My Favourite Cookbooks of 2024

The Simple Bites Kitchen presents a list of new cookbook recommendations for cooking and baking at home.

Dear readers, I know you’ve been holding out for this post! And these titles are worth the wait. These books influenced my dinner plans, transformed my leftovers and gave me permission throw dinner together on a sheet pan.

These are the cookbooks that reinvigorated my love of pantry cooking and opened up a whole new world of candied fruit. Through their pages, I traveled to Lebanon and Ukraine, sailed down the Danube, and walked the ancient streets of Bethlehem.

Consider this space your virtual cookbook club! I’m sure you’ll find a few new favourite cookbooks in this list.

A Few Favourite Baking Cookbooks

To be honest, I didn’t dive into oodles of baking books this year. In general, I was baking less, and sticking to tried ‘n true recipes of my own like softest cinnamon rolls and gingerbread bundt cake.

But when these unique cookbooks came across my desk, I was smitten. Each are unique and beautiful in their own way. Each are a valuable addition to my collection, and I’ll reach for them over and over, as long as I remain a baker.

I’ll Bring Dessert: Simple, Sweet Recipes for Every Occasion by Benjamina Ebuehi (Quadrille).

Don’t pick up Benji’s book unless you are ready to hit the kitchen because it is Inspiring with a capital ‘I’. It’s such a genius concept for a cookbook; I mean, how many times have I offered to bring dessert?! I think I will be offering a lot more, just to keep making more recipes from ‘I’ll Bring Dessert’.

Nature’s Candy: Timeless and Inventive Recipes for Creating and Baking with Candied Fruit – by Camilla Wynne (Appetite).

The cookbook I never knew I needed; now a lifelong resource for all things candied fruit. I adore Camilla’s baking style – Whimsical! Creative! Nostalgic yet Modern! – and this book is filled with gorgeous recipes for bakers of all levels. Bravo! Might I also add, this book would make a beautiful gift for the serious baker in your life who has everything.

A few more special baking books:

• The Sweet Polish Kitchen: A Celebration of Home Baking and Nostalgic Treats by Ren Behan (Pavillion)
• Sweet Seasons: Wholesome Treats for Every Occasion by Michael and Pippa James (Hardie Grant)
• Rise: A Devotion to Whole Grains by Jess Ross (Nimbus)
• Flour is Flavour by Dawn Woodward of Evelyn’s Crackers

Home Cooking Favourites

Better Cooking: Life-Changing Skills & Recipes to Tempt & Teach by Alice Zaslavsky (Appetite)

This Fun! Original! Vibrant! cookbook landed in my lap mid winter and was a most welcome pop of excitement. I really appreciate how there’s a trend of cookbooks for the home cooks who are perhaps tired or kitchen-weary, and just need a real life strategy for getting a meal made. Books like You Gotta Eat and Start Here are two examples that come to mind; however, my overall pick is Better Cooking. Alice is a joyful home cook and it translates to the page in this extraordinary cookbook.

Supper with Love: Vibrant, Delicious, and Comforting Plant-Forward and Pescatarian Recipes for Every Day by Michelle Braxton (Harvest)

Need fresh dinner inspiration? These recipes are vibrant and accessible for home cooks with all skill levels. The photography is gorgeous and the flavours mouthwatering. We love Michelle’s White Fish and Leek Chowder, among many other recipes!

The Yearlong Pantry: Bright, Bold Vegetarian Recipes to Transform Everyday Staples by Erin Alderson (Hardie Grant)

Pantry staples are workhorse ingredients for home cooking and they are getting the attention they deserve in this book. I mean, beans in the spotlight on that gorgeous cover?! Heck yeah. This will top the list of ‘most used’ for my cookbooks this fall, and I’ve got dozens more recipe bookmarked for after the holidays.

The Book of Sandwiches: Delicious to the Last Bite by Jason Skrobar (Appetite)

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a bit of a sandwich trend from the TikTok bros, the messier the better ( Stacked, Salt Hank, Sandwiches of History, etc) Not sure why we need so many, but my favourite is Jason’s, closely followed by Matty’s.

What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling All The Things by Gaby Dalkin (Abrams)

Yeah for girls who grill! I gobbled up Gaby’s book this summer. She nails how I like to entertain from the grill – fresh, simple, with big flavours.

Hot Sheet: Sweet and Savory Sheet Pan Recipes for Every Day and Celebrations by Olga Massov & Sanae Lemoine (Harvest) In heavy rotation are recipes like Quesadilla for a Crowd (!), Giant Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancake and that gorgeous cover dish: Chicken with Clementines, Dates and Capers.

Tiffy Cooks: 88 Easy Asian Recipes from My Family to Yours by Tiffy Chen (Penguin Canada)

Family-style Asian food is our favourite way to mix up the meal plan and I’m so thankful for Tiffy as our guide! The kids love this book as much as I do, both for weeknight dinners and fun kitchen projects. Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Homemade Boba Pearls, anyone?

Soup Meals: Soups to feed Body, Soul and Friends by Emily Ezekiel (Hardie Grant).

My first, all-soup cookbook, and perhaps the only one I’m ever going to need. It’s divided by seasons, which works best for me, because soup is THE best seasonal eating.

Favourite International Cooking & Travel Cookbooks

Mediterra: Recipes from the Islands and Shores of the Mediterranean by Ben Tish (Bloomsbury)

With vibrant photos and inspiring recipes, this delightful cookbook captures the flavours from Spain to Palestine, Croatia to Tunisia, and everything in between. Our family found a new comfort food in the Spiced Lentils with Squash and Chicken.

Danube: Recipes and Stories from Eastern Europe by Irina Georgescu (Quadrille)

I’m just setting sail in Irina’s new book, but already I’m smitten. One of my favourite authors, she takes us on a culinary adventure through the diverse cultures along the Danube River. It’s the perfect read for winter armchair travel.

Sofra: Lebanese Recipes to Share by mother-daughter duo Karima Hazim and Sivine Tabbouch (Quadrille).

This cookbook is my new go-to for Lebanese cuisine at home. I could feast on the flavours of Lebanon every day – sumac, lamb, tahini, oranges! I stocked up on Za’atar, Aleppo chilis and Bharat as soon as this book arrived. Beautifully written and photographed.

The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes from a Native Chef by Yevhen Klopotenko (Voracious)

The striking cover grabbed my attention at my local bookstore – Borscht, in all it’s rustic ruby glory. The rest of the book is just as vibrant and unequivocally proud. Support Ukrainian culture (my mother’s culture) and authors from the ‘breadbasket of Europe’.

Greekish: Everyday Recipes with Greek Roots by Georgina Hayden (Bloomsbury)

The fantastic new cookbook from renown food writer Georgina Hayden. It boasts 120 everyday recipes with Greek roots and it’s an absolute pleasure from start to finish We loved the Spiced Lamb Chops with Hummus, among many others.

Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food by Fadi Kattan (Hardie Grant)

This book deeply appealed to the host in me who loves bringing people together and creating community. The generous Palestinian table is apparent on every page, inviting the reader to take part. A beautiful, poetic book with timeless recipes.

Food Writing for the Soul

• The Cold Kitchen: A Year of Culinary Travels by Caroline Eden (Bloomsbury)
• What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci (Gallery)
• If You Can’t Take the Heat: Tales of Food, Feminism, and Fury by Geraldine (Crown)

Cookbooks will always have a place in my kitchen. My cookbook club had another wonderful season, with titles inspiring a soup swap and a harvest dinner, among many joyous gatherings. Our group gobbles up cookbooks like juicy novels, and we’re always swapping titles and recipes from our current picks.

What was the best cookbook you used this year? Share recommendations in the comments below.

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