Book of Pies by Linda Collister is a delightful and comprehensive guide to the art of pie making. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this book has something for everyone. From savory meat pies to delicious sweet treats, the range of recipes will inspire you to get baking, and the charming illustrations only add to the appeal.

One of the standout features of this book is the wonderful blend of practical advice and historical tidbits. Collister offers a fascinating look at the history of pie-making and its connection to various National Trust properties, which makes this book not only a cookbook but a bit of a history lesson too. Each recipe is thoughtfully introduced, often with background information about the pie's origin or the ingredients, providing context that adds a richer layer to the baking experience.

The book is divided into sections for both sweet and savory pies, as well as a few bonus treats like breads and cakes that pair perfectly with your pie creations. I particularly appreciate how Collister encourages readers to experiment with less traditional meats and ingredients, broadening the scope of what pies can be. The section on making pastry from scratch is invaluable, offering clear instructions that will help even pie novices achieve flaky, buttery results.

In addition to the detailed recipes, Collister provides helpful tips on sourcing ingredients and adjusting recipes for different dietary needs, including vegan and vegetarian substitutions. The layout of the book is easy to follow, although I’d have liked a bit more spacing between recipe steps for better clarity when cooking in the kitchen. Still, the overall design is cozy and inviting, and the cover art is just lovely.

I think this would make a fantastic gift for anyone interested in baking, British culinary history, or even National Trust fans. With a wide range of adaptable recipes and a focus on seasonal ingredients, this book is sure to become a go-to in your kitchen. Whether you're baking a classic meat pie for a cozy dinner or a sweet dessert pie for a special occasion, Book of Pies has everything you need to create a perfect pie from scratch.

Great range of pie recipes - with short tidbits throughout about the history of pie making/consumption in the U.K. I enjoy how the book discusses the connection different National Trust Properties have to pies. Where a type of pie is introduced - it discusses some history behind the pie's origin or choice of ingredients. There's some great tips on sourcing and maintaining your ingredients to ensure the best possible pie creation. I like that it has a range of sweet pies, pastries, savoury pies, and that it encourages the reader to try meat pies outside of the traditional chicken, lamb or beef. It has comprehensive information about how to make different types of pastry from scratch. I love the cover art and the internal art has a cosy feel. It has the bonus of including some sweet treats and bread recipes to complement the pies. I think this would make a great gift for people with an interest in history, baking, seasonal cooking, or National Trust Properties. The content is 5 stars but 1 point less due to preferring more headers/spacing between recipe tasks to aid kitchen usage. This book will enable you to create great pies from scratch. It gives you many recipes to get excited about making throughout the season. There's a pie for everyone in this book. The recipes are adaptable - it talks about substitutions/alternatives to make recipes vegan and vegetarian.

Lots of lovely recipes that I can't wait to get stuck into. It's great that the book starts out with essentials like how to make pastry & custard. Well laid out & easy to follow. Not just pies either, cakes & a few other bits too.

I will definitely be buying a hardcopy of this book. I love the layout and the text, it explains how to make pastry and custard at the beginning, and goes through savoury pie recipes as well as how to make cornish pasties, pork pies, sausage rolls, foccacia and also sweet pies and treats.
Easy to follow recipes and I love the illustrations! I would love to be considerd if you had any physical copies to review before publication date as I would love to make some reels and recipes with a physical copy.

Book of Pies by Linda Collister

Brilliant book , packed full of many different types. Great ideas / how to make different pastry which is essential to good pie making.
As a non meat eater , still a valuable asset to my cookery book collection and many recipes will be used .

A practical and well-presented book about pies. Starts with tips and tools, and has many recipes with lovely illustrations.
I enjoyed the variety of the recipes, and was inspired to come up with my own with a fee changes.