My Top 12 Cookbooks: A Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is upon us, my friends! If you haven’t started gift shopping yet, now’s the time. Below I share with you my top 12 cookbooks of all time (plus a bonus one at the end) — the ones that I use the most or are the most inspiring to me. Every one of them would make a fantastic gift for your friends and family who love to cook or bake. Or if you’re in need of a new cookbook or two yourself, take a look and see if you can’t find a few to add to your own list!

Baking Cookbooks

Dorie’s Cookies by Dorie Greenspan

I adore this cookbook. I’ve had it for two or three years, and it has become my go-to when I’m looking for inspiration for a new cookie recipe (or just a great cookie). Filled with everything from simple, everyday cookies and bars to more complex treats like macarons, if you love cookies you’ll love this cookbook. Favorite recipes: World Peace Cookies and Double Ginger Molasses Cookies.

New World Sourdough by Bryan Ford

I, like many others, started making sourdough bread this spring. So when this cookbook came out I snapped it up right away. Bryan Ford makes the most amazing sourdough creations, and with his recipes you can too! If you have a bread lover in your life, get them this cookbook—trust me, they’ll love it. Fair warning: you’ll need a baking scale for this one, but if you’re a bread baker you should grab one anyway—it will really up your baking game. Favorite recipe so far: Pan Rustico, and I’m looking forward to trying the English Muffins and the Semitas de Yema soon!

The New Way to Cake by Benjamina Ebuehi

This is another one I bought this year (COVID has made me bake more than ever, ha:)). You might recognize Benjamina from the Great British Baking show a few years back. She’s such a talented baker and her book is full of simple yet uniquely flavored cakes you will love. Favorite recipes: Elderflower & Roasted Strawberry Layer Cake and Flourless Chocolate Chili Cake.

Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh

Yotam Ottolenghi is one of my absolute favorite cookbook authors (you’ll notice a couple more of his later on in the list). This one is full of gorgeous cookies, cakes, cheesecakes, tarts, pies, and other desserts. It’s become my favorite holiday baking book, because every recipe is so special—just perfect for a celebration. Favorite recipes: Orange & Star Anise Shortbread and Chocolate-coated Ruby Red Grapefruit Peel.

How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson

This is an oldie but definitely a goodie. As you can tell by how beat up my copy is, this cookbook has been a favorite of mine for many years now. Full of relatively simple yet rich and comforting sweet and savory bakes, it should, in my opinion, have a place on the shelf of every baker. Nigella Lawson is a queen in the baking world, and her impeccable taste really shines in this cookbook. Plus, if you have kiddos, there’s a children’s section with treats that are sure to please even picky eaters. Favorite recipes: Fresh Gingerbread with Lemon Icing and Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake .

Other Cookbooks

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Vegetarian Cooking: Plenty & Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi

Back to Ottolenghi, but this time with two cookbooks that elevate vegetarian food to something even carnivores can appreciate. These books are full of gloriously bright dishes full of flavor and veggies, from light salads to hearty pastas and soups. Favorite recipes: Crusted Pumpkin Wedges with Sour Cream and Saffron Cauliflower from Plenty; Cauliflower Cake and Squash with Chili Yogurt and Cilantro Sauce from Plenty More.

French Cooking: My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz

I made the Salted Butter Caramel Sauce from this cookbook for my birthday cake last year and it was a revelation. And the other recipes I’ve tried have been equally delicious. I think this book will be my one of my kitchen companions for many years to come. Favorite recipes: Salted Butter Caramel Sauce and French Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts.

Vietnamese Cooking: The Slanted Door by Charles Phan

The Slanted Door is a Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco that I’ve never been to, but this cookbook gives me the chance to imagine that I have. If you’re interested in modern Vietnamese cooking (or eating), this book is for you. Favorite recipe: Vietnamese Chicken Salad.

Fermenting and Curing: Asian Pickles by Karen Solomon

This cookbook is what got me started making kimchi. This book spans the Asian continent, including recipes from Japan, Korea, China, India, and Southeast Asia. If you love food from this region and are interested in pickling, curing, and fermenting, give this book a try. Favorite recipe: Whole Leaf Kimchi.

General Cooking: Everyday Dorie by Dorie Greenspan

I’m such a fan of Dorie Greenspan. This is, as the name says, a great everyday cookbook. It has a little of everything: apps, soups, salads, mains, sides, and desserts. The easy-to-make recipes will add some spark to your weeknight meal rotation and give you fun options for entertaining. Favorite recipe: Chicken and Salad Milanese Style.

Cooking Basics and General Cooking: Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

You’ve probably seen the Netflix special of the same name (if not, watch it now!), and are already a fan of Samin Nosrat. She’s such a gem in the cooking world. This cookbook is unique in that Samin takes you through the basic elements of cooking (salt, fat, acid, and heat), then offers a handful of recipes highlighting each element. This book doesn’t just give you recipes—it teaches you how to put food together so it tastes good. Favorite part: the Salad Axis (shows you how to perfectly pair salads and dressings).

Bonus: Cocktails

Drinking French by David Lebovitz

This was another summer buy for me. This cookbook is filled with the most delicious and fun French cocktails, apéritifs, liqueurs, infusions, and café drinks (read: non-alcoholic), plus a few snacks to go with them. It would make a great gift along with a bottle of French spirits! Favorite recipes: Café Frappé and Rosemary Gimlet.

Bookstores

You can, of course, find all of these cookbooks on Amazon, but please consider supporting independently owned bookstores instead. Because of lower sales resulting from COVID-19, many independent bookstores have had a rough year and could use our support. If you already have a favorite local bookstore, great! If not, here are a few online options for you:

Zenith Bookstore – Duluth, MN (my favorite)

Book Larder – Seattle, WA

Powell’s Bookstore – Portland, OR

The Strand Bookstore – New York City, NY

Bookshop.org (you can pick your local bookstore to receive a portion of the purchase price!)

If you have any questions about these or other cookbooks or about cookware, bakeware, gadgets, or other gift ideas, leave me a message in the comments below, or email me at northerngingerblog@gmail.com. I’m happy to help—I managed a kitchen store for a few years so I have a wealth of information in my brain that otherwise goes to waste. 🙂

Happy Holiday Shopping!