Simple French Baking: A Simple French Baking Love Story

Great British Bake Off alum Lagrève brings her signature French aesthetic to this sweet and unfussy debut cookbook, a clear love letter to her past growing up in rural Brittany. The book’s 80 precise recipes are divided into six neat sections, each (like their contents) introduced primarily by their French names: En Dessert (desserts), Gâteaux (cakes), Pâtisseries (pastries); Le Goûter (afternoon snacks), Bonbons & Biscuits (sweets & biscuits), and Petits Extras (accompaniments). From start to finish, Lagrève’s focus is on simple French classics—the baking done by Maman on the family farm, not the laborious confections sometimes demanded by GBBO’s producers. Summery, light-filled photographs of finished dishes surrounded by flowers and embroidered linens confirm this intentional informality, while subtly reaffirming the power of a French dessert made to perfection. Typical recipes include Maman’s tarte tartin, carrot cake that even French people adore, and cookies three ways.