Helen’s lifelong hunt for the perfect choux ends here—and yes, it’s as fluffy and fabulous as she dreamed. Here on Cooking Our Books, we whip up Mandarin Choux Buns—airy, elegant, and absolutely irresistible - a swirl of vanilla cream, zesty mandarins, and rich chocolate sauce tucked into a pillowy choux shell. The vegan version didn’t quite rise to the occasion, but we still had fun with this one.

📸 Recipe and photos:
Find them on Instagram @cookingourbooks1

🎶 Theme music:
“Josie Has the Upper Hand” by Josh Woodward – licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

🎧 Tune in, laugh along, and share your own baking stories with us on Instagram!

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Helen’s son Cameron joins us to settle a long-standing question: which of the three Chokky Rocks recipes in the cookbooks is the best? These classic cornflake biscuits are easy to make, super tasty, and take us on a nostalgic trip.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC & PA microphone feedback (2).wav by FreqMan -- https://freesound.org/s/42930/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Just four ingredients, one pot, and a lot of quick action. We tackle a deceptively simple Australian Women's Weekly recipe for Vienna Almonds—and it’s trickier than it looks. Plus, Helen spills a few stories from her Europe adventure.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

It's time to make hot cross buns, and we've got a perfect recipe - they're sweet, spiced, and irresistibly fluffy buns— great for Easter or whenever the craving hits. Plus, we dive into the buzz around new hot cross bun flavours that are going viral on your socials.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

We welcome our sister-in-law Maria as she guides us through the art of making Involtini, a versatile dish that can be prepared in various ways, whether with meat or as a vegetarian option. Maria reminisces about her mother's culinary legacy and talks a bit about her extensive cooking experience.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

It's back to the late 1960s to make Brandy Snaps, a dessert which packs a sugary punch. Despite appearing to be a complicated recipe the only real challenge lies in mastering the rolling required to make them look the part.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

As Christmas approaches, we're embracing the festive spirit by baking a Light Christmas Cake from a vintage 1980s magazine recipe. It's a true gem! We also discuss how the holiday season can sometimes bring a bit of stress.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

Our sister Wendy joins us for a nostalgic journey back to the 80s, to her Year 9 home science class where she first baked this cake. We reminisce about teen idols, the challenges of adolescence, and the way our food choices have broadened over time.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

Neither of us has ever cooked or eaten a soufflé before; how challenging could it be? As it turns out, not very. We'll tackle this classic French dish and explore other inventive soufflés in the cookbooks.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0

We make a swiss roll and reflect on the challenges of getting this one right.

Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1

Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0