Cotswold Flour News & Baking Tips


Meet our amazing Star Bakers of the Week, find useful baking tips and tricks and read the latest news from Bertie Matthews and the Cotswold Flour Mill

Matthew Cotswold Flour Celebrates Real Bread Week 17th - 25th February 2024
  Matthews Cotswold Flour, Britain’s leading speciality flour producer, is eagerly anticipating Real Bread Week (17th-25th February 2024) and hoping...
Efficiency Meets Deliciousness: Top Tips for Streamlining Batch Baking
  Whether you’re a busy parent or an avid baker, batch baking is a popular technique used to save time...
Cotswold Rye Flour - Flavourful and Nutrient Rich
Our rye flour is a premium product that comes from generations of experience and passion. We work with local and...
How to Make Sourdough Bread | The Ultimate Guide to Sourdough Bread
How to make a simple sourdough bread loaf for beginners with step-by-step instructions including making a starter. You can also...
Bread Making – Ultimate Guide & Tips on How to Make Bread
How to make bread - white and brown loaves by hand using your oven and in bread maker Homemade bread...
Pastry Making – Ultimate Guide & Tips on How to Make Pastry
How to make pastry for pies Pies can be sweet or savoury, and can be made with shortcrust or puff...
Shortcrust vs puff pastry
  For me, a pie is all about the pastry! It has to be perfect and needs to hold up...
An Ooni isn’t just for summer!
  If you’re a committed foodie or pizza pro, you might have an Ooni pizza oven at home. It’s such...
Yeast Conversion table: fresh yeast to dry yeast conversion
Yeast conversion table for fresh yeast, dry yeast and instant yeast is below.  What is yeast? Yeast is a tiny...
Grams to Teaspoons: Conversion Table for Sugar, Flour, Salt and More Ingredients
How many grams are in a teaspoon? There is no ‘one answer’ to how many grams are in a teaspoon...
Ounces to Grams in Baking: Imperial to Metric Conversion Table
We prepared an easy conversion table for translating US imperial weights (lbs and oz) into European metric kilograms and grams....
What is kneading and how to knead?
One of the most important steps of baking bread is kneading - but what is kneading and which method is...
Wholegrain Tips from Elaine Foodbod
If you would like to add flavour and texture to your bread making, plus getting the added benefits of increasing...
Bread Mix Recipe Guide
TRADITIONAL ARTISAN WHITE (HAND METHOD) INGREDIENTS:1 pack Artisan White bread mix 270ml water2tbsp olive oil YOU WILL ALSO NEED:A stand mixer...
Measuring cups with different types of grains and flour in them
What is a cup measurement in the UK? A cup measurement is a cooking measurement of volume in the US....
Oven Temperature Conversion Table
When cooking from a recipe you may need to convert your temperature from celcius to farenheit depending on if you...
What is the best flour for making pizza dough?
Every baker knows that bread flour can be used to make great pizza dough. When making pizza dough, you need...
Malted Flour - Matthews Cotswold brand Cotswold Crunch Flour
Do you love the taste of freshly baked bread but haven't had much success making it at home? Malt flour...
Sourdough Tips from our Expert Baker - Sophie B
Sourdough starter tips: Consistency is key! Keep notes on each feeding including the time and amounts so you don’t accidentally...
Ancient Grains from Matthews Cotswold Flour
“Ancient grains have fascinated bakers across the globe. These old varieties of grain with their unique unmodified genitive profile are...
Glossary
Cotswold Flour - Baking Resources styleBaking tips and questions for our professional bakers   Glossary All Purpose Flour All Purpose...
8 Steps for Baking Dark Rye Bread Using Dark Rye Flour - Matthews Cotswold Flour
Rye is one of the most traditional types of bread, but it is becoming increasingly popular. If you are looking...
Halloween baking recipes you should try to celebrate the spookiest month of the year
The spookiest month of the year is here and we want to share with you our favourite Halloween baking recipes....
Organic flour: 6 top questions about organic flour answered!
Organic flour is a commonly used flour for baking brilliant goods such as pastries, biscuits or scones, and it is even...
How to make sourdough starter at home
This starter is all-natural and, if properly tended, it will provide wonderful yeasty bread for years. If you enjoy the...
How to store bread at home
When it comes to storing bread, you have a whole lot of choices. Some are better than others, depending on...
What is granary flour?
Granary is a registered trade name of Rank Hovis Ltd. It is used to describe their malted wheat grain flour,...
Which flour should I use for Sourdough?
Starch and sugar is what microbes feed on. Glutinous flours, such as Churchill Flour or our Strong White Bread Flour combined with spelt flour, rye flour and wholemeal...
Top 6 rye flour recipes you should try this summer!
Summer is finally here and we’re seeing the end of the pandemic! It’s a terrific time and we want to...
6 Baking recipes using plain flour
Plain flour is one the most versatile flour types available in the market because you can use plain flour for a...
5 Brilliant baking recipes using strong white bread flour!
read flour is a type of wheat flour that’s rich in calcium carbonate, iron, niacin (B3), and thiamin (B1). Strong...
Buy plain flour online: 6 key benefits you should know
Online shopping isn’t applicable to only retail or professional services but also food. With the continued improvement of web technology...
World flour day celebration: 8 best flours for baking bread
Thank you for all of our brilliant flour heroes across the world for continuing producing beautiful “white gold” during the...
valentine's day recipes
This is the month of love and we’re ecstatic to celebrate Valentine’s Day with all of our team members, customers,...
Delicious pizza recipes you can try this national pizza day!
February has three special baking dates. One pancake day on Shrove Tuesday, one is the lovely Valentine’s Day and the...
Three cheese and pepperoni calzone
The instructions in this recipe are for making pizza dough using a “Stand/Spiral Mixer”. If you haven’t got a mixer...
Pizza baker of the week: dough and behold
How did your love for making pizza begin? I’ve always loved pizza for as long as I can remember, but...
Veganuary baking recipes every vegan must try!
Happy January! We’re super excited to start the New Year as well as celebrate Veganuary! We’ve researched and come up...
Baking recipes to celebrate the new year 2021!
Happy 2021! We’re excited to enter the New Year and have a fresh new start! To kick off New Year,...
7 Must-try christmas baking recipes for this holiday season!
Our favourite season of the year is finally here! It’s the perfect time to eat all the treats you want...
7 Baked dog treat recipes for our fluffy friends!
With the festive and lovely holiday season coming up, it’s a brilliant time to spend time with our loved ones...
9 Best bread flours unveiled!
With a wide variety of exceptional baking flour available on the market, choosing the right flour for the type of bread you...
6 Baking recipes using rye flour!
Holiday season is just around the corner and there’s no better way to enjoy the company of your family and...
Brilliant baking recipes using strong white flour you should try this autumn!
Happy Autumn! We’re excited about entering this beautiful season and enjoying the lovely breeze, vibrant colours, and views it brings!...
5 Brilliant tips from Sourdough Sophia on making sourdough from scratch!
1. Get to know your sourdough starter well Over the course of 2 weeks feed your starter every day twice,...
11 Easy steps on how to make sourdough starter
A sourdough bread recipe consists of four main ingredients: Flour Water Salt Wild yeast Before digging into details on how...
Do you know these 4 health benefits of rye flour?
Rye contains a myriad of core vitamins and minerals such as potassium and manganese. Moreover, rye has a lower gluten...
6 Questions about cake flour answered
Cake flour is a flour that is incredibly finely milled from soft winter wheat. Cake flour has a lower protein content,...
What’s spelt flour and when should you use it?
What’s spelt? Spelt is a type of digestible ancient grain that’s a primitive relative to wheat. Spelt is often referred...
What’s strong flour and when should you use it?
When you browse through our online flour store, you can see that we carry a variety of flour for different types...
Six Inches of Soil Documentary Screening Now
For the past two years, Matthews Cotswold Flour has been a strong supporter of documentary film Six Inches of Soil, which had...
Cotswold Flour Backs Fibre February Again in 2024
Following the news that 90% of UK Adults aren’t getting enough fibre in their diet, Matthews Cotswold Flour is joining...
Friendly Loaf Wins Best Artisan Bakery at Food Awards
We are delighted to announce that our friends at The Friendly Loaf Bakery in Nowton, near Bury St Edmunds, have just...
Elaine's Starter Secrets Series
In this series Elaine Boddy walks us through her entire Starter Making Process. From getting the right equipment in place,...
A Tour Of Our Mill - Foodbod Pod Episode 9
Our new Brand Ambassador Elaine Boddy has just released a new Foodbod Pod episode with David Treadway, recorded at the...
Our New Foodbod Brand Ambassador For Sourdough September
We are very excited to announce the appointment of our very first Brand Ambassador – please join us as we...
Eddy "Ed Baker" Sleiman with Matthews Cotswold Flour and 3 Star White Sourdough Loaf
"I can honestly say that the quality of my loaves changed dramatically when I started working with Matthews Cotswold Flour...
Some of our favourite bakeries to visit in the Cotswolds
  One of the most beautiful places in England, the Cotswolds is home to lush green countryside and a rich...
The Foodbod Pod has landed!
The podcast all about food, by food lovers, for food lovers. The ‘Foodbod Pod’ podcast is all about food; a...
Introducing Sophie Carey, the new Bakery Development Manager at Matthews Cotswold Flour
  We are so excited to introduce Sophie, our new expert technical baker at the Cotswold Flour Mill on this...
Pizza week - Q&A with Cameron Kelly from Zonda
  My first memory of pizza is being on holiday in Portugal when I was about 7 or 8. The...
Q&A with Nicola Cooper from Blake’s Kitchen
  What is your earliest memory of pizza? Pizza has always been a huge part of my life. My grandparents...
Pizza Tasting at The Swan Inn at Ascott-under-Wychwood
    To celebrate National Pizza Day (Thursday 9th February 2023), some of the team at Matthews Cotswold Flour decided...
Pizza Week - Q&A with Mozzafella
  My earliest memories of pizza as a child in the late 80's are definitely the references in pop culture,...
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
By Bertie Matthews | Managing Director | Matthews Cotswold Flour Regenerative farming, regenerative agriculture or “Regen Ag” is a term that...
Congratulations to the amazing Bakeries at the Baking Industry Awards 2022
Congratulations to all of the amazing bakeries who won at the Baking Industry Awards last night! We are delighted to...
Our brand new Bread Mixes have arrived!
We are so excited to bring you 6 delicious flavours in a really easy to make bread mix including some...
Matthews Cotswold Flour presents: Soil, Stone and Sourdough 2!
On Wednesday 27th July we hosted some incredible home bakers and award winning artisan bakers, farmers, media, influencers and Great...
The Reality Behind The Price of Bread
As consumers face a wave of inflation, massively exacerbated by the turmoil of rapidly increasing food prices, you might think...
A Day of Fabulous: Foodbod, Flour & Food!
Thank you so much to everyone who came to our event on...
What is the Cotswold Grain Partnership?
The Cotswold Grain Partnership is a partnership of local farming families and businesses.
Our History - Eight Generations of Matthews Cotswold Flour
The Matthews family have farmed and milled in the heart of the Cotswolds across three centuries, from the banks of...
First British Regenerative Farming Documentary Feature Film Six Inches of Soil
A message from Bertie Matthews, Managing Director of Matthews Cotswold Flour: “Soil fertility is at the centre of everything we...
Bake for Ukraine - Use your skills and fundraise for the British Red Cross!
Use your skills to Bake for Ukraine! We have all be shocked by the disaster in Ukraine and refugee crisis...
International Women's Day - Celebrating some of our amazing female bakers!
Anna Hodgson – Anna’s at the Barn, Milton-under-Wychwood First, tell is a bit about yourself and how you got into...
The Cotswold Flour Soil, Stone and Sourdough event
Matthews presents Soil, Stone and Sourdough On Tuesday 27th July, we hosted an event at FarmED and the Cotswold Flour...
Elaine Fodbod's visit to the Matthews Soil, Stone and Sourdough event
Elaine Foodbod's visit to the Matthews Soil, Stone and Sourdough event      Written by Elaine Foodbod, superstar sourdough baker: At...
Introducing the new Matthews Cotswold Flour Sourdough Kit by guest writer Elaine Foodbod
I am very excited to introduce to you the brand new, totally fabulous, Matthews Cotswold Flour Sourdough Kit.   This...
The history of rye flour and rye bread
What is rye? Rye is a close relative of wheat and barley. It has a deep, rich taste and is...
What is Organic Flour?
The organic market has been growing steadily over the past decade. In recent years, organic flour options have become routinely available at...
What is strong bread flour and how to use it
Most people have heard of plain or self raising flour– but some bakers may have not heard of strong bread flour.  What is strong...
Matthews cotswold flour continues to grow rapidly with new listings in waitrose and tesco driven by strong consumer demand for speciality flours
As seen in the press! Matthews Cotswold Flour, one of the UK’s oldest yet most innovative family-run flour mills is...
Our new Stoneground Flours have won more Great Taste Awards!
We are so excited to announce we have won more Great Taste Awards this year for our new Stoneground flours!...
What is all-purpose flour and what is it used for?
  All-purpose flour is a versatile and general-use wheat flour. It is milled from hard red wheat or a blend of...
The Matthews Cotswold Flour guide to the Cotswolds!
Here you will find some of our favourite local Cotswold villages, details of the best pubs and bakeries within 5...
The new Stoneground Mixed Box is now here!
We’re incredibly delighted to announce that the new Stoneground Mixed Box is now here! By purchasing this mixed box, you can enjoy...
Top 6 questions about bread flour answered!
Bread flour is one of the most popular flour types in the household because of its texture and flexible usage. You...
6 Faqs about rye flour answered!
Rye flour is a commonly used household stable that’s brilliant for baking rye bread, oat bread, and other marvellous baked goods!...
Celebrating the amazing women of Matthews Cotswold Flour this IWD 2021
Celebrating the amazing women of the Matthews Cotswold Flour mill this IWD 2021 8th March 2021 Women have been Millers for...
New flour unveiled for 2021!
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with their loved ones! With the departure of 2020 and the arrival of...
7 Plant-based protein sources best for your body!
1. Tofu, tempeh and edamame Tofu, tempeh, and edamame all originate from soybeans. Soybeans are considered a whole source of...
Matthews cotswold flour partnership with the consumer brand
We are excited to announce our latest partnership with The Consumer Brand, to help ensure Matthews Cotswold Flour is a brand...
7 Benefits of buying strong white flour online!
Buying strong white flour online has never been easier thanks to Matthews Cotswold Flour’s online flour shop. With just a few clicks...
10 Myths about spelt flour debunked!
Spelt flour is one of the most commonly used flour types in households. While spelt flour is widely used, many home...
Self raising flour - Matthews Cotswold Flour
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t add baking powder to self-raising flour since self-raising flour already contains baking powder....
Great Taste Awards 2020!
We’re incredibly grateful and excited to win all eight entries in the Great Taste Awards 2020! We’d like to thank...
8 Health benefits of baking with whole grain flour you should know
Fibre is the main reason to consume whole grains. Adults need around 25 to 35 grams of fibre every day,...
Wholemeal, whole grain, whole wheat, whole what?
The terms wholemeal, whole grain, and whole wheat are used interchangeably in different countries. In the UK, people refer to...
Whole wheat flour vs plain flour: 5 differences every baker must know
Our plain white flour with a multi-purpose use is milled from a blend of the highest quality soft wheats to a fine...
5 Reasons why baking is good for our mental health
  Baking is marvelous for our stomachs and more importantly, our souls and minds. Here are five reasons why we...
Baker of the week - Nourishing Amy
Congratulations Amy – @nourishing.amy, you are our Star Baker of the Week! Here are some questions below for our...
Baker of the week - Mike Rosehill Sourdough
Baker of the week – Mike Rosehill Sourdough Congratulations Mike – Rosehill sourdough, you’re our Star Baker of the week!...
Baker of the week - Sam @south_african_baker
Congratulations Sam, @south_african_baker,  you are our Baker of the Week! Thank you for answering some questions for our Cotswold Flour...
Baker of the week - Charlotte Pike
Congratulations Charlotte, you are our Baker of the Week! Thank you for answering some questions for our Cotswold Flour Baking...
Six Inches of Soil Documentary Screening Now
For the past two years, Matthews Cotswold Flour has been a strong supporter of documentary film Six Inches of Soil, which had...
Cotswold Flour Backs Fibre February Again in 2024
Following the news that 90% of UK Adults aren’t getting enough fibre in their diet, Matthews Cotswold Flour is joining...
Friendly Loaf Wins Best Artisan Bakery at Food Awards
We are delighted to announce that our friends at The Friendly Loaf Bakery in Nowton, near Bury St Edmunds, have just...
Elaine's Starter Secrets Series
In this series Elaine Boddy walks us through her entire Starter Making Process. From getting the right equipment in place,...
A Tour Of Our Mill - Foodbod Pod Episode 9
Our new Brand Ambassador Elaine Boddy has just released a new Foodbod Pod episode with David Treadway, recorded at the...
Our New Foodbod Brand Ambassador For Sourdough September
We are very excited to announce the appointment of our very first Brand Ambassador – please join us as we...
Eddy "Ed Baker" Sleiman with Matthews Cotswold Flour and 3 Star White Sourdough Loaf
"I can honestly say that the quality of my loaves changed dramatically when I started working with Matthews Cotswold Flour...
Some of our favourite bakeries to visit in the Cotswolds
  One of the most beautiful places in England, the Cotswolds is home to lush green countryside and a rich...
The Foodbod Pod has landed!
The podcast all about food, by food lovers, for food lovers. The ‘Foodbod Pod’ podcast is all about food; a...
Introducing Sophie Carey, the new Bakery Development Manager at Matthews Cotswold Flour
  We are so excited to introduce Sophie, our new expert technical baker at the Cotswold Flour Mill on this...
Pizza week - Q&A with Cameron Kelly from Zonda
  My first memory of pizza is being on holiday in Portugal when I was about 7 or 8. The...
Q&A with Nicola Cooper from Blake’s Kitchen
  What is your earliest memory of pizza? Pizza has always been a huge part of my life. My grandparents...
Pizza Tasting at The Swan Inn at Ascott-under-Wychwood
    To celebrate National Pizza Day (Thursday 9th February 2023), some of the team at Matthews Cotswold Flour decided...
Pizza Week - Q&A with Mozzafella
  My earliest memories of pizza as a child in the late 80's are definitely the references in pop culture,...
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
By Bertie Matthews | Managing Director | Matthews Cotswold Flour Regenerative farming, regenerative agriculture or “Regen Ag” is a term that...
Congratulations to the amazing Bakeries at the Baking Industry Awards 2022
Congratulations to all of the amazing bakeries who won at the Baking Industry Awards last night! We are delighted to...
Our brand new Bread Mixes have arrived!
We are so excited to bring you 6 delicious flavours in a really easy to make bread mix including some...
Matthews Cotswold Flour presents: Soil, Stone and Sourdough 2!
On Wednesday 27th July we hosted some incredible home bakers and award winning artisan bakers, farmers, media, influencers and Great...
The Reality Behind The Price of Bread
As consumers face a wave of inflation, massively exacerbated by the turmoil of rapidly increasing food prices, you might think...
A Day of Fabulous: Foodbod, Flour & Food!
Thank you so much to everyone who came to our event on...
What is the Cotswold Grain Partnership?
The Cotswold Grain Partnership is a partnership of local farming families and businesses.
Our History - Eight Generations of Matthews Cotswold Flour
The Matthews family have farmed and milled in the heart of the Cotswolds across three centuries, from the banks of...
First British Regenerative Farming Documentary Feature Film Six Inches of Soil
A message from Bertie Matthews, Managing Director of Matthews Cotswold Flour: “Soil fertility is at the centre of everything we...
Bake for Ukraine - Use your skills and fundraise for the British Red Cross!
Use your skills to Bake for Ukraine! We have all be shocked by the disaster in Ukraine and refugee crisis...
International Women's Day - Celebrating some of our amazing female bakers!
Anna Hodgson – Anna’s at the Barn, Milton-under-Wychwood First, tell is a bit about yourself and how you got into...
The Cotswold Flour Soil, Stone and Sourdough event
Matthews presents Soil, Stone and Sourdough On Tuesday 27th July, we hosted an event at FarmED and the Cotswold Flour...
Elaine Fodbod's visit to the Matthews Soil, Stone and Sourdough event
Elaine Foodbod's visit to the Matthews Soil, Stone and Sourdough event      Written by Elaine Foodbod, superstar sourdough baker: At...
Introducing the new Matthews Cotswold Flour Sourdough Kit by guest writer Elaine Foodbod
I am very excited to introduce to you the brand new, totally fabulous, Matthews Cotswold Flour Sourdough Kit.   This...
The history of rye flour and rye bread
What is rye? Rye is a close relative of wheat and barley. It has a deep, rich taste and is...
What is Organic Flour?
The organic market has been growing steadily over the past decade. In recent years, organic flour options have become routinely available at...
What is strong bread flour and how to use it
Most people have heard of plain or self raising flour– but some bakers may have not heard of strong bread flour.  What is strong...
Matthews cotswold flour continues to grow rapidly with new listings in waitrose and tesco driven by strong consumer demand for speciality flours
As seen in the press! Matthews Cotswold Flour, one of the UK’s oldest yet most innovative family-run flour mills is...
Our new Stoneground Flours have won more Great Taste Awards!
We are so excited to announce we have won more Great Taste Awards this year for our new Stoneground flours!...
What is all-purpose flour and what is it used for?
  All-purpose flour is a versatile and general-use wheat flour. It is milled from hard red wheat or a blend of...
The Matthews Cotswold Flour guide to the Cotswolds!
Here you will find some of our favourite local Cotswold villages, details of the best pubs and bakeries within 5...
The new Stoneground Mixed Box is now here!
We’re incredibly delighted to announce that the new Stoneground Mixed Box is now here! By purchasing this mixed box, you can enjoy...
Top 6 questions about bread flour answered!
Bread flour is one of the most popular flour types in the household because of its texture and flexible usage. You...
6 Faqs about rye flour answered!
Rye flour is a commonly used household stable that’s brilliant for baking rye bread, oat bread, and other marvellous baked goods!...
Celebrating the amazing women of Matthews Cotswold Flour this IWD 2021
Celebrating the amazing women of the Matthews Cotswold Flour mill this IWD 2021 8th March 2021 Women have been Millers for...
New flour unveiled for 2021!
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with their loved ones! With the departure of 2020 and the arrival of...
7 Plant-based protein sources best for your body!
1. Tofu, tempeh and edamame Tofu, tempeh, and edamame all originate from soybeans. Soybeans are considered a whole source of...
Matthews cotswold flour partnership with the consumer brand
We are excited to announce our latest partnership with The Consumer Brand, to help ensure Matthews Cotswold Flour is a brand...
7 Benefits of buying strong white flour online!
Buying strong white flour online has never been easier thanks to Matthews Cotswold Flour’s online flour shop. With just a few clicks...
10 Myths about spelt flour debunked!
Spelt flour is one of the most commonly used flour types in households. While spelt flour is widely used, many home...
Self raising flour - Matthews Cotswold Flour
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t add baking powder to self-raising flour since self-raising flour already contains baking powder....
Great Taste Awards 2020!
We’re incredibly grateful and excited to win all eight entries in the Great Taste Awards 2020! We’d like to thank...
8 Health benefits of baking with whole grain flour you should know
Fibre is the main reason to consume whole grains. Adults need around 25 to 35 grams of fibre every day,...
Wholemeal, whole grain, whole wheat, whole what?
The terms wholemeal, whole grain, and whole wheat are used interchangeably in different countries. In the UK, people refer to...
Whole wheat flour vs plain flour: 5 differences every baker must know
Our plain white flour with a multi-purpose use is milled from a blend of the highest quality soft wheats to a fine...
5 Reasons why baking is good for our mental health
  Baking is marvelous for our stomachs and more importantly, our souls and minds. Here are five reasons why we...
Baker of the week - Nourishing Amy
Congratulations Amy – @nourishing.amy, you are our Star Baker of the Week! Here are some questions below for our...
Baker of the week - Mike Rosehill Sourdough
Baker of the week – Mike Rosehill Sourdough Congratulations Mike – Rosehill sourdough, you’re our Star Baker of the week!...
Baker of the week - Sam @south_african_baker
Congratulations Sam, @south_african_baker,  you are our Baker of the Week! Thank you for answering some questions for our Cotswold Flour...
Baker of the week - Charlotte Pike
Congratulations Charlotte, you are our Baker of the Week! Thank you for answering some questions for our Cotswold Flour Baking...