Welcome to the Annual Zestful Kitchen Cookbook Gift Guide! This list is comprised of my favorite cookbooks from 2024. My goal is to offer a variety of cookbooks to suit various occasions or people you may be buying for. It’s always hard to narrow it down, and this year is no different. Get ready, because much of this list will take you on culinary trips around the world!
How I Choose the Books
If I had to choose one main mission for every article and recipe on my site it would be trustworthiness. I pride myself on sharing recipes that are tested time and time again. And that means I only share cookbooks from creators and writers I follow and trust. Developing recipes and writing thorough recipes is important to me, and that is a large factor when choosing which books to include in this list.
Zestful Kitchen’s 2024 Cookbook Picks
For the person who reads cookbooks like novels: Sicily, My Sweet by Victoria Granof
I haven’t been as swept away with a cookbook since Molly Baz’s debut cook book, Cook This Book or Mandy Lee’s Escapism Cooking. For starters, both have incredible graphic design—like so good I want to personally write the designer—and both have a very clear and confident voice. Granof knows exactly what this book is and what she is intending to achieve with it (which spoiler, she does). For me, this is the book of the year. It can, and should, be read like a novel. Get to know the story of Sicily and you’ll have a hard time not ordering imported ingredients and baking up the Lemon and Fennel-Scented Almond Biscotti. This is a must of 2024.
If you like this book, and the idea of traveling through writing and food, be sure to also grab Romy Gill’s India, Bethlehem by Fadi Kattan and Turkuaz Kitchen by Betül Tunç.
For the very serious at-home bartender: The Martini by Alice Lascelles
More than a third of the book is dedicated to the history and inner working of what makes a fantastic martini. Buckle up for a masterclass on spirits, ice, temperature, glassware and mixing then dive into the classics along with vintage recipes, contemporary recipes and honorary (those “martinis” that probably shouldn’t don the name.
For the fanatical baker: Tarts Anon by Gareth Whitton with Catherine Way
This isn’t for the sourdough enthusiast or the person who makes the best bars. This is for the home-baker who readily laminates dough, believes the most important ingredient in baking is precision, and is always looking for something new to master. Plus, it’s hard to write a cookbook as a duo, but these two nail it.
For the not-so-serious serious home cook: Anything’s Pastable by Dan Pashman
We all know someone who is goofy, lighthearted and presents as not-serious-at-all who happens to be wildly competent in the kitchen and probably subscribes to Brad Leone’s YouTube Channel. That’s who this book is for. The guy who appreciates good food, maybe gets a little manic about perfecting a cocktail, but isn’t pretentious about it all. They just want a good bowl of pasta that’s unique and different from anything they grew up eating. Did I say this book was for them?
For the busy parents who care about keeping it interesting (but realistic):
I’ve got three books for you, all of which come from trusted voices in the healthy-meals-for-busy-parents realm.
- What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers
- The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook by Monique Volz
- Well-Plated Everyday by Erin Clarke
For the baking girlies: Sweet Tooth by Sarah Fennel
That person that is always trying new cookie recipes or drops a few slices of cake on your doorstep because she just “had to try this new snack cake she was on TikTok” will adore this book. And likely has it on her wish list. The queen of baking on TikTok and Instagram—she’s got a loyal following and for good reason. Her recipes are pumped full of nostalgia without a lick of difficulty.
For the person whose personality is the farmers’ market: Justine Cooks by Justine Doiron
Arguably one of the best food storytellers of our generation, Justine Doiron exploded onto the food scene when her butter boards went viral on social media. Since then she has become a trusted and beloved food personality who is a master with flavors and textures. Her book is plant-forward with some seafood.
For the adventurous and creative cook: First Generation by Frankie Gaw
If you aren’t following Gaw on Instagram, you should be. He is one of the most creative creators I follow. Gaw combines his love of graphic design and branding with his Taiwanese and American roots. His recipes will transport you to Taiwan while also offering a nod to the Midwest. This book is a trip of a lifetime between two hard covers, but it’s also an in-depth guide that will help you master techniques like making bao and dumplings.
For you: Zoë Bakes Cookies by Zoë François
Everyone needs a go-to cookie book. And this one comes from one of the most trusted voices in baking (her Bread in Five Minutes a Day has been a staple in my mom’s kitchen for years). Zoë François has a way of seamlessly threading practical advice into nostalgic cookie recipes—so much so you almost don’t realize she’s teaching you lifelong techniques. And recipes you’ll be coming back to time and time again.
