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The National Trust Book of Biscuits

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Treat yourself to over 70 delicious and easy biscuit and cookie recipes. Biscuits are the ultimate teatime treat. No cup of tea (or coffee) should be without one. This tempting collection of recipes from expert baker Linda Collister includes all the classics. There are ginger snaps and shortbread petticoat tails, deluxe chocolate chip cookies, Florentines and macarons, tiffin and flapjacks, as well as biscotti and savory biscuits. And if you’re looking for something a little different, how about Chocolate, Sour Cherry and Pistachio Cookies? Sea Salt Praline Biscotti? Or Black Olive Palmiers? There’s a biscuit for every occasion. This beautifully illustrated book contains a generous side serving of history and is full of delicious tried-and-tested recipes that you’ll want to make again and again.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2026

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Linda Collister

128 books23 followers

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Sheila.
3,382 reviews142 followers
December 1, 2025
I received a free copy of, The National Trust Book of Biscuits, by Linda Collister, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not realize their were so many biscuits/cookies out there. They all look so good too. Some of these biscuits ive never heard of and some are old favorites. From plain to chocolate, fruit, nuts and spices, there is a recipe for so many biscuits in this book!
Profile Image for Valerie Thirkettle-Kayser.
180 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 6, 2026
I always enjoy the National Trust Cookbooks and I thought this one was another success.
It looks very nice and I like the illustrations, which make it stand it in comparison to many other very photographic cookbooks, although some readers will find that they would prefer to have photos of what these biscuits should look like.
After an introduction that presents the history of biscuits in British culture and some information about ingredients and techniques, the book offers over 70 recipes for biscuits.
I like the fact that the recipes give some ideas of the history of these biscuits or some elements of context, including some of the National Trust properties that are proud to have created them. They are very well presented and very clear.
Because of the wide range of biscuits presented, there is definitely something for everyone. Of course, there are many classics, like digestive biscuits, cream crackers, shortbread, ginger snaps or millionaire shortbread. But sweet lovers will also salivate when reading about the Florentines, the maple pecan cookies, the many types of macaroons, the squares (I love the lemon squares) and they will completely lose themselves in the chapter of chocolate biscuits.
I personally like the savoury delights so I have made a long baking list, especially the cheese marmite walnut coins, the cheese palmiers and the cream crackers, a classic but probably tasking a lot nicer when homemade.
Another great National Trust book, which I can definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and National Trust Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Linda Hill.
1,546 reviews80 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 2, 2026
Over seventy biscuits recipes across 7 sweet and savoury themes.

What a super little book! The Book of Biscuits would make a fantastic gift for novice and experienced baker alike.

Firstly, it’s beautifully presented. It’s compact enough to fit an apron pocket but has a high quality and robust cover that will withstand much handling over the years. This is a book that can be passed down through the family as favourite biscuits are discovered. There are lovely watercolour illustrations and each of the sections has a different coloured traditional gingham edging so that this little book ignites memories of school baking as well being attractive now.

Alongside the recipes are snippets of information so that we find out, for example, that a type of macaroon can be traced to AD 791, or that Dorothy Wordsworth had more than one recipe for gingerbread. This adds to the attraction of Book of Biscuits as a gift book.

However, it is, of course, the recipes that are the star turn here. Each has an introduction with the kind of detail mentioned above or with tips for cooking, things to look out for with oven variations and advice about storing the finished product. Ingredients and quantities are clearly presented and the methods easy to follow so that a cook of any ability can create a successful biscuit.

Book of Biscuits is lovely. It’s accessible, gorgeous in presentation and a real treat for the kitchen. I’m off to make some Old-fashioned Double Ginger Snaps. Just don’t tell my husband!
Profile Image for Sue.
1,396 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 8, 2026
Those of you who have visited a National Trust tea room will be familiar with the comforting array of cakes and biscuits for you to enjoy with a well-earned beverage, post-NT garden/house ramble.

This little gem is from the National Trust Collection, and allows you to recreate the biscuity-side of the NT tea room experience for yourself, at home!

Beginning with a fascinating introduction to the general history of bicuits, Collister then provides 70 recipes for you to make - each with a little bit of trivia about the biscuit in question. Almost all of the biscuits here are on the sweet-side, as expected, but there are a few yummy-sounding savoury treats too.

The instructions are clear, and comprehensive, and the ingredients straightforward to source - you can easily get right into biscuit making with some basic ingedients, which I really liked. And the selection on offer ranges from super-easy (suitable for beginners) to fancy if you are up for more of a challenge (experience recommended), which makes it a useful addition to any cook book shelf.

I really enjoyed perusing this little book, and will definitely be making many of these. My only criticism is, although there are a few illustrations of the biscuits scattered throughout, there are no photographs of the finished products - which would be helpful when it comes to the more ambitious recipes.

Get the kettle on, and lay out your fine china (or not). Best sampled with your pinkie finger raised in a refined manner, as you sup your tea! 😁
Profile Image for Rob.
256 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2026
With thanks to the author, publishers Collins Reference and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I primarily got this book for my daughter, who loves to bake homemade cookies and buns, so that she could hopefully discover some new tasty recipes to try out. And of course she can rely on me to fulfil my paternal role by eating said tasty treats!

The recipes in the book cover a wide range of tastes and origins. There are biscuits from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the US to name but a few, while ingredients range from the expected ones such as chocolate and nuts to spices such as chili and garam masala. Most recipes also come with some background historical information which is both interesting and entertaining to read.

The “Good Things to Know” section at the start of the book has lots of useful nuggets of information to consider for any type of biscuit making, and will likely have something new for bakers of all levels of experience.

In today’s world where people are people are perhaps a little more conscious of their diet and the quality of food that they consume, some information about the nutritional content for each of the recipes would have been useful, although I realise that this might not be the perspective that this book was compiled from. Still, it struck me as I read through it that such details would allow the reader to hone in on recipes that best fit with their chosen dietary requirements.
Profile Image for A Bookworm Crafts.
364 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 24, 2026
The National Trust Book of Biscuits is a celebration of the biscuit in all its forms.

The opening pages include a short history of biscuits and helpful guidance before the recipes are divided into clear sections: Nice and Easy, All About Chocolate, Something Fancy, Squares and Bars, Biscotti, and Savoury.

Each recipe follows the same structure: a short presentation of the history of the biscuit, the number of servings, the ingredients list, step-by-step instructions, and storage recommendations. Some recipes also include variations that can be made by swapping or adding ingredients. However, there are no prep or cooking times listed at the top, which is worth noting if you like to plan your baking around timings, as I do.

As with all the other books in this series, there are no photographs. I quite like Louise Morgan’s whimsical illustrations, but if you like having photos to see what the finished bake should look like, you may miss that visual reference.

I tried the Anzac biscuits and they were a real hit with my family. I’ve also bookmarked the maple pecan cookies, chocolate oaties, and the Easy Millionaire’s Shortbread for future baking sessions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Collins Reference for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for A.J. Sefton.
Author 5 books61 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 9, 2026
For those of us who love traditional British biscuits, this book is a must-have for your cookery bookshelf. All the popular and best of British biscuits are there: chocolate biscuits, digestives, flapjacks, Viennese whirls, macaroons, ginger snaps, Florientines, tiffin...the yummy list goes on.

The book is essentially a recipe book, but it includes a brief history of most of the biscuits, and I love the history of food. The recipes are clearly laid out and easy to follow, with suggestions for making them vegetarian or gluten free if possible. Also includes a few fancy biscuits like sea salt praline biscotti and sour cherry and pistachio cookies as well as savoury biscuits and crackers. All of the ingredients are readily available in typical supermarkets.

​Like Collister's previous National Trust book, Book of Pies, the design is similar so they would look great on the shelf next to each other. With a bright pastel cover and lovely illustrations by Louise Morgan, this is a rustic style of a book that would look good in a farmhouse style of kitchen. The pages are colourfully bordered and often feature a pattern that is reminiscent of gingham tablecloths or picnic rugs. All very nostalgic.

Nothing beats making your own biscuits with fresh produce. And remember - every cup of tea needs a biscuit.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,803 reviews135 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 27, 2025
When I saw this book, I knew it was something I would adore. After all, it is a National Trust Edition, and I have several of their books that I have bought over the years, and yes, I do use their recipes!

This is a book of biscuits, a staple in quite a lot of households in the UK. Biscuits are a comfort food and have a history of their own. Elevensies in the UK means a cuppa and a biscuit; it is no different when you are out and about, although sometimes cake is a good option.

This book lays out so many different things, the history of biscuits, sorts and types, recipes, little anecdotes, tips, and pointers and some mouth-watering pictures. It is what you would expect from this type of publication and even though I read this on a Kindle, I can imagine it in a hardback copy for sale in one of the NT properties.

With any recipe book that focuses on a certain food, there will be old recipes, tried and trusted ones, as well as the old favourites and this book is no exception. The book is laid out so you can follow the recipes easily and create some biscuits of your own.

I really liked this book and found it interesting, and I did find some recipes that I had not come across before, so I was very happy with that. This is a lovely book and one I would be happy to recommend.
Profile Image for Lucy.
197 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 27, 2026
I was very keen to read The National Trust Book of Biscuits by Linda Collister, especially as I already own several other National Trust recipe books, including Scones, Afternoon Tea, and Crumbles. This book follows the same familiar and appealing format, with clearly presented recipes, helpful food history notes, and extra tips and details throughout. The chapters are sensibly organised by type of biscuit, which makes it easy to browse.
Each recipe clearly sets out the ingredients, and the methods are well explained and easy to follow. The book is beautifully illustrated and well laid out, with a good index and clear chapter structure. I was particularly pleased to see a chapter devoted to savoury biscuits as well. With around 70 biscuit recipes included, there’s plenty to choose from, and I’ll definitely be trying some; starting with the Millionaire’s Shortbread and the Cheese Biscotti. This would make a lovely gift, and I’m very happy to recommend it. I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Jennyfer.
540 reviews37 followers
April 14, 2026
The National Trust Book of Biscuits is a no-nonsense book of classic, heritage biscuit recipes the are true to the National Trust ethos.

The layout is what you'd expect from a CWA or school fete cookbook - text heavy, and with hand-drawn illustrations sparingly throughout the book rather than glossy photos. The book is all about simplicity.

The important part - the recipes are clear and easy to follow. They are written for an English/Commonwealth audience and all the measurements are in metric. They are broken down into the following categories: "Nice and Easy", "All about Chocolate", "Something Fancy", "Squares and Bars" , "Biscotti" and "Savoury"

My ownly criticism is that there are few illistrations of the actual biscuits themselves, which could be a blocker for those unfamiliar with the recipes (eg, I have no idea what Tiffin is!) - however we all have the internet at our disposal, and we can read and hopefully work things out from context clues.

~This is a NetGalley book. All opinions are my own~

9,500 reviews135 followers
April 16, 2026
Just what you'd expect – a bunch of recipes in honour of the humble biscuit, cookie and oaty pocket of goodness. The introduction to each can be a touch longer than you'd hope – some of course, if they have a specific National Trust connection, have to mention the house that sells the most of them in the NT cafe – but the recipes are clearly given, the page mostly full with clear text, and the whole pretty appealing. Don't come expecting a lot of photos – many of the images are just as decoration, such as a bag of flour, and not as honest representations of what you'd get. Subsections of shortbreads and choc chip cookies are included, as are several recipes from further afield than Britain's National Trust covers, such as lebkuchen. So whether you wanted to make your own brandy snaps, or even a digestive, you should find the means to get somewhere close. And if you didn't want to, well you probably will after perusing this. A healthy four stars.
Profile Image for Morag Murray.
441 reviews11 followers
November 30, 2025
A beautiful recipe book featuring 6 chapters of delicious biscuit recipes, these are broadly categorised into easy, chocolate, fancy, bars/squares, biscotti and savoury. The book is beautifully illustrated, and this makes it feel as cosy and comforting as the recipes themselves!

In terms of 'bang for your buck' this recipe book is a great choice - there are loads of recipes to choose from and something for any and every taste. I was drawn to the oat and raisin cookies, and delighted that they turned out beautifully. I have plans to tackle the lemon squares next and think it will be quite a while before I run out recipes to tempt me!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.
374 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 8, 2026
I’m a huge fan of the National Trust’s books, especially their recipes, and this is another brilliant addition. There’s a wonderful range of biscuits covered, old favourites from all around the country and further afield, and arranged into levels of difficulty so it’s very easy to choose an option based on time available as well as taste, and makes it very accessible for children or less experienced bakers. I also always enjoy the lovely illustrations that are used rather than photos, which still give you the idea of how the biscuit should (should!) ultimately look but make for a beautiful book as well. I’ve made a lot of recipes from the other books and they’ve always been very easy to follow and reliable and I look forward to making rather too many of these too!
Profile Image for Kira K.
646 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a lovely little cookbook for biscuits and would be a great accompaniment to baking with children. There being a whole section on chocolate is great for a chocoholic like me and having one for “Something Fancy” highlights great biscuits to show off for company. The recipes themselves are easy to follow and don’t overcomplicate things like some cookbooks do. The only potential downside is that there are no pictures of the biscuits throughout the book but I have to admit that the illustrations remind me of a cooking book that I had growing up.
Profile Image for Tania.
1,084 reviews132 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 28, 2026
I have been making a concerted effort to cut out upfs from my diet, so this is actually very handy. I don't eat an awful lot of biscuits anyway, but there is a good variety in here, starting with the basics, (I am going to pick up the ingredients for the ginger snaps, and have a go at these this weekend). There is a chapter on fancy biscuits, (beyond me at the moment), traybakes, biscotti, and savoury biscuits, many of which I look forward to trying out.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
Profile Image for Hannah.
41 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2025
A lovely collection of a variety of biscuit recipes - from easy to more time consuming recipes. I tried my hand at making the Mocha Kisses recipe and they turned out great. I liked the history behind some of the recipes, especially ones tied to National Trust places - wish there were more like that listed in the book. Overall, a cute cookie bookie!

Thank you Collins Reference & NetGalley for this ARC.
Profile Image for Roo.
731 reviews9 followers
January 6, 2026
A great little cookbook filled with recipes of biscuits, there’s macarons, shortbread and cookies, what’s not to love. I really enjoy these cookbooks, the history lesson was a great introduction to biscuits and the recipes are wonderful. I’ve tried a few and the biscuits went down well. Lots more to try. A great addition to anybody who likes to bake. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
Profile Image for Emma.
4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 16, 2026
a delightful collection of classic and creative biscuit recipes. With clear instructions and a cosy, traditional feel, it’s an enjoyable book for bakers of all levels. Perfect for any biscuit lover looking to try something new at teatime. I received this as a free ARC via NetGalley and the publishers in return get an unbiased review.
94 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 27, 2026
This is another book in the National Trust series of recipe books. Small hardback books with beautiful illustrations and some recipes from their cafes.
It has seven sections of recipes and includes sweet and some savoury.
I have tried the ginger biscuits as they are my family’s favourite style of biscuits. It was a great success.
It will make a lovely present for Easter or a birthday.
Profile Image for Pauline.
1,036 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 14, 2025
A book full of recipes for biscuits with detailed instructions and lists of ingredients to make tasty biscuits.
Some of these recipes I have never heard of before but I am looking forward to baking them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Collins Reference for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Diane DeJohn.
Author 1 book
May 14, 2026
This is a great book of legendary recipes.

I made the Ginger Snaps, and they were better than any store-bought ones.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves baking.
Profile Image for Shonaigh.
51 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April 22, 2026
A very comprrehensive and beautifully presented book that is so informative and full of great facts about the origin of tradional and regional biscuits. Very inspiring and has got me in the mood to bake. I don’t often make biscuits, I have a real savoury palate. My partner can eat a pack a day! He really enjoys the shortbread and empire biscuits I make for him. The book has given me so many ideas. They make really nice gifts too. I’m part of a family that appreciates their food so edible gifts are always a winner!

I already own The National Trust Book of Soups. This biscuit version does not disappoint. The illustrations are beautiful and the recipes are easy to follow. It would make a lovely gift. Thank you very much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date. I am increasingly drawn to e-cookery books due to the groaning shelf of cookbooks in my kitchen!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews