Cookbook Authors Accuse Influencer of Recipe Plagiarism

Sydney, Australia — Two cookbook authors have accused TikTok influencer Brooke Bellamy of copying their recipes in her bestselling cookbook, Bake with Brooki. Nagi Maehashi, the founder of the popular food website RecipeTin Eats, claimed on Tuesday that her recipes for caramel slice and baklava bear “word-for-word similarities” to those found in Bellamy’s book. Maehashi stated that her accusations are based on a reader’s tip regarding the striking similarities.

In a blog post, Maehashi shared side-by-side comparisons of her recipes and those in Bellamy’s book. She expressed her disappointment at seeing her work used for profit without permission, labeling the situation as a “blatant exploitation of my work.” Maehashi, whose website attracts around 45 million page views monthly and has published two cookbooks, indicated that the income from her site helps fund her charity, RecipeTin Meals.

Bellamy, who owns three Brooki Bakehouse locations in Queensland and boasts over two million TikTok followers, has denied the allegations. In an Instagram post, she asserted her book contains “100 recipes I have created over many years” and defended her work by stating she has been developing her recipes since 2016. Bellamy mentioned that a 2020 recipe on RecipeTin Eats for caramel slice uses similar ingredients to hers but insisted she had been making it prior to Maehashi’s publication.

Following the allegations, U.S. author Sally McKenney joined Maehashi’s claims, citing similar concerns regarding her vanilla cake recipe found in Bellamy’s cookbook. McKenney emphasized the importance of crediting original recipe creators truly in the food industry.

Bellamy responded by offering to remove the disputed recipes from future reprints of her book, claiming it was meant to mitigate further conflict. Penguin Random House Australia, the publisher of Bake with Brooki, has also denied the allegations, asserting that the recipes were written solely by Bellamy.

Despite the ongoing controversy, both authors have seen their cookbooks shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards, highlighting the competitive nature of the industry.

Maehashi shared her concerns over legal intimidation from Bellamy’s publisher, which escalated the tension between the parties. She hopes to resolve the situation amicably, urging for a retraction and acknowledgment of original creators’ contributions in the culinary community.