Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way
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What to look for
Recipes you will actually cook beat beautiful photos; check the ingredients are easy to find.
Models worth comparing
From publishers' details and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not read cover to cover by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.
Beginner
Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook (Mary Berry)
New and everyday cooks who want one dependable book of British family favourites, bakes and puddings.
Updated 2024 edition with more than 650 recipes
Includes core cooking techniques alongside the recipes
Wide range, from cottage pie and lasagne to cakes, pastry and soufflés
Watch out for: Leans towards traditional dishes, so adventurous cooks may find it on the safe side.
We are gathering the customer ratings this board needs from UK shops. When they are in, the ranked list replaces this guide at the same address, scored the way every board is: star ratings weighed by how many people left them. How we score.