Review: Biscuit by Miranda Gore Browne

Great British Bake Off fans will no-doubt recognise finalist Miranda Gore Browne, whose skill for making and decorating biscuits stood out from the start and certainly caught legend Mary Berry’s attention.

“Miranda is the iced biscuit queen” declares the baking grande dame, in a quote on the cover of Miranda’s new book Biscuit.

But can you really make a decent book out of biscuit recipes alone?

Who is it for?

From beginners to enthusiasts, if you’re in the mood for baking biscuits this book has a recipe for everyone and every occasion.

That’s the great thing about niche books, as they have room to cover their corner of the culinary world to the max. And you really get the impresison that there’s not much that Miranda doesn’t know about biscuits.

Such a cornerstone of British life – it’s hard to think of anyone I know who doesn’t have a soft spot for biccies. We all have our favourites and you’re pretty much guaranteed to find them or a version of them in  this book.

Easy to follow

There’s a great introduction where Miranda advises on the best ingredients, tools for the job, troubleshooting etc making it a real bible for first time biscuiteers.

The chapters themselves, of which there are nine, are split as follows:

Biscuits for beginners
Cup of Tea and a Chat Biscuits
Seasonal Biscuits
Outdoor biscuits
Savoury Nibbles
Almost Healthy Biscuits
Children’s Party Biscuits
Petit Fours
Making and Decorating
Celebration Biscuits

The recipes are clearly written, hints and tips included with advice for equipment too.

My only criticism is that there aren’t enough pictures. It’s beautifully styled and photographed, but I like to know what things are meant to look like, especially if i’ve not seen the recipe before.

Family friendly

It’s the very definition of family friendly – with recipes called things like coat pocket biscuits, sledging biscuits, and biscuits for adventures you know you’re in safe hands. There’s also a section on children’s party biscuits should you be organised enough to make your own along with everything else that comes with parties!

But don’t be fooled, this book’s for grown ups too. The Petit Fours chapter contains a bounty of sophisticated and gourmet delights like Brown sugar and fig macarons and Ratafia, which would totally impress your foodie friends.

Most likely to cook

I think i’ll try and work my way through this book, but top of the list are Marmite morsels for savoury treats on a picnic, Breton biscuits to invoke memories of our holidays in Brittany and Bakewell biscuits because they just sound and look SO good.

Least likely to cook

I can’t find one single disagreeable recipe. I’m not one for turning down biscuits, unless they contain tinned pilchards, which is unlikely.

Would you buy it for a friend?

In a heartbeat – I think all of my friends would adore this book. This would make a fab gift as not many people I know have cookery books devoted just to biscuits.

Rating out of 10

9 – inspiring yet down to earth, full of useful advice from an absolute expert. Just wanted more pictures of glorious biscuits.

Biscuit  is published in hardback by Ebury Press, priced £14.99

Thanks for my review copy – I shall be using it often!

If you like the look of this book, come back later this week when I will be giving a copy away in a competition, and also sharing one of the amazing biscuit recipes Miranda showed me how to bake at a special Kenwood event.