Cookbooks make the best holiday gifts. Here are some of my top picks of 2015!
I say this every year – but I think cookbooks make the greatest gifts. Here is a collection of some of my favorites that have come out this year. (If I’ve missed any good ones – let me know in the comments below!). Also – be sure to glance over at last year’s gift guide because there are some goodies on that list too!
Travel Inspired:
Rosewater & Orange Blossoms by Maureen Abood
Near & Far by Heidi Swanson
Mexico the Cookbook, by Margarita Carrillo Arronte (*see note)
Books from restaurants we’ve loved:
Nopi by Yotam Ottolenghi
Gjelina by Travis Lett
Flour + Water: Pasta by Thomas McNaughton
Veggie Forward:
Food52 Vegan by Gena Hamshaw
My New Roots by Sarah Britton
The Sprouted Kitchen: Bowl + Spoon by Sara Forte
Baking:
The Violet Bakery Cookbook by Claire Ptak
Bien Cuit by Zachary Golper
Food52 Baking by the Editors of Food52
Other Favorites!
The Year of Cozy by Adrianna Adarme
Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette
Seven Spoons by Tara O’Brady
*note – these large Phaidon books often have a lot of mistakes. Mexico the Cookbook has a few spotty reviews, but I still love it for visual inspiration, ingredient ideas, and of course it looks great on my coffee table. Just a heads up.
This post contains affiliate links, all opinions/recommendations are my own.
What a fantastic roundup! Rose Water and Orange Blossoms was on my best-of roundup as well 🙂 I had the chance to buy from Maureen’s line of imported Lebanese items when I was in Harbor Springs last fall; can’t wait to cook from this when I get my kitchen up and running!
Mexico, The Cookbook is SO STUNNING in real life! I passed it in the book store and had to buy it just because it was gorgeous. And now I’m so glad that I have it.
Thank you for sharing this list! I received one of these books as a gift this year, and now have my eye on two more. Love it!!
Maria
I love cook books and I have so many people in my family that love and are good in the kitchen (excluding me – I’m only really good at baking. In my opinion of course.), that I’ve been thinking into giving some of them, cook books for Christmas and you’ve given us plenty of choices.
Do you think that for someone unexperienced, any of these would be good, or would you recommend something else?
Thank you.
Ella x
Hi Ella: I’d recommend the non-restaurant books for beginners (those can sometimes have complicated ingredients. These would be excellent for any level: Rosewater & Orange blossoms, Near & Far (also Heidi Swanson’s other books including Supernatural Everyday), Food52 Vegan, My New Roots, Sprouted Kitchen (also her first book)… The Year of Cozy, Seven Spoons, and from last years list (link above), Vibrant Food, The Oh She Glows Cookbook, Sunday Suppers, and The Yellow Table. All books with very accessible and delicious recipes!
Thank you so much for these recommendations. I haven’t had time to actually check on them and see if there’s any of them on stores close to me or if I’ll have to order, but as soon as I do, I’ll make sure to check up on them and I’ll give you my feedback.
I just wanted to let you know that I read your reply and I really appreciate it. Plus I trust your judgement on this subject!
One day I end up making something great, it’ll be thanks to you!
Once again, thank you for being lovely.
thanks Ella, xo
Wonderful!
Thank you for this list! We both love many of the recipes by Yottam Ottolenghi, and my husband adores Claire Ptak’s extraordinary sublime flavours in The Violet Bakery Cookbook. Highly recommended.
Not this year, I know, but River Cottage Veg Every Day by Hugh Fearnley -Whittingstall provides simple flavoursome locally sourced organic vegetarian and vegan food. As does Riverford Farm Cook Book by Guy Watson and Jane Baxter. Both are my food heroes when minus meat.
Thanks for this awesome list! What a huge help in finishing off my Christmas shopping for my vegan friends! So appreciated.
Oh, I just went to buy it and The Sprouted Kitchen is not vegan or vegetarian! There are fish and turkey recipes.
Oops sorry! It’s SO vegetable-focussed, I forgot that there are a few non-veggie recipes. Didn’t meant to deceive – I’ve relabeled the category…
No problem! Thank you again for all the great suggestions!
also, be sure to check out that link to last years’ list – Oh She Glows is a great vegan book, At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen is vegetarian with vegan options, Green Kitchen Travels is mostly vegan… those are all still loved 🙂 http://www.loveandlemons.com/2014/12/04/2014-cookbook-gift-guide/
A Modern Way to Eat and A Modern Way to Cook by Anna Jones.
I want all of them! I love just flipping through the pages to look at the stunning photography. I especially love the travel-inspired cookbooks – may need to add some of those to my collection.
Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour is fabulous. Like Ottolenghi’s book but a bit easier. Bursting with Middle Eastern (mainly Persian) flavours – not only vegetarian recipes but all delicious.
just added that one to my cart – thanks for the recommendation, can’t wait to check it out!
Cookbooks are always my favourite. I’d like to add “Pure Vegetarian” by Lakshmi to this list. I have presented it to myself, and thoroughly enjoying it. You have a super blog….
I always love getting new cookbooks and there are so many good ones on this list! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
So true! Though I get many new recipes online, it’s a definite splurge to get a great cookbook. I personally would LOVE if I got cookbooks for Christmas.
These look fantastic! Adding them to my list. Thank you. I recently purchased “Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen” and I love it.
I love her blog, I’ll definitely have to check that one out!
Such a great list! Can’t wait to indulge my cookbook obsession and get these 🙂 Hope you had a great holiday.
I’m in such good company, thank you so much for including me! xoxo