Beloved Great British Baking Show finalist Ruby Bhogal takes home cooks on a journey with Around the World in 80 Cakes. Baking her way around the globe, Bhogal introduces new flavors as well as ways to reimagine old favorites. Full of tempting photographs, Bhogal's guide entices bakers to try something different. Craving a chocolate cake? Try a Brazilian Bolo de Brigadeiro. Sick of banana bread? How about her Vietnamese Bánh Chuối Nướng, which Bhogal describes "as if bread pudding got together with a banana bread and had a baby."
Each recipe begins with a brief explanation of the bake, along with any changes Bhogal made. Instructions are clearly written, and include a difficulty rating--from a beginner Japanese Cheesecake to an advanced Romanian Amandina, Bhogal offers recipes for a variety of abilities and palates. While true beginner bakers may find the recipes on the complex side, with most having multiple elements, a baker who has already made a Victoria Sponge should have no trouble following along. Around the World in 80 Cakes is a delicious addition to a baker's shelf. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance reviewer and former bookseller