"Baking goes hand in hand with existing, it's something I do almost every day, something I do compulsively, that I both want and need to do, that I love. If I look at this collection of recipes, I feel a huge sense of pleasure at putting everything I've enjoyed baking up until now in writing.

"So with longevity at its heart, this is a collection of unapologetically classic recipes. I have tried to squeeze absolutely every single favorite cake, cookie, meringue and crepe into one volume, including the less fashionable ones that I still love and feel should be up there with the others. These are the cakes that I return to again and again, tweaking this and changing that, trying out my mum's version or a friend's mum's version, or making it in a different way. The aim of this book is that it should be lovely but real."

In this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book Annie Bell shares her passion for over 200 of our best-loved bakes. An internationally inspired collection of recipes, they are accessible to everyone from the baking beginner to the experienced cook, require no complicated equipment and include a ban on piping bags. Annie explains the techniques that produce perfect results every time, whether baking a chocolate cake, pound cake, cookies, muffins, brownies, tarts or meringues and provides helpful advice on the best mixers and essential cake pans that will help you along the way.

With mouthwatering sweet treats for all occasions, from children’s birthdays to Christmas, Annie shares her uncomplicated, foolproof and inspirational recipes that will ensure you never again bake a cake that fails to rise or sinks in the middle. With practical tips and recipes for everything from the Ultimate Chocolate Brownies, to Proust's Madeleines, New York Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, to Good Old-fashioned Apple Pie and Simple Crepes, all packed into one practical volume, this is an indispensable bible for anyone who loves to bake.