The Best Cookbooks of 2024

I’m not sure how we’re here again, but somehow it’s time to talk about the best cookbooks of last year!

There were a lot of new cookbooks last year, quite a few in the baking category especially. Below are my top picks from everything that was released in 2024 (that I have in my collection anyway), these are the books I’d recommend adding to your collection if you haven’t already.

If you’d like to see reviews of these and other cookbooks from 2024, check out my newsletter archives here, more reviews here on my blog. Sign up to my newsletter to get content like this in your inbox regularly.

Let me know in the comments below what your top choices from the cookbooks released in 2024 are!

Sift: The Elements of Great Baking by Nicola Lamb (Ebury Press) - 2024 gave us a few new baking books, all good in their own right and all very different too, but I think Sift is the stand out. The level of research and generosity of information in here is astounding. It’s technical without being inaccessible or boring, plus the recipes vary in simplicity and complexity meaning it’s a book that could be used by many. This is the book to get if you want to learn more about baking.

Bethlehem by Fadi Kattan - I am not alone in my feelings about this book. I have seen others say they think it is one of the best of 2024, and I wholeheartedly agree. The generosity and care Fadi takes us through the food and recipes of Bethlehem, often through his own families stories and recipes, is something few other books can compare to. Cookbooks with a story always appeal to me, however Bethlehem is not just a cookbook with a story, it is a book with heart and soul. The photography is also excellent, and the cover design stunning. A book everyone needs on their shelf and in their kitchen. 

Taboon: Sweet and Savoury Delights from the Lebanese Bakery by Hisham Assaad (Smith Street Books) - Maybe one of the few cookbooks from 2024 that can compare to Bethlehem by Fadi Kattan, is Taboon. A similar vein of generosity, sharing and welcoming can be felt from this book. Focusing on the baked goods of Lebanon, especially through the lens of the displaced Palestinian community there, Taboon captures the recipes and stories around these foods in a way that is inviting and personal. There are many interesting recipes to try, both sweet and savoury, plus the photography is beautiful and engaging, as is Hisham’s writing. I don’t have Hisham’s first book Beyrut, so I don’t know how it compares to that, however I am hoping to rectify that situation as soon as I can!

Some of My Best Friends are Cookies by Emelia Jackson (Murdoch Books)*- I was a little skeptical about Emelia’s second book, not being the biggest fan of her first (which I am aware is a minority opinion!), but Some of My Best Friends are Cookies is so fun, and the initial explanation about the use of the word ‘cookie’ (sometimes mildly controversial in Australia) set me at ease quickly. I really enjoyed the way the book is divided up into sections, and Emelia’s clear love for biscuits and cookies is evident on every page. 

There is a great variety of recipes here too, something I think some baking books lacked in 2024. There are only so many cookbooks I can house, especially of the kind that are lovely and beautiful, but don’t contain many recipes I will actually make. Some of My Best Friends are Cookies is the antithesis to this (as is Sift above with regards to baking books), with baking cookies and biscuits in and of themselves being often smaller baking projects than their layered cake counterparts only adding to the usefulness of this small but mighty book. 

*Many thanks to Murdoch Books for gifting a copy of Some of My Best Friends Are Cookies to me.

The Best Cookbooks of 2023

This yearly list of mine could probably be renamed to ‘My Favourite Books of [insert year]’ as that’s really what this is. I’m obviously not comparing all cookbooks that were released in 2023, only the ones I personally own that were released last year. My tastes in food, flavour and cookbooks, as well as my knowledge of what’s out there across varying markets, obviously limits what books I will personally purchase in any given year and therefore what might make this kind of list. 

Lots of great cookbooks were released in 2023, and this is a small selection of them. This list comprises the books that have captured me the most from last year and I can’t stop thinking or talking about. If I added everything I really wanted the list would be ridiculously long and since brevity is not my strong suit when writing, I limit myself to around five books to avoid writing too many essay length blog posts 🤣. Though if you do want more cookbook chat paid subscribers to my newsletter get even more of that! You can sign up here if you’d like to.

I’ll be back next week with the first instalment of Cookbooks Worth Waiting for in 2024, but for now lets round out 2023, another great year for cookbooks!

The Plain Cake Appreciation Society by Tilly Pamment - To say I love this book is an understatement. A cookbook has not captivated me so much in a long time. Yes, I adore other cookbooks. But something about Tilly’s book keeps me coming back and actually baking from it. For me whether I have made lots or nothing from a cookbook isn’t necessarily an indication of how good the book is - cookbooks can be useful and worthy of a place on our bookshelves for more reasons than how many recipes have been cooked out of it. However, with this book it does feel like something to mention, as so few baking focused cookbooks have drawn me in so completely and actually had me baking multiple things from them in a long time.

As I’ve mentioned previously, the photography and styling is stunning in this book, combined with the colour palette used it really draws me in and I think makes me want to try the recipes even more. Since I last spoke about this book, the Raspberry-Studded Tea Bars (p.36) have been on high rotation in our household. I think we’ve made them at least half a dozen times since September 2023. We use a friand tin as I don’t have a suitable bar tin to use, and after the first batch decided to omit the ground up tea in the recipe which makes them even simpler to make. We often have a batch in the freezer as they freeze well, and make a great gluten free, lactose free, low fodmap treat (which is why we started making them in the first place). I highly recommend this recipe and so many others from The Plain Cake Appreciation Society! 

Portico by Leah Koenig - This was a long awaited release for me, as I recipe tested for this book back in 2021 (and I am doing the same for Leah’s next book!). I really like the story and the history Leah weaves through this book, which places a spotlight on Rome’s longstanding Jewish community and the food that has shaped their lives and history in such a well known culinary city as Rome. I personally really love a cookbook that does a deep dive on a particular city, area or community so Portico helps add to my collection and knowledge on Italian and Jewish cuisines in a way that shows their similarities and differences. This is done in a way that has seriously added to my recipes I want to try list, though I can highly recommend the Fennel Gratin (p.79) as this is a recipe I tested back on 2021 and loved. It’s different to a traditional gratin as there is no cream in the recipe, which is great if you are lactose intolerant or just don’t like creamy things like me. And if you love arancini, you should try the Mozzarella-Stuffed Risotto Fritters (p.140-1) also known as Suppli al Telefono as they are like the Roman Jewish cousin to arancini!

Recipes in the Mail by Amy Minichiello* - After hosting the Sydney launch of this book with Amy, I feel I can call her a friend, so my thoughts on this cookbook may be a little biased. However if you have an interest in old fashioned family recipes and connecting with the stories around those recipes you must add this book to your collection. This book has so much heart and soul, it feels like a personal invitation from Amy to join her in discovering and baking these recipes. And if you have met Amy, you’ll know that’s exactly how she is in person too. I think everyone who attended the Afternoon Tea we hosted back in August 2023 would agree (you can read more about the event and how the book came about here). The recipes in this cookbook mostly fall into the baking category with a couple of exceptions, where recipes fit for dinner are also included.

In preparation for the Afternoon Tea Amy and I hosted, we made many recipes from the book and I was able to try a few too. Standouts were Ma Lyn’s Fruit Slice (p.71) which I have made since then too, Nanna Joy’s Sausage Rolls (p.151-2) which I have also made again since the Afternoon Tea, and showing my bias completely now, I would also say my Grandma’s Pavlova (the recipe for which I shared with Amy when the Recipes in Mail project was not yet a book) with Amy’s addition of a creamy strawberry topping (p.46-7) was also a standout. Since then, one recipe has become a clear favourite for me, and that is Catherine’s Grandma’s Pikelets (p.22). In October 2023 I think I made these every week, and have made them so many times since then as well. To me they are the perfect breakfast, and any leftovers will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days ready to be heated up and topped with fruit and maple syrup (my personal topping preference) for another breakfast.

*my copy of this book was gifted to me by Amy as I contributed a recipe that was included in the book. There is no link to where this book can be bought as at the time of writing, I could not find anywhere that had it in stock (except for a $80+ copy via Amazon that would be shipping from the USA). I have seen it in some bookshops recently (Dec 23/Jan 24) Dymocks Chatswood and Novella Fine Books in Wahroonga (both in Sydney), however I would recommend asking your local/favourite bookshop if they can order it for you. Edit 26/02/24 - To find books such as Recipes in the Mail in local bookshops, use https://yourbookstore.io to find your nearest stockist or one that can ship to you, thank you to Kelly for alerting me to this great way of supporting our local bookshops online.

The Flavour Thesaurus More Flavours by Niki Segnit- A running theme you may notice about some the cookbooks I talk about in lists like this one is my appreciation for research and the work that an author does to really provide an educational element to their work. This new instalment of The Flavour Thesaurus is a massive work of research, and like the first book, this research provides so much to any one who likes cooking and wants to understand food and flavour more. I am mostly enjoying the complementary nature of The Flavour Thesaurus More Flavours with the original Flavour Thesaurus, as the second instalment continues on with the more flavours researched and explained in the same style as Niki’s first book. Between the two books there is a wealth of knowledge to work with when learning about how to pair flavour together, and The Flavour Thesaurus More Flavours included flavours I had hoped I would find in the first one but were not included. This is a great book for anyone interested in cooking beyond recipes, or like me, does recipe development work.  

Malta by Simon Bajada - As mentioned above I love a book that does a deep dive on a particular place, cuisine or area so Malta immediately appealed to me. It also appealed to me as I knew basically nothing about Malta or Maltese cuisine and felt my cookbook collection could benefit from a book like this. The photography is really stunning, and between the food images and location images the reader gets a really great feel for Maltese food and a taste of what Malta would be like to visit. It looks sunny, hot and has a very Mediterranean vibe that made me feel like I was on a mini holiday looking at all the photos. 

The introductory section has a really good overview of Malta, Maltese history and how Malta’s geographic location and geography itself have influenced Maltese cuisine over time. Of course the brevity means there would be so much more to discover and learn, but it is a great starting point if you like me, know little about Malta and Maltese cuisine. 

Links to books on Booktopia removed 15/07/2024

The Best Cookbooks of 2022

Fortunately for people like me (and maybe you too if you are reading this?!), 2022 was another great year for cookbooks. I have created a slightly more succinct list this time to round out what I thought were the best cookbooks of 2022. This list is by no means exhaustive, and is very much based on my personal opinion right now. 

I toyed with adding more books to the list, but if I didn’t give myself a limit I’d never finish writing it. 

So below are my top four. A diverse selection, but all ones I think would make great additions to your cookbook shelf (or shelves… let’s be honest here!). 

As always the links to the books are not sponsored, just for your reference. Links to books on Booktopia removed 15/07/2024.

Let me know in the comments what you think of my selections, and what books would be on your personal list for the best books of 2022?

1. The Joy of Better Cooking by Alice Zaslavsky - How could I not include this book on this list? It delights and surprises in the best possible way, and maybe one of the few books I genuinely think would delight the majority of people regardless of their cooking abilities. It’s bright, colourful and joyful - just like Alice seems herself! So it really feels like you are getting Alice in your kitchen explaining things and encouraging you to be an enthusiastic cook and eater.

2. Mabu Mabu by Nornie Bero - When I first mentioned this book on my blog, I said after reading this book Nornie’s restaurant was on my list of placed to go whenever I next went to Melbourne. I ended up going to Melbourne in December of 2022 and unfortunately a migraine attack thwarted my attempt to eat there (as so often happens). So now it’s still on my list for next time which is disapointing, but ‘Mabu Mabu’ the book can certainly keep me company until then. It looks like lots from the restaurant is in the book, and coupled with the really informative ‘The Native Pantry’ section which helpfully explains many Indigenous ingredients and the list of where such ingredients may be found, ‘Mabu Mabu’ really gives a great experience of what (I imagine) eating at Nornie’s restaurant would be like. I also really enjoy the colourful design of the book and the images are glorious as well.  This is definitely a cookbook for every Australian kitchen. 

3. A Good Day to Bake by Benjamina Ebeuhi - I know I’ve sung Benjamina’s praises for this book already, but I really do love it. I am still so enjoying the use of flavour in this book and I really just love that it stands out from many other baking books because of that. Sometimes when I get a new book that is just about baking, I feel it gives me a sense of de ja vu to many other baking books I already own or have seen. ‘A Good Day to Bake’ doesn’t do that at all (even when I already own Benjamina’s first book) and it’s just so refreshing to see something a bit different, a bit interesting, yet not overly complex or intimidating. This book has a really calm vibe and it, along with the lovely photography, makes me lose time wandering through the book and contemplating what I could bake next. 

4. Nistisima by Georgina Hayden - I think only Georgina could make me like a book essentially about vegan food, and it be so good, I would have to include it on this list. Georgina’s enthusiasm for food is infectious and the research behind this book really makes it shine. This book isn’t just about vegan cooking for the sake of it, but documents the recipes and traditions from many countries when those following the Orthodox Church observe much time during the year where they fast and abstain from foods using animal products (thus they are eating vegan). I found this perspective a really interesting way to view a particular diet, as to me, it looks like those engaged in this form of eating enjoy everything, just not all at once, so their diet would probably end up quite balanced overall rather than constantly restrictive. And based on the recipes in this book the potentially restrictive nature of eating nistisima food (fasting foods) is not obvious at all. If you saw the recipes without knowing the context of the book, I doubt it would be obvious at first glance that it was a vegan book. As Georgina says in her introduction, this book isn’t a religious or diet book, and she’s not interested in telling anyone how to live or eat - “this book is for everyone…Why and how you use this book is up to you.” 

The Best Cookbooks of 2021

2021. Probably a year many of us would like to forget, and a year that we thought would go differently than it did.

Despite everything that year threw at us, there were still new cookbook releases. And so many good ones at that. These are my top picks for the best cookbooks of 2021, though there are more that I really enjoyed. 

The titles I’ve listed below are ones that I feel bring something more to the table, whether it be the quality of the recipes, photography, stories, themes or the fact that they brought something to my cookbook collection I didn’t know I needed. 

What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments below.

Together by Jamie Oliver - I am really enjoying this new book from Jamie Oliver. I like that it doesn’t have a restrictive theme like some of his previous books, these recipes feel a bit like old school Jamie in a comforting way. The premise of this book is bringing people together, after being isolated for so long. Whilst bringing people together may still not be possible for many of us, the recipes look achievable and tasty and well worth trying even if you aren’t able to share it with many.

In Good Company by Sophie Hansen - I love Sophie’s books, and this one is no exception. The combination of Sophie’s recipes and photography is an utter joy. And while similar to Jamie Oliver’s book, the theme revolves getting people together which may feel a bit premature to some (I suppose we all hoped the pandemic would be firmly in the past by now), this book should be on your bookshelf and in your kitchen. The garlic, honey, rosemary roasted chicken pieces (p.76) has become a firm favourite in our house, and I have made the rhubarb and vanilla jam (p.157) about four times!

Home by Stephanie Alexander - This book really does what the title says, it feels homely and comforting. I really like Stephanie’s writing in this book, and the book is a mix of recipes with shorter and extended written pieces. I am rather ashamed to say this is the first book I own from Stephanie Alexander (please don’t judge me!), I know so many who consider her book The Cook’s Companion a staple in their kitchen. However, if you are now beyond the basics, I think Home is an excellent place to begin your Stephanie Alexander collection.

Middle Eastern Sweets by Salma Hage - I bought this book after someone recommended it to me. It was on my wish list, and it seemed all I needed was a small nudge to purchase! I love the flavours that are traditionally used in Middle Eastern sweets, such as rose, pistachio, dates etc, so I knew I would like this book. The recipes by Salma have been influenced by her family and upbringing in Lebanon, but also from the wider Middle East outside of Lebanon via Salma’s travels and food experiences over the years. There are so many things I want to try from this book, starting with the first recipe in the book for Barazek (Syrian Sesame and Pistachio Biscuits) on page 14. 

Advent by Anja Dunk - This book is filled with mostly sweet recipes that are enjoyed during the Christmas period in Germany. It’s interesting how different nations and cultures celebrate the festive season, and I am thoroughly enjoying learning more about how it’s done in Germany. I really like the design of the book, and the linocut prints that separate the chapters also created by Anja. There are now quite a few recipes I will need to add to my list for Christmas 2022, though I may not be able to wait that long!

Istria by Paola Bacchia - This book fascinated me as soon as I came across the preorder listing online. The area of Istria that, with the changeable land borders over history, has encapsulated parts of Italy, Solvenia, Austria and Croatia. Istria was an area I had not heard of and instantly wanted to know more about. This book is based on the recipes and stories of Paola’s father who was Istrian, and it’s filled with family history and thoughtful memories. The recipes have an Italian vibe, but with distinct influences from Austria, Solvenia and Croatia making the Istrian cuisine quite unique. 

The Best Cookbooks of 2020

While it does seem strange to have a list of anything that could be the best from 2020, the cookbook releases during that difficult year I dare say kept many of us going. Here are the ones I particularly enjoyed, and continue to do so.

What would you add to the list?

In Praise of Veg by Alice Zaslavsky

And here was me thinking I probably didn’t need another cookbook purely devoted to vegetables. How wrong I was! This book really surprised me in the best kind of way. It is vibrant, informative and really engaging. I like how Alice has divided, up the sections of the book into vegetable colours, it really is a completely new take on the world of veg.

Now for Something Sweet by Monday Morning Cooking Club

I love everything the Monday Morning Cooking Club does, and their most recent book has been no exception. I have really enjoyed the Coconut and Passionfruit Cake from this book, as judging by social media many others have too. This is definitely one to add to your collection, experienced baker or new to the game (or kitchen).

Beatrix Bakes by Natalie Paull

This cookbook is equal parts cosy and informative. Natalie’s way of writing a recipe means that, even though many of these bakes wouldn’t be considered simple recipes, she holds your hand and walks you through it all in a way that makes everything manageable. Even letting you know what to do when you have a bake-fail or what adaptations you could make to her recipes. Plus, for most of us it was the closest we could get to Melbourne’s famous bakery Beatrix in 2020, and it was a pretty good substitute.

A Year of Simple Family Food by Julia Busuttil Nishimura

I was slightly hesitant to get this book, I really haven’t made an awful lot from Julia’s first book ‘Ostro’, and wasn’t sure I should add this one to the collection. However, I am glad I did. This cookbook is completely different to ‘Ostro’, and I really like the recipe’s emphasis on the seasons. There are many recipes I want to make from this book, and they all look fairly simple to make yet very flavoursome.

Saturday Night Pasta by Elizabeth Hewson

I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night than being at home cooking a good meal. And the idea that this practice, done regularly could become some kind of cooking therapy, just adds a magical touch. While the premise of the book is to make your own pasta, even if you didn’t, the recipes and sauces to go along with the pasta are lovely and well worth making even if you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own pasta every time.

The Hottest Cookbook Releases of 2019

This is the time of year where it becomes obvious that some pretty good cookbooks have been released. The few months in the lead up to Christmas see's us welcome many new titles to the cookbook section of our favourite bookshops (or even our own cookbook shelves!). Here are the recent releases I am most excited about. 

1. Veg by Jamie Oliver - As a lover of vegetarian food I was really excited to hear Jamie Oliver was releasing a book dedicated to veg. It's filled with really interesting and often fairly simple recipes and great food photography (I love it when a book has an image for each recipe!).

2. Bake Australia Great by Katherine Sabbath - This book seems like pure fun. And I don't think we could expect anything else from the queen of cakes Katherine Sabbath. Katherine and her wild imagination have dreamed up a selection of recipes paying homage to all things Aussie.

3. Just Desserts by Charlotte Ree - A super cute book by a super lovely person. This little book packs a punch in terms of fun, colour, design and photography. And of course baking recipes! I tried the Brown Butter Bundt at one of the book release events, and it immediately went straight to the top of my must bake list.

4. From the Oven to the Table by Diana Henry - Diana Henry is a food writer based in the UK, and if you've not heard of her you're in for a treat. Diana creates beautiful recipes and gorgeous cookbooks, and this one is all about easy and tasty food that takes minimal effort from you. I have bookmarked many recipes in this book, but I first want to start with Chicken with Plums, Honey and Pomegranates - as soon as plums are in season! Check out Diana's previous releases such as How to Eat a Peach for more divine recipes and food writing.

5. Just Add Love by Irris Makler - If any book could be described as a book filled with love, this is it. This book compiled by journalist Irris Makler, shares the stories and recipes of Holocaust survivors. The stories are detailed and to be honest, they are what keep me picking up this book to read more. Irris also has a blog of the same name which I highly recommend you check out if you want to know more.

6. The Little Library Year by Kate Young - If you are an avid reader as well as a lover of cookbooks this is the book for you. Kate had created recipes to suit the changing seasons and paired them with the perfect read. I own Kate's first book, The Little Library Cookbook, which contains recipes created from the pages of Kate's favourite novels, and even though I am not a very avid reader of novels I still love the book and particularly enjoy the Harry Potter references!

Links to books on Booktopia removed 15/07/2024.