Rachel Allen
Rachel Allen left home at just 18 to pursue a career in cooking. Originally from Dublin, Ireland she moved to County Cork to study at the famous Ballymaloe Cookery School. Soon after graduating from the prestigious culinary school, she worked at the Ballymaloe House Hotel testing recipes and then onto teaching at the school. Her first television series, called Rachel’s Favourite Food, was broadcast in 2004 throughout Ireland, Canada, Australia and elsewhere in Europe. A book of the same name accompanied the series, giving viewers a true insight into Rachel’s special brand of family-orientated cooking and recipes. Since then she has authored more than eight different cookery books (opens in new tab), based around baking and home cooking. She’s particularly famous for her baking recipes, such as the delicious walnut and American frosting cake (opens in new tab), as well as simpler recipes like basic fairy cakes (opens in new tab). Rachel’s books have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. As well as being a TV chef and author, Rachel writes regular columns for Irish magazine, The Sunday Tribune. In the past, she has also contributed to BBC Good Food magazine and AWT at Home magazine. Alongside writing, Rachel also teaches at the same school she trained. She regularly appears on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and has her own popular cooking show on Irelands RTE network. In March 2017, Rachel Allen opened her first restaurant. Dwyers of Cork on Washington Street in Cork is a joint business venture with her husand, Isaac, and publican Paul Montgomery. Appearing on the show over a number of years, in September 2019 Rachel returned as a judge and co-host with Marco Pierre White on the popular Irish television series, The Restaurant. Rachel lives in County Cork with her husband, Issac. The couple have three children together - Luka, Joshua and Scarlett. From simple one-pot meals and roast dinners to your favourite sweet treats, we’ve got all of the best Rachel Allen recipes (opens in new tab) to choose from.
Latest articles by Rachel Allen
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Rachel Allen's alphabet soup
Use whatever fun shapes you can get hold of for this kids' favourite - small rings, tiny shells, little bows, stars or moons. You can also use chorizo or chicken instead of bacon
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Allen's walnut cake with American frosting
Walnut cake with American frosting is so worth the effort, with a rich cake sandwiched with vanilla buttercream and covered all over with American frosting
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Allen's rocky road
Try Rachel Allen's version of a classic rocky road recipe to indulge your sweet tooth. Chocolates, biscuits and marshmallows set in melted chocolate -what's not to love about that?
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Allen’s lemon and herb roast chicken
Where do celebrity chefs get their love of food from? Their mums of course. TV chef Rachel Allen shares a family favourite, with her mum's chicken recipe
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Allen's chicken casserole
You can serve this warming Rachel Allen chicken casserole without the dumpling topping and cook on its own, or top with peeled whole potatoes
By Rachel Allen • Last updated
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Rachel Allen's salmon fish fingers
Swap salmon for another chunky fish like cod or haddock to make these fish fingers, and serve with peas, boiled potatoes or chips
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Khoo's spring lamb stew
Give your spring mealtimes a lovely French twist by making this lamb stew. Rachel Khoo, star of BBC show The Little Paris Kitchen, gives us her easy take on what the French call Navarin d’agneau
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Allen's chocolate sticky toffee pudding
This chocolate sticky toffee pudding is ideal when you can't make up your mind between sticky toffee pudding or a chocolate dessert and you want both
By Rachel Allen • Published
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Rachel Allen's red velvet cake
Learn how to make red velvet cake with our classic red velvet cake recipe from Rachel Allen.
By Rachel Allen • Published