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Shelf-Worthy Cookbooks for Real Life Cooking
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items Cookbooks are my cozy little obsession… I love collecting them almost as much as I love flipping through them with a cup of coffee in hand. This list features the tried-and-true cookbooks I actually use in my real life kitchen, from foolproof baking ...
Sections
4
Beginner-Friendly & Everyday Cooking
Baking + Sweets
Global Flavors & Cultural Favorites
Food Writing & Cooking School Classics
Beginner-Friendly & Everyday Cooking
Go-to cookbooks that are perfect for quick meals, weeknight dinners, or building kitchen confidence without the stress.
We've all seen his beautiful videos that feel really relatable, and here is his next cookbook!
Joshua Weissman: An Unapologetic Cookbook
Years ago, when Bon Apetite was popular and good on YouTube, I found Molly Baz and loved her style. Now she's got her own cookbook!
Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat
I'm sure you've seen Babs on TikTok. She's the helpful kitchen lady we all need. She's known for sharing helpful tips in the kitchen and home for our generation to soak in. Thank goodness she made a cookbook!
Every Day with Babs: 101 Family-Friendly Dinners for Every Day of the Week
If there's somebody in your life who is going off to college this fall, this would make a really thoughtful present!
The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Recipes to Survive the Next Four Years
If you're in your high-protein, meal-prep era but also want your food to actually taste good, this one’s for you. These recipes are simple, nutrient-packed, and don’t require you to have a culinary degree (bless). A favorite for weeknights when I nee...
Shred Happens: So Easy, So Good: 100+ Protein-Packed Mediterranean Favorites with a Low-Carb Twist; A Cookbook
Baking + Sweets
For anyone who’s ever had a baking phase (or never left it). These books are full of cookies, cakes, and carbs galore.
A lot of my friends are gluten-free so I can see getting this book for myself so that I can make them yummy treats but ALSO giving them a copy of this cookbook!
The Art of Gluten-Free Bread: Groundbreaking Recipes for Artisanal Breads and Pastries
Sally's Baking Addiction was a staple in my house growing up. If we needed a beautiful dessert, we turned to Sally!
Sally's Baking 101: Foolproof Recipes from Easy to Advanced
Another book from Sally and this is the one that my mom has in her kitchen with notes throughout the years!
Sally's Baking Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes, and Desserts for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix
Making bread is something that we all should know how to do. It's a staple and so worth the effort you put in!
The Perfect Loaf: The Craft and Science of Sourdough Breads, Sweets, and More: A Baking Book
I also found Claire on Bon Apetite's YouTube channel ages ago. When she branched out and published this cookbook, I had it immediately! Love a lot of the recipes in it even though they're pretty involved!
Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking with Confidence: A Baking Book
Global Flavors & Cultural Favorites
A flavorful collection of recipes and stories from around the world, including family favorites and culinary deep dives.
I bought this as a joke and stayed for the legit good recipes. Think comfort food with swagger like fried bologna sandwiches, baked mac & cheese, even some surprisingly solid brunch ideas. 10/10 would cook with Gin & Juice playing in the back...
From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from The Boss Dogg's Ki
This book changed the way I cook, not just what I cook. Samin breaks down the science of good food so beautifully, you’ll finally understand why your roasted veggies needed more acid and your soup needed way more salt. A forever kitchen staple.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
This one feels like a warm hug. It’s part cookbook, part memoir, and 100% heart. The recipes are authentic, flavorful, and written to be passed down . You’ll want to try everything from kimchi pancakes to comforting stews. Makes me wanna call my mom.
Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes
My mom swears by this diet. It has changed so much for her and she's been living by it for at least 10+ years now.
The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners: Meal Plans, Expert Guidance, and 100 Recipes to Get You Started
Food Writing & Cooking School Classics
These aren’t just cookbooks—they’re culinary adventures. Ideal for the reader who wants to learn technique and savor the story.
For cozy game lovers and comfort food fans alike, this one is pure joy. The recipes are cute and easy, and yes, the pink cake is in here. If you’ve ever harvested virtual crops and wanted to eat your screen, this is your moment.
The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook
This one is totally for the ACOTAR girlies. It’s fanfic in cookbook form (but make it aesthetic), and the themed recipes are actually very well thought out. Great for book club snacks or a romantasy-themed dinner party.
A Feast of Thorns and Roses (B&N Exclusive Edition): The Unofficial Cookbook of A Court of Thorns and Roses
This is a classic and sometimes I still daydream about becoming like that movie where the lady challenges herself to make all of the recipes in a year!
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1
Not exactly a traditional cookbook, but I had to include it. Bourdain’s writing is sharp, raw, and oddly comforting if you’ve ever worked in or romanticized the chaos of a kitchen. A must-read for foodies and nonfiction lovers alike.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
