I’ve been watching reruns of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix recently. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, each season features 12 amateur bakers from around the UK as they compete for the title of Britain’s Best Amateur Baker. The contestants complete weekly challenges judged by two celebrity bakers, and someone is eliminated every episode. Set in the bucolic English countryside, The Great British Baking Show is nothing short of delightful. 

It’s the perfect escape at the end of the day when I want to avoid doomscrolling. After all, the worst that can happen is that a contestant under-proofs their dough or has a dreaded soggy bottom on their tart. It's like brain candy. For one blissful hour, my mind can focus on bread and cakes, biscuits and tarts (in other words, my favorite things to eat). If you’re interested in watching, I highly recommend starting with the earlier seasons. 

Like many others, I’ve been doing a lot of baking as I spend more time at home, and I have found it to be therapeutic. There’s something comforting about measuring ingredients, kneading dough, and watching wet batter transform into golden deliciousness. I wanted to share some recipes that have been particularly successful. I hope you find them as tasty and enjoyable as I have! 

King Arthur Flour 
King Arthur Flour, now known as King Arthur Baking Company, has a fantastic collection of free recipes. Here are a few that I’ve tried that have come out beautifully! 

Paul Hollywood 
Paul Hollywood is one of the judges of The Great British Baking Show. He has some really fun recipes, such as British-style pies and pasties, which can be hard to find in the US. His cookbooks also make great gifts for friends and family who like to bake. You can find a sample of his book, How to Bake, here. Try the lemon meringue pie. You won't regret it! 

Have a baking recipe you’d like to share? Comment down below!