I Tried Lottie Bedlow’s “Baking Imperfect”, Here’s What Happened
I wanted to test Lottie Bedlow’s mantra, “Who cares as long as it tastes good.” I picked her Triple Chocolate caramel cookies, a bold flavor choice, and baked them with a relaxed mindset.
Why I Picked This Recipe
Chocolate and salted caramel bring big flavor, even if shapes turn out odd. The method is simple, home friendly, and true to Lottie’s flavor first approach. You can see that spirit in her book, Baking Imperfect, and in the North American edition from Thunder Bay Press.
The Bake, the Mess, the Wins
Mixing got chaotic, flour spilled, chocolate chunks looked like shards. Shaping went uneven, a few cookies cracked. They spread more than I planned. Edges browned faster than centers.
| What Worked | What Did Not | Lesson Learned |
|---|---|---|
| Deep chocolate taste, nice salt hit | Over spread, a few underbaked centers | Chill dough longer, space cookies wider |
| Crisp edges, soft middles | Uneven shapes, some caramel leaks | Flavor wins, looks can follow later |
Letting go felt good. I focused on taste and texture. The result pleased everyone at home.
Lottie’s Top 3 Tips for Imperfect Baking
- Focus on flavor (use quality chocolate, it hides many sins). See her book pages for flavor notes and fixes, publisher overview.
- Embrace the fix (keep rescue moves ready, like glaze or extra chunks). The US edition notes quick saves and pitfalls, book page.
- Laugh at disasters (learn, adjust, and bake again). Her social posts show this playful mindset, see @lottiegotcake.
Our Recipe Test, Triple Chocolate caramel cookies
Inspired by Lottie’s flavor first style. Measurements are home friendly. Adjust to taste.
Ingredients
- 200 g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 150 g light brown sugar
- 100 g caster sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 250 g plain flour
- 30 g cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder, 0.5 tsp fine salt
- 250 g mixed chocolate, chopped (dark, milk, white)
- 120 g soft caramel pieces, plus extra to drizzle
- Flaky salt for finishing
Steps
- Heat oven to 180°C, line two trays with parchment.
- Cream butter with both sugars until light.
- Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt. Fold into the bowl.
- Fold in chocolate and caramel pieces. Chill 30 to 60 minutes.
- Scoop balls, space well. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, watch edges.
- Cool on tray, drizzle extra caramel, add a pinch of flaky salt.
Timing and yield
- Prep time, 20 minutes plus chilling
- Bake time, 10 to 12 minutes per tray
- Yield, about 14 to 16 cookies
Bonus Recipe, Quarantine florentines
A nut and fruit cookie, thin, crisp, and chocolate backed. Make it neat, or keep it rustic.
Ingredients
- 60 g unsalted butter
- 60 g caster sugar
- 60 g golden syrup or honey
- 60 g plain flour
- 120 g mixed nuts, chopped
- 60 g mixed dried fruit
- 150 g dark chocolate, for backing
- Pinch of salt, orange zest optional
Steps
- Heat oven to 170°C, line two trays.
- Melt butter, sugar, syrup in a pan, remove from heat.
- Stir in flour, nuts, dried fruit, salt, zest.
- Drop small spoonfuls, leave space, they spread a lot.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes, edges turn amber.
- Cool fully. Melt dark chocolate and spread on backs.
- Set until firm. Store crisp in a tin.
What Is Lottie Bedlow Doing Now in 2025
Lottie keeps sharing real world baking, with humor and useful notes. See recent posts on Instagram. For a 2025 slice of life, enjoy this April post about chocolate digestives, view here. You can also browse the official GBBO Instagram for show updates.
More On Lottie Bedlow
Learn more about her book on the UK publisher page, Hamlyn, Baking Imperfect. See the US and Canada listing here, Simon and Schuster. For event bios and appearances, see Great British Food Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What series of Bake Off was Lottie Bedlow on
She appeared on the 2020 series, also known as series 11 on Channel 4. See event and bio pages for more context.
What is Lottie Bedlow’s cookbook called
The book is called Baking Imperfect. It celebrates flavor first baking, with fixes for common mistakes.
Does Lottie Bedlow still bake
Yes, she shares new bakes and playful tests on Instagram. Her tone stays warm, helpful, and human.
