Nagi Maehashi and Brooke Bellamy: The Great Recipe Plagiarism Debate

May 3, 2025 | Baking recipes

The Controversy Begins

Nagi Maehashi and Brooke Bellamy, two popular food bloggers, have found themselves at the center of a heated debate over alleged recipe plagiarism. The controversy began when Nagi accused Brooke of ripping off her recipes, sparking a heated exchange between the two.

Nagi’s Accusations

Nagi, the founder of RecipeTinEats, claimed that Brooke, the founder of Bake With Brooki, had plagiarized her recipes without permission or compensation. Nagi stated that she had been trying to resolve the issue amicably for almost six months, but Brooke’s response was deemed unsatisfactory.

Nagi claimed that Brooke had denied the allegations in her statement, saying that she had been making and selling a caramel slice recipe using the same ingredients for four years before Nagi posted her recipe in 2020.
Nagi disputed this timeline, pointing out that her caramel slice recipe was actually published in 2016, four years before Brooke’s.

Brooke’s Response

Brooke, on the other hand, denied the allegations, stating that she had created the recipes in her book, Bake With Brooki, over many years and had drawn inspiration from other cooks and cookbook authors.

“I stand by my love for baking, my recipes, and the joy this book has brought so many home bakers around the world to try recreating my recipes from inside their homes.”

— Brooke Bellamy

Support from Other Bakers

Nagi was not alone in her accusations, as American baking blogger Sally McKenny came forward to claim that Brooke had also plagiarized one of her recipes for a vanilla cake.

Sally claimed that Brooke had copied her recipe, which was published in 2019, and that it was also featured on Brooke’s YouTube Channel.
Nagi re-shared Sally’s Instagram Story, acknowledging her claims and apologizing for any distress caused.

Publisher’s Response

Penguin Random House, the publisher of Brooke’s book, denied the allegations, stating that the recipes in the book were written by Brooke herself.

Penguin Random House	Response
Our client respectfully rejects your client’s allegations and confirms that the recipes in the BWB Book were written by Brooke Bellamy.

Conclusion

While the allegations of plagiarism are unsubstantiated, the controversy has highlighted the importance of crediting original recipe creators and respecting the intellectual property of others in the baking community. In the world of food blogging, it is not uncommon for bakers to draw inspiration from others, but it is essential to acknowledge and credit the original creators of recipes. The debate between Nagi and Brooke serves as a reminder that the baking community values creativity, originality, and respect for others’ work. While the outcome of this controversy is uncertain, one thing is clear: the importance of crediting and respecting the intellectual property of others in the baking community cannot be overstated.