Love is a Pink Cake: Irresistible bakes for morning, noon and night

Who is the author? Claire Ptak hails from California but has made East London her home. She worked as a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse before moving to the UK and becoming a food writer and stylist, working with the likes of Jamie Oliver and Ottolenghi. In 2010 Claire opened the esteemed Hackney institution Violet Bakery (@violetcakeslondon). Claire’s many fans include none other than Meghan Markle, who commissioned Claire to make the stunning lemon and elderflower cake for her wedding to Prince Harry and their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday cake.

What’s it about? Featuring 85 beautifully photographed recipes, Love is a Pink Cake is packed full of tempting cookies, cakes, desserts and savoury favourites. With chapters spanning bakes for mornings, afternoons, after dinner, parties and holidays, you will discover the perfect recipe for every occasion and any time of year, with seasonal ingredients championed throughout. Claire draws inspiration from her homes on either side of the Atlantic, mixing reimagined versions of classic English bakes with Californian staples, and exploring how baking keeps us connected to home. Fundamentally, Love is a Pink Cake is a cookbook about how baking is an act of love, whether it’s the self-loving act of whipping up a batch of biscuits for our next cup of tea or the gesture of making a birthday cake for a loved one.

Recipes we love: Chocolate Violet Babka Buns, Tahini Halva Brownies, Black Tea and Poppy Seed Muffins, and, of course, the recipe for Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s Lemon and Elderflower Wedding Cake.

Perfect for: Home bakers who are looking to elevate their baking skills and bring some of the magic of Violet into their own kitchens.