The Best Cookbooks to Gift

Giving a cookbook as a gift basically ensures an everlasting thank you note. Every time your loved one makes something from the cookbook you gifted them, they’re likely to send you a note and a picture, or if you’re really lucky, invite you over to try it! And even if the person you have in mind is not super comfortable in the kitchen, cookbooks make for some of the prettiest coffee table books around. Hello, there’s a reason why half of Instagram is all food pictures, food is pretty! Here are our top picks for everyone on your list.

For the recently engaged: The Newlywed Cookbook

If you don’t know, engagement season is coming! From Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day, your social media feeds will be filled with heartwarming proposal stories and (let’s face it) humble brags about the size of the rock on their finger. This 2011 book is a favorite of gifters-in-the-know, since most newlyweds will be gifted a ton of new cookware and dinnerware – they’ll need some recipes to put to the test! More than a cookbook, it’s a collection of 130 built-in date nights.

For the design lover: Graze

This cookbook is perfect for those who think food can be “too pretty to eat,” who pick what table to sit at based on lighting, and whose ‘grams have been reposted by the likes of @infatuation. Written by a food stylist, Graze is all about creating multiple dishes that work together as a meal, that all share a theme and aesthetic.

For the #girlboss: Matcha

More and more matcha-centric restaurants are popping up, drawing thousands of Instagram fans to try their magical drinks. The secret behind the cult favorite? This powdered green tea’s caffeine kick produces no jitters, no crash, and reportedly gives you flow-state energy coupled with mental clarity. This cookbook features dozens of recipes for sweet and savory foods as well as matcha-based drinks and cocktails, perfect for the boss babe who gets. things. done.

 

For the healthy treat-yoself-er: Weekday Weekend

Yeah, that’s totally a thing and Elsie and Emma of @abeautifulmess basically wrote this cookbook with that in mind – Weekday Weekend is all about an approachable diet that involves eating responsibly during the week—avoiding refined flours, sugars, alcohol, and dairy—and indulging on weekends. All their recipes have been vetted by nutritionists and the photography is super inspiring and fun.

For the world traveler: Mexico, the cookbook

This beautiful Phaidon book not only features the best of Mexican cuisine, it also makes for a stunning coffee table book. Definitely a conversation starter, this cookbook is perfect for your friend who is always escaping to Latin America. This “bible” of authentic Mexican home cooking, contains 700 (!) recipes from across the entire country, showcasing the rich diversity and flavors of Mexican cuisine.

For the dessert-first eater: Sweet

Sweet is the highly anticipated collection of over 110 recipes for sweets, baked goods, and confections from superstar chef Yotam Ottolenghi. Known for adventurous flavors (fig, rose petal, saffron, orange blossom, star anise, pistachio, almond, cardamom, and cinnamon) and bright, vibrant foods, this cookbook is a great gift for the dessert obsessed that are always looking for a new sweet thing to sink their teeth into!

 

Do you have a go-to cookbook that you like to gift? Tell us about it in the comments!