Cookbooks make the best holiday gifts. Here are some of my top picks of 2016!
cookbooks / holiday / gift guides
Like I say year after year – I think cookbooks make the best gifts! Here’s my official 2016 list. Some titles you may recognize because I’ve featured them here throughout the year, and some you’ll likely hear more about very soon. You might also want to check out my 2014 and 2015 lists because there are some favorites on those lists as well. As always, be sure to list your recommendations in the comments – I always love hearing about new books!
Click the books in the photo above or in the links below to check them out!
The Love & Lemons Cookbook by yours truly
Another shameless plug to put our cookbook on your wishlist and/or to remind you that it would make a great gift 🙂 It features over 100 vegetarian (many vegan) recipes that you won’t find here on the website. It’s organized by fruits & vegetable from A-Z (Apples to Zucchini) – a perfect gift for the veggie lover in your life!
Ingredienti by Marcella and Victor Hazan
This one isn’t actually a cookbook, but I’m in love with this charming book anyway. Based on the handwritten notebooks left behind from the late Marcella Hazan (author of legendary books on Italian cooking such as Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking), it’s a book about ingredients and how Marcella recommends that you select and simply prepare them. “Don’t think so much about what else you can put into a recipe. What you keep out is just as important as what you put in.” The book is based on sixty years of her daily visits to the market and the notes are lovingly transcribed by her husband Victor. A must-have if you love vegetables and Italian grandmothers.
Naturally Delicious by Danny Seo
This book is at the top of my stack right now. If you are like me and you love healthy plant-forward recipes, this book is for you. Although it’s not vegetarian there are some really creative vegetable recipes, many are gluten free and grain free. I have my eye on the Red Hibiscus Gazpacho, Saffron Cauliflower “Rice” Paella, and the Flourless Double-Chocolate Cauliflower Brownies. I know “cauliflower brownies” sounds kind of scary but I’m SO fascinated to try!
The Forest Feast Gatherings by Erin Gleeson
I LOVED Erin’s first book, but I want to tell you that I really really love this followup. It’s packed with even more glorious graphics and gorgeous watercolor recipe illustrations. This is a great holiday hostess gift or a great one to pick up before the holidays for a little entertaining inspiration. Also, check out The Forest Feast for Kids – an adorable cookbook for the little ones!
Small Victories by Julia Turshen
I wrote about Julia Turshen’s lovely book in this post along with a recipe for her delicious Afternoon Cake recipe. What I love about this book is that each recipe gives at least 3 variations of how to tweak the recipe to make it completely new. It’s full of creative ideas and tips (small victories) – a great book for beginner cooks and avid home cooks alike.
Molly on the Range by Molly Yeh
The hilarious book from my blog pal Molly is not only filled with funfetti and mac & cheese flow charts, but check out these Cauliflower Shawarma Tacos that we made that we absolutely loved.
Sweeter off the Vine by Yossy Arefi
I follow Yossy of the blog Apt. 2 Baking Co. on Instagram and regularly drool over her gorgeous pies, cakes, and gorgeous galettes. If you want to bake like she does, I recommend picking up her book. It’s organized seasonally by fruit – a great resource for baking with the seasons. I’m excited to try her Cranberry Bread Pudding for the holidays.
How to Celebrate Everything by Jenny Rosenstrach
“How to Celebrate Everything” includes recipes for Christmas, New Year, but most importantly, every holiday in between (birthday mornings, a bus-stop social, pasta night with friends). I wrote more about Jenny’s wonderful book in this post. It’s an encouraging book to create family rituals and to find meaning in the connectedness of day-to-day family life.
Alternative Baker by Alanna Taylor-Tobin
If you’re gluten free and you love to bake, you need this book. Heck, even if you’re not gluten free, you’ll love her amazing uses of unconventional flours to enhance the flavors (and nutritional value) of the recipes. Think Buckwheat Double Chocolate Cookies, Mesquite Gingersnaps buckwheat chocolate cookies, and this Pumpkin Cranberry Nut & Seed Loaf that’s become a regular in this house. I especially love how she gives options to make her pie and tart crusts vegan by using coconut oil.
Chickpea Flour Does It All by Lindsay Love
I’m sure many of you read the popular blog Dolly and Oatmeal – I just adore Lindsay’ls recipes. As the title suggests, every recipe in this book uses chickpea flour – from savory recipes (we loved her Chickpea Flour Pizza with Asparagus) to sweet, this is a great resource if you’re looking for allergy-friendly cooking and baking.
Oh She Glows Every Day by Angela Liddon
I’ve been a fan of Angela’s blog long before I started mine. I loved her first book and her second book is an absolute must-have! Soups, smoothies, salads, hearty vegan entrees and more. This would be a great book to pick up before Christmas because she has an entire chapter devoted to vegan cookies! We made these Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Bean Macaroons and they were delicious. I also made her Peanut Butter Lover’s Chocolate Tart and could not believe it was vegan!
Modern Potluck by Kristen Donnelley
Entertaining can be SO much work which is why I love Kristen’s book. Instead of taking on all the hostess responsibilities yourself, why not throw a pot luck? This book is full of creative, foolproof, crowd pleasing recipes. I especially love how each recipe comes with make-ahead preparation and storage tips. Check out the delicious No-Bake Sweet Pea Enchiladas that we made.
What books are on your list?
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