Photo by Edd Kimber
So many of you love Edd Kimber’s previous One Tin Bakes that I feel I almost don’t need to remind you of its premise, which is joyfully repeated in his latest book, but just in case, let me tell you, even if I am quoting that previous review of mine to do so: it is a brilliant idea, and like many brilliant ideas, it is based on a simple premise: every recipe is devised to be made in a single tin, one measuring 23cm x 33cm (or 9 x 13 inches). A distinguished and talented pastry chef Kimber may be, but he understands that bakers at home need recipes that don’t call on an exhaustive collection of tins and baking materials, or on the experience of the professional. This, his follow up, is even more committed to demystifying baking and offering recipes that can be shared by a large number of home cooks and bakers. Indeed, this volume, he writes, is very much inspired by his own experience in lockdown, a time when his own approach to baking changed: “I wanted instant gratification. I craved easy baking.” This book provides just that, and the recipes are written to be shared and enjoyed without stress, and with gorgeous rewards. Many of the recipes are gluten-free; many are vegan: Kimber is responding not only to the needs of his own life, baking for friends who can no longer enjoy all his cakes, but also in the interests of creating recipes that the greatest number of people can delight in everywhere. And these are certainly recipes just made for sharing!
And now it is my turn now to spread the joy and share those recipes with you. My greedy eye was caught by his Grapefruit Poppy Seed Snack Cake (GF); obviously, the Rhubarb and Cardamom Cake with Brown Butter Streusel; Olive Oil, Pistachio and Lemon Snack Cake (GF); Devil’s Food Sheet Cake (vegan); Brown Sugar Butterscotch Cake (vegan); Frosted Oatmeal Cream Bars; Lemon Bars (GF) and Wagon Wheel Bars. From the extremely helpful Five-Ingredient Bakes chapter, I lingered particularly over the Brown Sugar Tahini Scotcheroos (GF) and the Salted Lemon Treacle Tart. Without getting too annoyingly listy, I must just mention some other delights: Magic Custard Cake; Rhubarb and Custard Pavlova (GF); Chocolate Bark with Puffed Rice and Seeds (GF & Vegan). There are so many other recipes that I would love to mention to you, but it is time for me to tell what I’m sharing with you today. It’s the Speculoos Crunch Bars from the No-Bake Treats chapter — the Speculoos part is provided by Lotus Biscoff spread, and some Biscoff biscuits (cookies) — and they are sweet, salty, crunchy, nutty, and chocolatey! In short, irresistible.
One Tin Bakes Easy by Edd Kimber is published by Kyle Books.
Photography by Edd Kimber.
