Cookbooks are the gift that keeps on giving. They are full of tried and true recipes that have been created and loved by some of the best cooks out there. You get to find new recipes that become family favorites, and there’s nothing like finding a new delicious meal to bond over at the dinner table. Here are the best cookbooks to gift this year.
Each of these cookbooks has a coveted spot on our kitchen bookshelf, and for good reason! They’re filled with yummy recipes that are real crowd-pleasers. If you’re shopping for a friend this holiday season, any one of these cookbooks would be a great option! This list is our all-time favorite cookbooks that we highly recommend!
Cookbook Gift Idea #1: Half Baked Harvest
The Half Baked Harvest cookbook is full of recipes the whole family will love. If you or your friend is looking to level up meals while still wanting to keep it super simple for food prep, this one is a perfect choice. Tieghan Gerard, the best-selling author and creator of this cookbook, focuses on keeping meals simple while also providing recipes that are seriously delicious. This cookbook is a great gift for the busy mom who still wants to make dinnertime a priority.
Cookbook Gift Idea #2: Magnolia Table, Vol. 3: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering
Have you tried any of Joanna Gaines's cookbooks before? The Magnolia Table, Volume 3: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering is her third cookbook and it’s filled with the best of the best recipes. It’s a compilation of Joanna’s family favorite recipes that she comes back to time and time again. She even includes a personal note with each recipe explaining why she loves it and how she likes to serve it, which is super helpful if you’re making her recipe for the first time! This cookbook would be a great gift for the friend who is looking for ways to gather her family around the dinner table.
Cookbook Gift Idea #3: Celebrate with Babs
You may know Babs through her popular Instagram handle @brunchwithbabs. She is one of my favorite influencers because she is so positive and shares the most valuable tips for hosting, cooking, motherhood, and life, and if you ask us, we think she’s a national treasure! Her cookbook, Celebrate with Babs, is a compilation of recipes passed down through generations. This book is meant to be used with family and friends whenever you want to gather and make memories together.
Cookbook Gift Idea #4: The Ultimate Cookie Handbook
This cookbook is a must-have for any sweet lovers in your life. The Ultimate Cookie Handbook: Your Guide to Baking Perfect Cookies Every Time is a great addition to any home baker's collection. This cookbook is filled with mouth-watering recipes that do not disappoint. It also shares the science behind baking perfect cookies in a fun visual way. Once you try these recipes, you’ll come back to them again and again because they’re just that good!
Cookbook Gift Idea #5: Stuffed: The Sandwich Cookie Book
Now that cookies are on our minds, I have to share the Stuffed: The Sandwich Cookie Book with you too. This cookbook covers a large range of sandwich cookies–from ice cream sandwiches to homemade Oreos, and everything in between. It even covers some savory options as well. It’s filled with decadent treats that are worthy of any bakery display but can be made from the comfort of your own home. This would be a fun gift for the friend who loves baking and wants some new recipes to try!
Cookbook Gift Idea #6: Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
The Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook is an absolute game changer. Ina Garten is a legend in the world of cookbooks, and in this one, she shares all her secrets for crowd-pleasing recipes that you can make ahead of time. This is a great gift for someone who loves hosting dinner parties. It would also be a perfect cookbook for anyone interested in preparing meals and getting ahead on busy weeknight dinners. Another cookbook I love and recommend highly is her Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. Either one would be a great option for learning how to make delicious meals!
Cookbook Gift Idea #7: Platters and Boards
Charcuterie and cheese boards have become very popular, especially for parties with family and friends. They look absolutely beautiful and are full of such flavorful foods. If you’ve tried to put together your own charcuterie board you may have realized it’s not as easy as it looks. The Platters and Boards cookbook gives you everything you need to know to help you become a pro cheeseboard maker! It teaches you creative combinations that will balance out a board and make it look gorgeous every single time. If you have a friend who loves hosting parties, they will appreciate this cookbook so much.
The Best Cookbooks to Gift This Year
Which one of these cookbooks caught your eye? Are there any that we missed? We’d love to add it to this list of the best cookbooks to gift this year! Let us know some of your favorites over on Instagram. You can find us @lumitory. Otherwise, we hope you found a cookbook or two that you want to try for yourself or gift to a friend. We can’t wait to hear how yummy the recipes are!
