The National Trust Book of Biscuits (Linda Collister, National Trust)

The publisher’s presentation

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 reading experience

I always enjoy the National Trust Cookbooks and I thought this one was another success.
It looks very nice and I like the illustrations, which make it stand it in comparison to many other very photographic cookbooks, although some readers will find that they would prefer to have photos of what these biscuits should look like. 
After an introduction that presents the history of biscuits in British culture and some information about ingredients and techniques, the book offers over 70 recipes for biscuits. 
I like the fact that the recipes give some ideas of the history of these biscuits or some elements of context, including some of the National Trust properties that are proud to have created them. They are very well presented and very clear. 
Because of the wide range of biscuits presented, there is definitely something for everyone. Of course, there are many classics, like digestive biscuits, cream crackers, shortbread, ginger snaps or millionaire shortbread. But sweet lovers will also salivate when reading about the Florentines, the maple pecan cookies, the many types of macaroons, the squares (I love the lemon squares) and they will completely lose themselves in the chapter of chocolate biscuits.
I personally like the savoury delights so I have made a long baking list, especially the cheese marmite walnut coins, the cheese palmiers and the cream crackers, a classic but probably tasking a lot nicer when homemade.
Another great National Trust book, which I can definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and National Trust Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

The National Trust also has lots of recipes on their website. Make sure you take a look, it will make you very hungry!