The best cookbooks to gift this Christmas, according to our food team
If you're obsessed with food like us, then we're sure you'll agree that one of life's simple pleasures is spending a leisurely weekend morning, flicking through your favourite cookbook with a cup of tea, finding a source of inspiration and comfort for your next meal.
A good cookbook is an essential item in the kitchen, and whether you need a quick and easy midweek meal, or you want to cook low and slow for a hearty dish, there's no doubt a cookbook is the best place to look.
Along with developing and creating our own delicious recipes and cookbooks, we couldn't wait to share what our cookery and food team has been loving this year, and why their picks are worthy of a place on your (or recipients) book shelf.
This list covers many different cookbooks and cuisines, loved by our cookery team, from a ramen specific book, a book on all the NYC delicacies, to a book about year-round BBQ'ing, so you can find the perfect book to gift this Christmas.
The best cookbooks for Christmas 2024:
Make More With Less by Kitty Coles
"I first came across Kitty through her Instagram page and instantly fell in love with her effortless food styling shots, making even the simplest dish look incredibly appetising. I've been cooking from this book for months now and every recipe is genuinely something you want to eat immediately so had to be up there in my best cookbook for 2024. Expect gorgeous, hearty food, all using up odds and ends in your fridge and pantry", says our Senior Food and Drink Writer, Mel Giandzi.
Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman
Our Senior Cookery Writer, Grace Evans says "If the idea of hosting a dinner party frightens the life out of you, then this is the cookbook for you. Nothing fancy is just that, simple recipes that don’t require hours of prep, but yet look impressive enough to give off the impression that they’ve taken days to make. This book isn’t just for hosting, it’s just as handy for midweek meals for smaller crowds too."
Donna Hay Christmas Feasts and Treats
Donna Hay’s books are always a visual treat says Cookery Editor Emma Franklin. "Her styling and photography are simply stunning – and this Christmas book is no exception. Flipping through the pages is guaranteed to make even the most scrooge-like person feel excited for the season, and the collection of recipes has something for every festive occasion."
BBQ Days, BBQ Nights by Helen Graves
"Don't make the mistake in thinking that BBQ's are only for the summer months, because Helen Graves has proved us all wrong with this fantastic book. No, not everything is technically BBQ'd - but rather feature recipes that would be perfect for bringing or serving alongside a BBQ'd feast (as well as dishes cooked on the BBQ). The sides and desserts alone are worth making immediately: Charred Tomato 7-layer Dip, Gem Salad with Secret Weapon Dressing, Banana, Coffee & Tahini Cream Pudding and my next to bake, The Ambassador's Mille-feuille" says our Senior Food and Drink Writer, Mel Giandzi.
Café Cecilia Cookbook
This has to be one Senior Cookery Writer, Grace Evans favourite restaurants in London. "I was thrilled when I saw that they had brought out a cookbook. The restaurant serves up Irish and European cuisine, and the cookbook reflects this with over 100 breakfast through to dinner recipes of the same theme, all presented in a coffee table worthy package!"
Crunch: An Ode to Crisps by Natalie Whittle
"This is a book I wish I’d written myself. Even just reading the title makes me want to dive headfirst into a bag of something salty and crunchy. If you’ve got a crisp lover in your life, you need to gift them this" says our Cookery Writer, Alice Shields.
EAT NYC by Yasmin Newman
Our Senior Cookery Writer, Grace Evans loves NYC, and if it weren’t so hard to get a visa, she would move there in a heartbeat. However, she says "since it is so hard to get one, this cookbook is (almost) the next best thing. It shows you how to cook New York’s most infamous recipes, transporting you right there from the comfort of your own kitchen."
Let's Make Ramen! by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan
Our Cookery Editor Emma Franklin says she "loves cookbooks that are more than just a collection of recipes, especially if I’m giving a book as a gift – and was delighted to discover that graphic novel cookbooks are something of a growing area, especially for South East Asian cuisines like Japanese and Korean. These books mix the joy of a well-illustrated graphic novel with brilliant storytelling and recipes. Two of my favourites are Let's Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan and Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes by Robin Ha."
Tucking In by Sophie Wyburd
You may recognise Sophie Wyburd from Mob, but the food writer moved on to pastures green and released her first cookbook earlier this year and boy is it a goodie that I HAD to include it in this list. Every single page appeals to me - from the chicken butter tagliatelle, curried potato salad, sticky lamb meatballs, burnt shallot and bean gratin, to the hazelnut tiramisu (or the brilliant pineapple mar-granita), every recipe is easy to make but packs a punch. A definite staple to have on your shelf and perfect for those looking for seriously tasty dinner options.
A Taste of the Unexpected by Mark Diacono
"If you know someone who loves their garden as much as their kitchen (or more!) then this is the perfect gift. Mark Diacono runs an amazing plant nursery – Otter Farm – in Devon (and you may recognise him as having been the River Cottage gardener on TV for many years), and this book will introduce you to a wide array of fascinating and delicious things to grow and eat at home, with recipes to help you make the most of them. Diacono’s passion for deliciously different gardening is so infectious I have a tattoo of one of his Szechuan pepper plants on my arm!" says Cookery Editor Emma Franklin.
A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater
Our Cookery Writer, Alice Shields says that this book from renowned food writer is top of her Christmas list. "Not only can I always rely on Nigel’s recipes, I also find great comfort in the poetic and evocative way that he writes."
Painting the Plate by Felicity Souter
"As soon as I saw this book release I instantly went out and bought another 2 copies to gift to family members" says Cookery Editor Emma Franklin. "Each recipe has been inspired by an iconic piece of artwork. From the roasted pepper and parmesan tart on the cover - an homage to Mark Rothko’s stunningly similar painting - to a delicious turmeric hummus that is an ode to Olafur Eliasson’s modern art installation ‘The Weather Project’, and so much more in between. It’s a coffee table book that you’ll actually cook from."
The Joy of Snacks by Laura Goodman
Cookery Writer, Alice Shields said "I devoured this book over the summer and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Part recipe book, part celebration of snacks, this paperback is guaranteed to make you hungry. For maximum joy, make sure you’ve got something cold to sip on, and something salty to munch when reading this book."
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