2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Cookbooks
The 2017 gift guide series continues with all of my favorite cookbooks!
Hello hello!
Are you still Christmas shopping? Please tell me I’m not the only one! I made a liiiiiiiiitle bit of headway over the weekend, but we still have quite a ways to go before we’re done. So if you’re like me and haven’t had your shopping done for weeks, then welcome to another gift guide!
It’s time to talk cookbooks because if there’s one thing I hoard, it’s cookbooks. I will sit and read them cover to cover like a regular book, getting fully engrossed in the gorgeous photography and stories in the headnotes. I’ve whittled down my list of favorites for you should you be shopping for someone who loves to cook and bake, or maybe you’re looking for some items to add to your wish list, too!
P.S. You can find last year’s cookbook gift guide here!
MY OTHER RECIPESSmitten Kitchen Every Day – I adore Deb’s recipes, and have already bookmarked dozens to try in her new book.
The Perfect Cookie – You know I am an unabashed lover of all things America’s Test Kitchen, and this book is no exception. Cookies as far as the eye can see!
Dorie’s Cookies – And more cookies! I love Dorie and find all of her cookbooks to read like you’re sitting with a dear old friend.
King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion – One of my staples that I turn to again and again when I’m looking for classic recipes.
Baked Series – This might be my favorite series of cookbooks… I own all of them and would recommend every single one! Baked: New Frontiers in Baking / Baked Explorations / Baked Elements / Baked Occasions
Half Baked Harvest – So many gorgeous recipes that I just want to reach right through the book!
Milk Bar Life – I’ve made a number of recipes from the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook, and am equally in love with this new one… I love the no-frills approach to food!
The Sullivan Street Bakery Cookbook – I’ve been obsessed with Jim Lahey since I ate at one of his pizzerias in New York City (Co.) and promptly bought his book, My Pizza. I love the Italian-inspired methods in this particular book, and I’m crossing my fingers it will help me conquer sourdough once and for all!
How to Bake Everything – An absolute staple on my bookshelf; so many great recipes, as well as tips and techniques for virtually anything you’d want to bake.
Sally’s Cookie Addiction – This is my friend Sally’s third cookbook and it is nothing short of amazing. There are dozens upon dozens of unique, beautiful, DELICIOUS cookies in this book.
Flour Water Salt Yeast – Another bread book that I’m currently loving; you can never have too many!
Barefoot Contessa – I own ALL of Ina Garten’s cookbooks and am enamored with each; I’m a total Ina fangirl! The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook / Barefoot Contessa Parties! / Barefoot Contessa Family Style / Barefoot in Paris / Barefoot Contessa At Home / Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics / Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? / Barefoot Contessa Foolproof / Make It Ahead / Cooking for Jeffrey
Bravetart – Classic, homemade desserts are my jam, and this book is totally up my alley.
Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book – A book that will always have a place on my shelf; so many classics in this one!
Cravings – Hands down, my favorite cookbook purchase of 2017, and I was totally not expecting much from it. Every single recipe I’ve tried has been a total winner in our house.
Bread Illustrated – The comprehensive bread book from Cook’s Illustrated is a must if you love baking bread at home!
TELL ME! What are your favorite must-have cookbooks? I’m always looking to add to my collection!
HAPPY SHOPPING! 🛍
This is not a sponsored post, and I am not affiliated with any of the companies above. However, some of the links above are affiliate links; thank you for reading! ❤️
I just got “Love Real Food by Katherine Taylor of Cookie & Kate fame. I’m not a vegetarian but I love her approach to honest, real food using a plant-based diet.
And Sally’s Cookie Addiction is just wonderful. I’m working my way through making all the recipes.
Good morning Merry Christmas. I am in love 😍 with food books 📚. I do have some of Ina’s, Sally’s baking addiction. I have Trophy cupcakes and parties by Jennifer Shea. Martha Stewart cooking school just a few of my many.
I am the opposite and just purged my cookbook collection and donated a bunch to my local thrift store. However one I kept was the King Arthur Flour Baking Companion which I awarded by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for a Christmas Cookie recipe I submitted a few years back. However I have read a lot of good reviews for Craving so may have to check it out.
I’m with Terri. I’ve donated or sold more than 10 times as many cookbooks as I have now. I did purchase Cooking for Jeffrey (love it, love Ina) and the Smitten Kitchen cookbook, which was a huge disappointment. The best thing I got from the Smitten Kitchen cookbook was the idea to start a “Repeat Forever” recipe file. There were only 3-4 recipes I was interested in trying and only 1 of those has a good chance of me trying it. I love the Smitten Kitchen blog, but her cookbooks leave me uninspired. Two more to donate….
oooo I love all of them…especially Stella’s and Ina’s!! nice choices!
After checking out Bake from Scratch for 4 months (!) from the library, I finally bought my own copy. Every recipe I’ve made has worked beautifully and tasted great. They publish a magazine as well. Happy Baking!
All of them are beautiful :)
My favorite cookbook is my BettyCrocker cupcake book.
thank you for sharing these, didn’t even know King Arthur Flour had a baking cookbook, have seen some of the blogs from some of the other cookbooks and already love Ina Garten’s recipes
What are your favorite recipes that you have tried in cravings and worked out well?
Hi Hailey, I’ve made the Dutch baby pancake, drunken noodles, Thai chicken lettuce cups, and mac and cheese – all fantastic!
I love cookbooks and most of these are on my wishlist. I made my first recipe from the Smitten Kitchen cookbook: chicken and rice street cart style. And OMG: worth the price of the whole book. My husband and I oooohed and ahhhhhed through the whole dinner and it made great leftover lunches. Deb reigns supreme!!