My Favourite Cookbooks of 2023

Jingle all the way!

I’m sharing a line up of my favourite cookbooks of 2023 just in time for you to create a holiday wish list. I hope you’ll unwrap one or two of these books on Christmas morning.

This year’s titles covered all of my favourite topics: zero waste cooking, hospitality at home, Mediterranean flavours and even camping!

There were seriously so many that I loved. I returned to my prairie roots with A Very Prairie Christmas and Prairie (I was born in Manitoba). I fell under the spell of Bee Wilson’s writing (again) in The Secrets of Cooking and shared a seat at the table in The Meth Lunches.

There’s so many cookbooks to choose from. Read on for the full round up.

Favourite General Cookbooks of 2023

Cooking for Friends & Family

The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope ~ José Andrés, WCK and Sam Chapple-Sokol

Without question, this is the 2023 cookbook with the most heart. If you only buy one title from this list, make it this beautiful, hope-filled love letter to the communities around the world impacted by disaster and war. One hundred percent of the author proceeds go to World Central Kitchen. I particularly love the Ukrainian recipes, but they all are incredible.

Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others ~ Amy Thielen

The hostess in me loved everything about this cookbook, from Amy’s casual outlook on hospitality to her utterly fearless approach to feeding the masses. This tome is absolutely inspiring, and I will be cooking from it for years to come.

Cook it Wild: Sensational Prep-Ahead Meals for Camping, Cabins, and the Great Outdoors ~ Chris Nuttall-Smith

My family and I tent camp every single summer and there’s a lot of planning that goes into our daily menus. Now thanks to Chris, I have a ton of new recipes to try. We loved his Campfire Buttermilk Biscuits, Frozen Margaritas and hearty one pot recipes!

A Generous Meal: Modern Recipes for Dinner ~ Christine Flynn

This gorgeous book landed in my kitchen way back in January with its vibrant colours and bold dishes. Christine’s approach to entertaining is similar to mine – big flavours and minimal fuss. This book is a keeper.

Cooking Basics

Cozy cookbooks for everyday cooking – those ever important three square meals for the whole family.

The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen ~ Bee Wilson

Bee is a writer I have loved for years and this cookbook did not disappoint. A few of my loved ones are getting it as a gift this holiday because it’s essential for home kitchens. Beautifully written with comforting recipes, The Secrets of Cooking is a timeless treasure.

Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking ~ Margaret Li, Irene Li

My favourite zero waste cookbook of the year; I’m finding myself turning to it again and again. It’s been a wealth of fresh information for this home cook just trying to do her best.

Let’s Eat: Recipes for Kids Who Cook – DL Acken, Aurelia Louvet

My kiddos still love to flip through a cookbook and bake up something fun. Clara (now age 11) loved the bright fun photos in Let’s Eat as well as the creative recipes.

Veg Forward: Super-Delicious Recipes that Put Produce at the Center of Your Plate ~ Susan Spungen

Vegetables play a starring roll in this not-quite-vegetarian cookbook. Not only does Veg-Forward boast THE most beautiful cover, but those stunning images continue on every page.

Global Cuisine

For those who love to crack open a cookbook and travel to a new place. This category absolutely slayed this year; I had a hard time narrowing it down! I took so many (delicious) trips from the comfort of the Simple Bites kitchen.

• Made in Bangladesh: Recipes and stories from a home kitchen ~ Dina Begum
• Salt of the Earth: Secrets and Stories From a Greek Kitchen ~ Carolina Doriti
• Rintaro: Japanese Food from an Izakaya in California ~ Sylvan Mishima Brackett
• Prairie: Seasonal, Farm-Fresh Recipes Celebrating the Canadian Prairies ~ Dan Clapson, Twyla Campbell
• The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp: Spicy Recipes and Stories from Fly By Jing’s Kitchen ~ Jing Gao
• Everyday Mediterranean: A Complete Guide to the Mediterranean Diet with 90+ Simple, Nourishing Recipes ~ Vanessa Perrone
• Sohn-Mat: Recipes and Flavors of Korean Home Cooking ~ Monica Lee, Tien Nguyen

Favourite Baking Cookbooks of 2023

These cookbooks could not be more different, but all are absolutely wonderful in their own unique way! From plant-based cakes to nostalgic vintage bakes, they provide wide range of inspiration and I am here for it all.

• Plantcakes: Fancy + Everyday Vegan Cakes for Everyone ~ Lyndsay Sung
• 100 Morning Treats: With Muffins, Rolls, Biscuits, Sweet and Savory Breakfast Breads, and More ~ Sarah Kieffer
• A Very Prairie Christmas – Cookies, Candies, Cakes & More: Vintage Baking to Celebrate the Festive Season ~ Karlynn Johnston
• Sweet Enough: A Dessert Cookbook ~ Alison Roman

Favourite Food Writing in 2023

Non-fiction food writing, storytelling and memoir to make you think. These would make great gifts for the foodies in your life.

• Kings of their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and the Future of Our Seas ~ Karen Pinchin
• The Meth Lunches: Food and Longing in an American City ~ Kim Foster
• Where We Ate: A Field Guide to Canada’s Restaurants, Past and Present ~ Gabby Peyton
• Kitchen Bliss: Musings on Food and Happiness with Recipes ~ Laura Calder
• Sundays: A Celebration of Breakfast and Family in 52 Essential Recipes ~ Mark Pupo

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