I’m not entirely certain who kindly sent a surprise copy of Book of Biscuits by Linda Collister from the National Trust, but it certainly made me smile when I opened it! It’s been years since I made biscuits because I once made a batch of brandy snaps that became one huge biscuit about 4 feet long that was welded to the baking tray, the sides and floor of the oven and which my husband had to use a bolster chisel to remove! Time to try again I think…

The Book of Biscuits will be published by the National Trust in association with Harper Collins on 12th March and is available for pre-order here. 

Book of Biscuits

Biscuits are the ultimate teatime treat. No cup of tea (or coffee) should be without one.

This tempting collection of recipes from expert baker Linda Collister includes all the classics. There are ginger snaps and shortbread petticoat tails, deluxe chocolate chip cookies, Florentines and macarons, tiffin and flapjacks, as well as biscotti and savoury biscuits. And if you’re looking for something a little different, how about Chocolate, Sour Cherry and Pistachio Cookies? Sea Salt Praline Biscotti? Or Black Olive Palmiers? There’s a biscuit for every occasion.

This beautifully illustrated book contains a generous side serving of history and is full of delicious tried-and-tested recipes that you’ll want to make again and again.

My Review of Book of Biscuits

Over seventy biscuits recipes across 7 sweet and savoury themes.

What a super little book! The Book of Biscuits would make a fantastic gift for novice and experienced baker alike. 

Firstly, it’s beautifully presented. It’s compact enough to fit an apron pocket but has a high quality and robust cover that will withstand much handling over the years. This is a book that can be passed down through the family as favourite biscuits are discovered. There are lovely watercolour illustrations and each of the sections has a different coloured traditional gingham edging so that this little book ignites memories of school baking as well being attractive now. 

Alongside the recipes are snippets of information so that we find out, for example, that a type of macaroon can be traced to AD 791, or that Dorothy Wordsworth had more than one recipe for gingerbread. This adds to the attraction of Book of Biscuits as a gift book.

However, it is, of course, the recipes that are the star turn here. Each has an introduction with the kind of detail mentioned above or with tips for cooking, things to look out for with oven variations and advice about storing the finished product. Ingredients and quantities are clearly presented and the methods easy to follow so that a cook of any ability can create a successful biscuit. 

Book of Biscuits is lovely. It’s accessible, gorgeous in presentation and a real treat for the kitchen. I’m off to make some Old-fashioned Double Ginger Snaps. Just don’t tell my husband!

About Linda Collister

Author of many of the Great British Bake Off books, Linda trained at La Varenne in Paris and the Cordon Bleu School in London.