There is something uniquely comforting about baking: it forces us to slow down for a while and take the time to share some of the finer things in life. With chapters devoted to scones, muffins, brownies, tea breads, biscuits, slices, savoury breads, cakes - and a whole chapter of chocolate cake recipes, this book has something for everyone. Belinda is always at your side with a gentle word and a helping hand for those who've never baked but would love to have the confidence to give it a go - as well as her longtime favourite recipes, such as triple chocolate brownies and easy-peasy Christmas cake, for those already bitten by the baking bug! Beautifully illustrated with colour photographs.

Food writer and journalist Helen Greenwood has teamed up with Tim Harper and Ruth Hobday of PQ Blackwell to pay tribute to the favourite baked treats of many an Australian childhood as well as the innovative use of native ingredients and cosmopolitan influences in this must-have kitchen companion. Along with some recipe favourites from The Great Australian Cookbook, the trio have sourced more than 90 brand-new recipes from cooks, chefs, patissiers and bakers from around Australia. Tried and true Aussie classics (Anzac biscuits, trifle and sausage rolls included) are joined by recipes that showcase innovation and our unique heritage. From quandongs to quinces, quiches, kindlech and baklawa plus the new kids on the block, the not-so-naughty gluten- and sugar-free treats the result is the quintessential collection of Australian baking from our finest bakers. Along with dough and pastry basics, biscuits and slices, cakes and loaves, muffins, cupcakes, scones and pastries, The Great Australian Baking Book contains an inspired collection of pies and tarts, savoury snacks and desserts.

Who can resist the shiny golden crust of a pie, both savoury and sweet? Think of meat pies with their tender chunks of meat in an aromatic gravy. Or seafood pies, creamy and rich. Vegetable and cheese pie, egg pies (and tarts), they're all here. There's also information on making simple pastry and how to use it, blindbaking, storing pastry, both homemade and storebought. In short, everything you need to know about pies.

Belinda Jeffery baked her first cake at the age of five or six, standing by her beloved mother's side. Ever since then, baking has been her passion. In Mix & Bake, she shares 120 of her favourite recipes for cakes, scones, muffins, biscuits, slices, quick breads, pies and tarts, in the hope that they will become your favourites too. The sweet-toothed will be unable to resist macadamia and chocolate chip brownies, a gooey butterscotch peach cake or a mocha cake with shards of coffee bean brittle. Make a simple meal out of dill, ricotta and parmesan muffins by adding a big bowl of salad, or rustle up some pumpernickel and polenta soda bread to serve with soup on a chilly afternoon. Belinda's encouraging words and clear instructions will inspire even the most inexperienced baker, while her gentle advice gives every chance of success. Beautifully illustrated with photographs by Belinda's long-time collaborator Rodney Weidland, this compendium of timeless baking recipes is bound to become a much-loved and well-used addition to your kitchen bookshelf.