Bake My best ever recipes for the classics

Zealous fans of The Great British Bake Off have established a cult following around Paul Hollywood, whose movie-star looks and bright smile have made him instantly recognizable. Born into a family of bakers in the North of England, Hollywood worked as head baker for a thriving chain of hotels before launching his television career. American fans of Bake Off will recognize some of these decidedly English cakes and sweets, such as the Victoria sandwich. Those who lean away from cakes and sugary pastries will nevertheless find themselves entranced with Hollywood's aromatic cheesy bread, rich with Parmesan, cheddar, and brie. Chapatis, pitas, and tortillas are just a few international doughs that expand the book's outlook beyond North Atlantic traditions. Desserts feature British standards such as sticky toffee pudding and banoffee pie, while pecan pie and key-lime pie are an admiring nod to American classics. Recipes are generally adapted to American kitchens, listing metric weights for those who appreciate the importance of weighing ingredients for baking consistency. Some ingredients adhere to British custom, such as superfine sugar rather than granulated. Color photographs display both finished products and step-by-step instructions to aid first-time bakers. Hollywood's international fame will ramp up demand for this cookbook.

In this nostalgic paean to his baking career, Great British Baking Show judge Hollywood (A Baker's Life) offers up a delectable jaunt through his favorite classic British and American bakes. While the book is loaded with easy-to-follow recipes for a raft of familiar treats, Hollywood's "real passion," bread baking, is where his collection shines. In addition to British standards like soft white barm cakes and bin lids (rolls who get their name from a resemblance to the tops of trash cans), Hollywood also delivers recipes for raised loaves and flatbreads from around the world, including a light and fragrant orange brioche, and a sesame seed-topped Greek lagana, an homage to the years Hollywood spent in Cyprus. Pizza and doughnut recipes abound, including, notably, a prosciutto and mushroom pizza, and decadent chocolate-filled doughnuts drizzled with, yes, more chocolate ("If you're trying to lose some weight," Hollywood advises, "look away now!"). American classics get a nod in such offerings as a key lime pie and Baked Alaska, while British desserts are given their rightful due via, among other mouthwatering recipes, a date- and toffee-enriched sticky toffee pudding. Equally pleasing are the step-by-step photos provided alongside Hollywood's no-nonsense advice: "Just read the recipe all the way through beforehand and you'll be absolutely fine." Fans will eat this up. (July)