The internet’s favourite cookbook author and founder of RecipeTin Eats, Nagi Maehashi, has accused Brooke Bellamy – otherwise known as Brooki Bakehouse – of plagiarism.
In a series of posts made to Maehashi’s RecipeTin Eats Instagram, the popular recipe creator and cook revealed that she’d brought the allegations against Bellamy’s publishing house, Penguin Australia, outlining her reason for doing so.
Since the Tuesday night post, Bellamy has responded by denying the claims made, and posting a series of Instagram stories of her own.
So what exactly is going on between RecipeTin Eats and Brooki Bakehouse’s Brooke Bellamy? Below, the ongoing legal drama, explained.
What Plagiarism Claims Have Been Made By RecipeTin Eats?
In a statement released on Tuesday 29 April, Nagi Maehashi revealed that she had brought copyright infringement allegations against Penguin Random House Australia, claiming two recipes in Bellamy’s bestselling cookbook Bake With Brooki were plagiarised from the RecipeTin Eats website.
Sharing the update on social media, Maehashi posted a series of side-by-side pictures of the Baklava and Caramel Slice recipes in question.
“When you see your recipes in a $4 million book,” the post begins.
“I’m no stranger to seeing my recipes being copied online,” it reads. “But seeing what I believe to be my recipes and my words printed in a multi-million dollar book launched with a huge publicity campaign from one of Australia’s biggest publishers was shocking.”
“I invite you to review comparisons of my recipes in question (swipe) and form your own view,” she continued, before adding: “To me, the similarities are so specific and detailed that calling these a coincidence feels disingenuous.”
Maehashi included comparisons between her recipes for Baklava and Caramel Slice (above) as well as the methods and instructions, claiming: “To me, the similarities speak for themselves.”
Further to the claims made about her own recipes, Maehashi said she believed Bellamy’s cookbook featured additional recipes copied from other authors.
“One particular recipe by a very well known beloved cookbook author bears similarities so detailed, extensive, and specific that, in my view, dismissing it as a coincidence would be absurd,” she wrote, before stopping short of naming the authors in question “out of respect for and at the request of the publisher.”
How Has Brooke Bellamy Responded?
In a lengthy statement shared to the Brooki Bakehouse Instagram, Bellamy denied the allegations, claiming the recipes used were her own.
“I did not plagiarise any recipes in my book which consists of 100 recipes I have created over many years,” she wrote.
“In 2016, I opened my first bakery. I have been creating my recipes and selling them commercially since October 2016 – as shown in the next slide and as was communicated at the first point of contact I received.”
“On March 2020, RecipeTin Eats published a recipe for caramel slice. It uses the same ingredients as my recipe, which I have been making and selling since four years prior.”
Bellamy went on to share a picture dated 8 December 2016, which shows a table topped with an array of baked goods, including what appears to be a caramel slice, under the account @charliesdesserthouse.
“I immediately offered to remove both recipes from future reprints to prevent further aggravation, which was communicated to Nagi swiftly through discussions,” the post continued.
“I have great respect for Nagi and what she has done in recent years for cooks, content creators and cookbooks in Australia – especially as a fellow female entrepreneur.”
Bellamy wrote about the reality of recipe development in the current industry landscape, particularly when it comes to community inspiration.
“This willingness to share recipes and build on what has come before is what I love so much about baking and sharing recipes – the community that surrounds it.”
How Has Penguin Random House Responded?
In a detailed statement published by Maehashi on the RecipeTin Eats website, she explained that Penguin has denied the allegations with a legal response of their own.
“Our client respectfully rejects your clients’ allegations and confirms that the recipes in the BWB Book were written by Brooke Bellamy.”
She also revealed that her legal team had requested for the book to be withdrawn from sale and any future reprints to be properly attributed – or have the recipes in question omitted entirely.
“Penguin – You are a top tier publisher that is supposed to value and protect original content, and uphold the integrity of the publishing industry,” Maehashi wrote in the closing paragraphs of her statement. “But to me, the way you have handled this matter has shown a disregard for the very principles you claim to stand for.”
A Second Baker Comes Forward
Hours after the RecipeTin Eats Brooke Bellamy news came to light, a US-based baker by the name of Sally McKenney threw her support behind Maehashi and shared her own copyright infringement claims against Bellamy.
In an Instagram story, the cookbook author tagged RecipeTin Eats and wrote “Nagi, you know how much I admire and support you – and I’m so grateful you let me know months ago that one of my recipes (The Best Vanilla Cake I’ve Ever Had, published by me in 2019) was also plagiarized in this book and also appears on the author’s YouTube channel.”
The post mirrored Maehashi’s own sentiment, adding: “Original recipe creators who put in the work to develop and test recipes deserve credit – especially in a best-selling cookbook.”
At the time of writing, neither Penguin Random House or Brooke Bellamy has responded to the claims made by McKenney, but the ethics of alleged plagiarism remains a point of contention amid the ongoing conversations.
“I’m speaking up today because staying silent only protects their behaviour which, even if not a technical breach of copyright, I think is unacceptable and unethical,” reiterated Maehashi.
“And to me, this isn’t just about plagiarism. I’ve written two cookbooks. I know what it takes. Every sentence, every photo, every recipe, the sleepless nights, putting your heart and soul into every page,” she continued.
“So when someone comes along and puts out a book, cutting corners? That’s not just disrespectful. It’s a kick in the guts of every author who actually puts in the hard yards to create original work.”
As of today, Maehashi has switched off comments on her original RecipeTin Eats post about Brooke Bellamy and the recipes found in her cookbook, citing concern for further legal action being brought against her.
Updates to come.
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