Book review: Postal Bakes by Lucy Burton

Lucy Burton turned her lockdown baking into a nationwide business, and now shares how to recreate her treats

‘Pivot’ might be a word from the pandemic the industry hopes to leave behind, but many hospitality businesses survived the devastation of Covid thanks only to a little innovation and masses of determination.

Two years post-pandemic and pivoting your operation to send meals in the post has become a staple for some. Rick Stein’s At Home has seen the group venture into e-commerce; Matsudai Ramen’s DIY meal kits were so successful it is about to open its first physical restaurant in Cardiff; and sometimes we all just want to scoff one of Dishoom’s bacon naan rolls in the privacy of our own homes.

If a sideline postal business has ever piqued your interest, Lucy Burton’s Postal Bakes might just give you the inspiration to give it a go. The Leith Cookery School-trained baker and wedding cake-maker set up her postal baking business during the first lockdown, using Instagram to sell boxes of brownies.

Burton’s first book features more than 60 recipes that can all fit through a letterbox, as well as her pandemic business learnings, including postal instructions and notes on shelf life.

The recipe for her best-selling raspberry ripple and brown butter blondies sits next to bakes you’d not necessarily think to trust the Royal Mail with, such as apple and blackberry crumble cake, and rosemary and walnut crackers. Split into brownies and blondies, bars and slabs, cakes, biscuits, confectionery and storecupboard staples, the book provides plenty of inspiration for bakers keen to send a little cheer in the post.

Pistachio and blackberry bakewell slices and a vegan dark chocolate and coconut cake will be sure to excite recipients, along with a staple salted caramel brownie recipe with several ideas for different flavours, such as stout and vanilla cream, rose and raspberry, and a mulled wine version for Christmas gifting.

And if you fancy testing out how robust her baked items are, The Caterer team will happily aid you in your endeavours. Our office address can be found on page 3 of our magazine.

Postal Bakes by Lucy Burton (Welbeck Publishing, £16.99)