chapters for different moods - hence the subtitle of the book. It's such an interesting and unusual way of setting out a cookbook, and it works well. Each mood is introduced by a paragraph or two from John, and each recipe has a little accompaniment too. A few examples of chapter titles are 'Calming A Bag Of Nerves', 'Edible Nirvana' and 'The Artist Within'.
Recipes range from stock to innovative, but even the basic is reinvigorated with twists or a new approach - for example, the overnight french baguette, pearl barley rice pudding and Bakewell tart muffins. John's creative flair is shown in the likes of the chocolate hazelnut and sour cherry celebration plaited wreath, curried halloumi spinach and potato pithivier, and 'hellfire and brimstone' cake. Whatever you feel like making - bread, breakfast bars, pizza, pudding, madeleines, meringue, fritters, flapjacks, pie, palmiers, sausage rolls, scones - this book will have you covered, and with something much more than a run-of-the-mill version of your desired bake. There is even a nod to the Bake-Off in the form of salted caramel rum babas, which made me smile!
Having been lucky enough to see John interviewed at a talk and book signing, I know he is already working on his second book, and has lots of other wonderful ideas that I have every faith in him being able to bring to fruition. This book is sure to be only the start of what is to come from John Whaite. I can't recommend it enough.
The design and photography make the book itself a treat to look at, and the photos are plentiful - nearly every recipe has at least one, if not more than one accompanying picture. There are also some lovely shots of John himself, but not so many as to overwhelm the rest of the content. They simply lend the book a very personal feel, as do John's words. I don't think I've ever seen so much writing in a cookbook before, but again, this is far from being to the detriment of the recipes and images. Quite the opposite: it is John's thoughts and anecdotes that truly make his book. Yes, it would still be a really great cookbook without them, but they give it such depth and character, and he is the kind of person - humble, witty, smart and warm - whose personality provides the heart of what he does. I found his introduction touching, particularly as he says that he has suffered, and does suffer, with depression, and finds solace in baking - as I do.
To begin with, John offers notes about ingredients and equipment, how to know when a cake is risen and bread sufficiently kneaded. Following on from this, the first chapter is about the essentials of baking, with plenty of tips on pastry-making. The rest of the book is then organised into chapters for different moods - hence the subtitle of the book. It's such an interesting and unusual way of setting out a cookbook, and it works well. Each mood is introduced by a paragraph or two from John, and each recipe has a little accompaniment too. A few examples of chapter titles are 'Calming A Bag Of Nerves', 'Edible Nirvana' and 'The Artist Within'.
Recipes range from stock to innovative, but even the basic is reinvigorated with twists or a new approach - for example, the overnight french baguette, pearl barley rice pudding and Bakewell tart muffins. John's creative flair is shown in the likes of the chocolate hazelnut and sour cherry celebration plaited wreath, curried halloumi spinach and potato pithivier, and 'hellfire and brimstone' cake. Whatever you feel like making - bread, breakfast bars, pizza, pudding, madeleines, meringue, fritters, flapjacks, pie, palmiers, sausage rolls, scones - this book will have you covered, and with something much more than a run-of-the-mill version of your desired bake. There is even a nod to the Bake-Off in the form of salted caramel rum babas, which made me smile!
Having been lucky enough to see John interviewed at a talk and book signing, I know he is already working on his second book, and has lots of other wonderful ideas that I have every faith in him being able to bring to fruition. This book is sure to be only the start of what is to come from John Whaite. I can't recommend it enough.
November 4, 2013
This is one of my favourite baking books!
Since April, both Mum & I have worked our way through the recipes with great success!
I made ‘Trillionaire’s shortbread’ for the first week of ‘Bake off’ at work, and it went down a treat, so much so that I will be baking more to take in on my birthday. The shortbreads were better than the ones I usually buy in supermarkets, delicious! I’d definitely recommend them.
With the nights drawing in and Winter well on its way, Mum has been making a lot of bread. One of her new favourites is the ‘Caramelized onion and rosemary fougasse’ which is just perfect on the cold evenings.
We also did a joint effort and baked the ‘mocha choca madeleines with chocolate dipping sauce’ which were amazing! We definitely were not disappointed! Unfortunately, having a teenage brother at home meant that most of them were demolished in minutes!
This is such a great cookbook with lots of amazing recipes (the shortbreads look fantastic but are so much easier to make than I thought they’d be). It is a necessity for all bake off fans or home bakers.
Since April, both Mum & I have worked our way through the recipes with great success!
I made ‘Trillionaire’s shortbread’ for the first week of ‘Bake off’ at work, and it went down a treat, so much so that I will be baking more to take in on my birthday. The shortbreads were better than the ones I usually buy in supermarkets, delicious! I’d definitely recommend them.
With the nights drawing in and Winter well on its way, Mum has been making a lot of bread. One of her new favourites is the ‘Caramelized onion and rosemary fougasse’ which is just perfect on the cold evenings.
We also did a joint effort and baked the ‘mocha choca madeleines with chocolate dipping sauce’ which were amazing! We definitely were not disappointed! Unfortunately, having a teenage brother at home meant that most of them were demolished in minutes!
This is such a great cookbook with lots of amazing recipes (the shortbreads look fantastic but are so much easier to make than I thought they’d be). It is a necessity for all bake off fans or home bakers.
September 11, 2023
WHAITE a minute ... I have a song in my head. It is now an earworm.
Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time
Thinking about you
And it's almost driving me wild
And that's my heart that's breaking
Down this long-distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say
...wrong Waite ....
Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time
Thinking about you
And it's almost driving me wild
And that's my heart that's breaking
Down this long-distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say
...wrong Waite ....
August 30, 2020
Purchase John Whaite Bakes here for just $15!
After winning the third season of The Great British Bake Off, John Whaite released this cookbook complete with his tried and true recipes. The book itself is vibrant and easy to follow. All of his dishes look delicious! A must have for Bake Off fans!
Christina - The Book Grocer
After winning the third season of The Great British Bake Off, John Whaite released this cookbook complete with his tried and true recipes. The book itself is vibrant and easy to follow. All of his dishes look delicious! A must have for Bake Off fans!
Christina - The Book Grocer
October 15, 2021
Nice book. Some really good bakes.
May 12, 2013
Anyone who watched last year’s Great British Bake Off on BBC2 will be familiar with John Whaite. Born in Manchester, John actually completed the final year of this law degree while filming GBBO, then went on to win the competition. His passion for baking is evident on each page of this book. I think this is one of the things that placed him firmly in the heart of the viewing public during GBBO.
The book is a good size, hard-backed and packed with recipes that are largely sweet, although there are a few savoury bakes in there too.
Following an introduction by John Whaite, he goes on to cover basic ingredients, and a further section detailing the equipment needed – the baker’s armoury he describes it, which amused me. Whaite confessed on the show that baking is a big part of his life. He bakes when happy or sad, in love or heartbroken; so not surprisingly, the recipes have been split into categories based on what mood Whaite feels they appeal to most. I was a little confused by this initially, but as I read, I realised that his writing style is affable, and friendly. You can almost imagine having a conversation with John, and him suggesting something to perk you up after a tough day.
The recipes themselves are well written, with easy to follow instructions. Most of them contain photos which are not staged on glossy presentation plates, but on encrusted baking sheets, or a top a cooling rack. The homemade look of the baked goods creates a homely and enticing feel to the recipes.
Most of the recipes will be familiar to anyone that has been baking a while. There is nothing too unusual or particularly innovative, but they are all appetising. Some of them contain surprising ingredients, a twist that Whaite feels enhances a familiar recipe, but nothing I think that is difficult to get hold of. The recipes are a balanced mixture suitable for the novice and experienced baker alike. There are tea-time treats, and show-stopping dinner pieces, so you will have no trouble finding an appropriate recipe for any occasion.
There are few recipes in this book that I don’t want to make, so my problem was just where to start. I can see myself dipping in and out of this book for some time to come. My favourites were the Passion Fruit Tart, Trillionaire’s Shortbread, and the Lemon and Poppy Seed Scones.
The book is a good size, hard-backed and packed with recipes that are largely sweet, although there are a few savoury bakes in there too.
Following an introduction by John Whaite, he goes on to cover basic ingredients, and a further section detailing the equipment needed – the baker’s armoury he describes it, which amused me. Whaite confessed on the show that baking is a big part of his life. He bakes when happy or sad, in love or heartbroken; so not surprisingly, the recipes have been split into categories based on what mood Whaite feels they appeal to most. I was a little confused by this initially, but as I read, I realised that his writing style is affable, and friendly. You can almost imagine having a conversation with John, and him suggesting something to perk you up after a tough day.
The recipes themselves are well written, with easy to follow instructions. Most of them contain photos which are not staged on glossy presentation plates, but on encrusted baking sheets, or a top a cooling rack. The homemade look of the baked goods creates a homely and enticing feel to the recipes.
Most of the recipes will be familiar to anyone that has been baking a while. There is nothing too unusual or particularly innovative, but they are all appetising. Some of them contain surprising ingredients, a twist that Whaite feels enhances a familiar recipe, but nothing I think that is difficult to get hold of. The recipes are a balanced mixture suitable for the novice and experienced baker alike. There are tea-time treats, and show-stopping dinner pieces, so you will have no trouble finding an appropriate recipe for any occasion.
There are few recipes in this book that I don’t want to make, so my problem was just where to start. I can see myself dipping in and out of this book for some time to come. My favourites were the Passion Fruit Tart, Trillionaire’s Shortbread, and the Lemon and Poppy Seed Scones.
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