Whenever I’m feeling down or overly anxious, I go to the same place: The Great British Baking Show. And there is no contestant on all the seasons of the show that made me smile with wonder and whimsy more than Kim-Joy. Her colorful creations with delightful creatures always warmed my heart, so when I saw that she had a book out, it was the first thing on the gift list I gave to my boyfriend. And since he is also a fan of the show and of Kim-Joy, it was the first thing he bought me.

Baking with Kim-Joy is as much of a delight as watching her on television. It’s filled with colorful photos of her bakes, from the Space Turtle Cake to the Tangzhong Cat Buns to the Cardamom, Almond &Honey Bee Cookies to the Pigfiteroles in Mud.

Her recipes for cakes, cookies, and small bakes are filled with flavors, and she includes lots of tips for adding decorations. You can use her ideas if, for example, cats made of meringue or llamas made of cookies are your thing. But if that’s not your thing, you can also use her ideas for more traditional (or just less creature-oriented) bakes. She also includes recipes for vegans, like her Ginger Cookies, Farmyard Animal Doughnuts, and her Vanilla Cake with Lemon Curd & Blackberries.

Baking with Kim-Joy is simply a joy from start to finish. Perfect as a gift for fans of the show or for young bakers trying to find their own decorating style, this delightful cookbook is an inspiration, an instructional book, and just a lovely sweet pick-me-up at the end of a long day. I love it, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!