Christmas is fast approaching and it can be so difficult to find the perfect present for your loved ones. Thanks to the success of ‘The Great British Bake Off’, and many other cooking and baking shows, the nation’s interest in baking and cooking has skyrocketed.
Every year there are lots of new books released aimed at cooks and bakers, and if you’re not either of those yourself you might have a tough time figuring out which the best ones are. Don’t fear, we’ve got you covered with our stocking filler guide to the best cooking and baking books on the market.
Keep reading to find out which books we recommend and honestly, you can’t go wrong with whichever one you choose!
1‘Bake It Better’ – Matt Adlard
Matt Adlard built a huge following on social media, where he regularly shares his recipes, his baking experiments and his tips for elevating your baking skills. The self-taught baker runs his own ‘Bake It Better’ online club via his website mattadlard.com and more recently he released his first book, also called ‘Bake It Better’. In the book Adlard takes you through the basics first so that you understand basic ingredients and principles. He then moves on to crucial techniques that you need to know (e.g. tempering chocolate) before sharing a wealth of fantastic recipes. If you follow Adlard on social media, you’ll know that he has a passion for patisserie and that shines through here. He has a knack for taking a familiar recipe and adding his own twist (see ‘Toasted Milk Powder and Brown Butter Cookies’ if you don’t believe us). This book isn’t a cynical cash-in on Adlard’s popularity, it’s an essential guide for anyone who is serious about upping their skills in the kitchen.
2‘Finch Bakery: Disco Bakes and Party Cakes’ – Lauren and Rachel Finch
If you like your bakes to pack the wow factor and taste incredible, then look no further than Lauren and Rachel Finch’s newest book ‘Finch Bakery: Disco Bakes & Party Cakes’. The sisters are a hoot to follow on social media and their baking skills always give us jaw-dropping moments. This book is for those bakers who want to create real showstoppers that are bright, vibrant, full of flavour and packed with naughtiness. From extravagant cakes through to smaller (but no less delicious) tray bakes, there’s tons of ideas crammed into this excellent book. Read our full review to find out what else you can expect from the book.
3‘The Great British Bake Off: Kitchen Classics’ – Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith & The Bakers
Is there any baker that doesn’t watch ‘The Great British Bake Off’ and secretly wish they could be in the tent competing? Every year a new book is released to accompany the series and this year’s is ‘Kitchen Classics’. It’s clear that ‘Bake Off’ has gone back to basics this series after being criticised in recent years for giving the bakers ridiculously complex bakes to do in short time frames. As is tradition in the book, each of this year’s bakers contribute a recipe along with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. If you have a Star Baker in the family, this would make the perfect gift.
Buy ‘The Great British Bake Off: Kitchen Classics’ now
4‘Have You Eaten Yet’ – Verna Gao
Verna Gao has been sharing her recipes and tips via her @vernahungrybanana Instagram account for a while now and she’s amassed over 367,000 followers. Her book ‘Have You Eaten?’ aims to help amateur cooks and Asian food lovers, make fantastic Asian dishes in their own home without being overly complicated. That’s no easy thing to do as Asian recipes are known for being intricate and requiring plenty of ingredients. Goa takes readers through the basic ingredients they’ll need to be familiar with before starting on their Asian cooking journey and then she launches into a whole host of recipes you’ll be perfecting in no time. From sharing foods such as Bao Buns and Potstickers, through to tasty noodle dishes and mouth-watering sides, Goa frequently recommends three-course set menus that you can make to impress your guests. She also shares personal stories and explains her love of the various foods throughout, giving the book a nice touch. We particularly loved the range of vegetarian recipes on offer!
5‘Jane’s Patisserie Everyday’ – Jane Dunn
One of the original baking influencers, Jane Dunn has transformed her blog into a brand and she’s one of the most popular bakers in the industry right now. Her style is straightforward, uncomplicated bakes and she often incorporates popular chocolate bars and biscuits into her recipes. ‘Jane’s Patisserie Every Day’ is her third book and it offers a range of easy-to-follow recipes that can be made by bakers at any level. With a little more emphasis on savoury than her previous books, this book is full of variety and gives you plenty of baking inspiration. From Millionaire’s Shortbread Cake through to Brownie Doughnuts (Bronuts!), these are treats you can make to keep the whole family happy. Read our full review to find out more.
6‘Michel Roux At Home’ – Michel Roux
You can never go wrong with a Michel Roux book right? The nephew of the late great Michel Roux, Michel Roux Jr. is a Michelin-starred chef and his latest book ‘Michel Roux at Home’ promises to share some of those recipes that make him so in-demand. The recipes contained in this book are Roux’s favourites that he makes for family and friends, and of course they’re a bit of a step up from the kind of meals most of us serve at home! With ideas for every course – starting with breakfast and finishing with family celebrations – the book is perfect for those who are already fairly confident in the kitchen. These aren’t the kind of recipes you wheel out when you’re short on time, these border on fine dining and require skill and attention. Roux gives the recipes for such delights as ‘Salmon Wellington’, ‘Daube of Pork’, and ‘Roasted Sea Bass’, and if you can pull these off, your house guests are going to be super impressed!
7‘Texture Over Taste’ – Joshua Weissman
Indulge your taste buds in a culinary journey where flavor meets texture, curated by the one and only Joshua Weissman! Elevate your dining experience with the perfect blend of taste and sensation as Joshua takes you on a journey to explore the six fundamental textures that transform every dish into a masterpiece. From “Crunch” to “Chewy” through to “Aerated” and “Creamy”, Joshua has packed in a wealth of mouth-watering recipes that sure to transform your next dinner party. Our personal pick is the “Fatty” chapter where you can choose between a 72-hour short rib with coffee caramel, exquisite hamachi crudo, and an incredible Texas toast smashburger.
8‘Sam’s Eats: Let’s Do Some Cooking’ – Sam Way
Another social media influencer makes our picks and this time it’s Sam Way aka @samseats. With over 1.4 million followers on Instagram, Way is incredibly popular and he’s made cooking and baking accessible to a younger audience. Every image in the book could be taken straight from his Instagram account and he certainly knows how to make incredible looking food. A lot of the recipes in this book could be filed under ‘comfort food’ with tasty ideas such as ‘Chicken & Spinach Pie’, ‘Gnocchi Carbonara’ and ‘The Ultimate Grilled Cheese’. The skill level required for these recipes varies but you could easily start with some of the easier ones and work your way up. We recommend heading straight to Way’s ‘Bacon Mac and Cheese’ and honestly, you might just end up making that for the rest of your life as it’s so tasty!
9‘The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends’ by Stanley Tucci and Felicity Blunt
Originally published in 2014, ‘The Tucci Table’ from actor Stanley Tucci and his wife Felicity Blunt, contains the recipes that have been a huge part of Tucci’s life. He says in a newly written introduction that ‘sharing a meal with others is one of the most important ways we can choose to spend the short time we have on this planet’, and he’s not wrong. The recipes contained here are nutritious, satisfying and meant to be shared with others. Tucci leaves tips alongside the recipes to guide you and there’s a good mix of cuisines on offer. From meat and seafood dishes, to a plethora of pasta recipes, ‘The Tucci Table’ invites you to push yourself in the kitchen and reap the rewards when you see the clean plates around the table. From searing lamp chops to baking a delicious Shepherd’s Pie, Tucci has every base covered including a lengthy chapter on ‘Sides’ to ensure whatever you present to guests is accompanied by delicious vegetables and table staples.
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