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With a host of exciting projects keeping him busy, we had the pleasure of catching up with the beloved global baking sensation Coinneach MacLeod, widely known as The Hebridean Baker. From his cosy kitchen in the Outer Hebrides to stages and bookshops around the world, Coinneach has shared his traditional and contemporary recipes with thousands, solidifying himself as a powerhouse in the baking community. His endearing social media presence mixed with culture-filled bakes has taken him across the world. We chatted to Coinneach about his travels through America and Scandinavia, as well as life at home in the west of Scotland.
I’ve always said my passion for baking started at my Aunt Bellag’s kitchen table on the Isle of Lewis. That’s where I learned her secret ingredient to the most Hebridean of recipes, Clootie Dumpling! Or Duff as we call it in Gaelic. I began to share her recipes and the myths & legends of the Scottish islands. I never expected them to travel far beyond the Hebrides, but people seemed to love not just the recipes, but the stories, the Gaelic words and that little slice of island life. From there, it’s grown into bestselling books, sell-out tours, and now even a BBC series - but it is all still rooted in that same island kitchen table warmth.
Growing up on a croft in the wee village of Cromore on the south east coast of Lewis was magical in its own way. Our days were shaped by the land and the weather, whether it was cutting peat for the fire, harvesting potatoes or helping with the sheep. Funny memories? Well, there are plenty of those - from the time my father met the Queen out at sea when the Royal Yacht Brittania has broken down to performing at the Royal National Mòd (the Gaelic Song Contest) for the first time and getting third place, thinking my life had peaked at 11 years old!
I’m so excited about this one. Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands is about exploring the food, culture and stories of islanders across Scandinavia, and discovering the surprising ways we connect as island communities. From eating fermented sheep’s head in the Faroe Islands to going cod fishing in the Arctic Ocean, sharing traditional bakes on Gotland to top chefs on Bornholm in Denmark, it’s been such a joy. You’ll be able to catch it on BBC iPlayer from 16 September 2025.
Plenty! There was so many kindred spirits - meeting folk who felt they needed to leave their island, to realise what they were looking for was back home. From Angelita who set up a seaweed company on the Lofoten Islands to Magnus who’s restaurant was the first on Bornholm to get a Michelin star. But the food was remarkable, tastes I never expected to experience, never mind help create.
Yes! It’s a dream project for my partner Peter and I. At our farm, we want to welcome small groups into our home on the west coast to experience a slice of our life. Guests can join us to help feed our Highland Cows, take the dogs for a hike in the hills to see the stunning views to the Hebridean islands, join us at our kitchen table for supper clubs, whisky tasting and even some storytelling by the fire. It’s all about slowing down, connecting with the land, and leaving with full bellies and warm hearts.
Peter was born and brought up there, so it’s really special for him to return home. For me, Oban feels like the gateway between the mainland and the islands. From our farmhouse, we look out over the Hebridean islands of Kerrera and Mull, and it feels like the best of both worlds. We’re close to the sea, surrounded by hills, and still deeply connected to the island culture I grew up with. It’s a place where I feel rooted, and where visitors will hopefully feel the same.
Oh, so many! I’ve been lucky enough to tour North America nine times now, and along the way there have been some real pinch me moments - being invited to the White House by President Biden, having the town of Pendleton, South Carolina declare 14th July Coinneach MacLeod Day, and seeing The Scottish Cookbook hit the US bestseller list. But more than anything, it’s been meeting people across the country whose love for Scotland - its culture, history, language, and food - has been the most inspiring part of the journey.
A good bowl of porridge and family life. But I definitely make up for it (on both counts!) when I return home.
It is always the traditional, simple recipes - often ones tied to family memories - that resonate with people the most. I love sharing recipes with a story, like a Scots Flummery - seemingly, Flora MacDonald was halfway through a Scots Flummery when she was arrested for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Culloden, not a bad final pudding! That still makes me smile.
When I was on tour in Fort Collins, Colorado a lady from the audience asked ‘How do I get married to a man from the Outer Hebrides?!’ I told her to learn my Clootie Dumpling recipe, book a one way flight to Stornoway and she’d be married within a fortnight! So if that isn’t a call to action, I don’t know what is!
Oh yes! My favourite beaches include Bosta, Horgabost and Reef. Hiking up the Clisham or the Cromore Walk and cycling on the circular road around Marvig, Calbost and Gravir definitely works up an appetite.
I have a savoury flapjack recipe, filled with oats, carrot, leek, cashews, mixed seeds and mature cheddar that will definitely keep you going up (and down!) that Munro!
A huge thank you to Coinneach for taking the time to chat with us. We’re off to go and try our hand at a Scots Flummery! You can keep up with Coinneach on social media at@hebrideanbaker. Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands is now available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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