My Favourite Cookbooks of 2020

A round-up of the outstanding cookbooks of 2020, featuring family dinner, bold flavours, the joy of pie and much more.

Yesterday I sat down with a notepad and a stack of cookbooks to make a menu plan for the week. Leafing through the pages, I was filled with a tangible sense of gratitude.

I’m so fortunate to be able to outline our eats for seven days straight. It is a absolute privilege to be able to plan out holiday nibbles, brunch baking and Christmas confections, too.

I don’t take my food security or the cookbook collection for granted. I am thankful.

Favourite Cookbooks of 2020

We’re planning a quiet, minimalist holiday season this year. No huge parties or multi-course meals are in the plans. Most of our gift shopping will be from the charitable World Vision Gift Catalogue or my edible gift guide, which supports small businesses.

I’m not sure how today’s cookbook suggestions fit into my feelings of gratitude today, but perhaps they will inspire you to gift a book this holiday season.

It’s been another fantastic year of culinary writing. My list of the best cookbooks of 2020 covers every topic from plant-based cooking to pie baking, African flavours, and dinner, Uncomplicated.

You’re sure to find a few new exciting titles on this list for yourself or someone you love.

Cookbook for Dinner and More

Dinner, Uncomplicated: Fixing a Delicious Meal Every Night of the Week | Claire Tansey

We loved: Glazed Ginger Chicken Meatballs

Oh She Glows for Dinner: Nourishing Plant-Based Meals to Keep You Glowing | Angela Liddon

We loved: Creamy Buffalo Cauli Tacos

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: 50 Winning Ways to Cook It Up! | Stacey Billis

We loved: Oliver’s Chicken (with olives and artichokes)

Vegetable Kingdom: The Abundant World of Vegan Recipes | Bryant Terry

We loved: Creamy Carrot Coconut Soup

Diala’s Kitchen: Plant-Forward and Pescatarian Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel | Diala Canelo

We Loved: Farmer’s Market Fruit Cobbler

In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries that Touch the Indian Ocean | Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen

We loved: Canjeero (sourdough pancakes)

What’s Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want | Gaby Dalkin

We loved: Austin-Style Breakfast Tacos

Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day | Eden Grinshpan

We loved: Date Banana Bread with Coconut Crumble

Ottolenghi Flavor | Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage

We loved: Cauliflower Roasted in Chili Butter

Mandy’s Gourmet Salads: Recipes for Lettuce and Life |Mandy Wolfe, Rebecca Wolfe and Meredith Erickson

We loved: Mexi Bowl with Cilantro Cumin Dressing

Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking | Toni Tipton-Martin

Technically a late 2019 book, but I discovered Jubilee in early 2020 and it was the cookbook I use the most this year.

We loved: Buttermilk Biscuits, Gingerbread Waffles, Country-Style Potato Salad, Wilted Mixed Greens with Bacon & Egg and much more.

Cookbook for Baking

Just Crumbs: Baked | Suzie Durigon

We loved: Big Batch Brownies

101 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen, with Classic Cookies, Novel Treats, Brownies, Bars, and More | Sarah Kieffer

We loved: Pan-Banging Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Farmer’s Daughter Bakes: Cakes, Pies, Crisps and More for Every Fruit on the Farm | Kelsey Siemens

We loved: Lavender Shortbread Cookies

The Book on Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies |Erin Jeannie McDowell

We loved: Pumpkin Pie

Bonus Book!

Smoothie Project |Catherine McCord

We loved: Pumpkin Spice Latte Smoothie

Bonus Magazine!

Joy the Baker has a magazine! And it’s so fun.

More Cookbooks to Discover

• A Few Favourite Cookbooks from 2019
• Ten Spring 2018 Cookbooks I am Loving
• My Favourite Cookbooks from 2017
• Favourite Cookbooks of 2016
• My Favourite International Cookbooks of 2015

Did you discover a new favourite cooking or baking book this year? Share it with us in the comments!