The Best Cookbooks to Gift for Every Type of Home Cook

Cookbooks are one of my favorite gifts to give family and friends each year because they pull double-duty in the gift-ability department: They're useful and often gorgeous, owing to a modern tendency to be filled with high-quality photos or illustrations that often make them perfect for using in the kitchen or displaying as a table book.

Reading a cookbook has the ability to conjure up visions of delicious meals to be had, cocktails to be drank, and the people you're going to share them with. Plus, unlike a traditional book, skipping around pages on a choose-your-own-adventure and splattering the pages with droplets of marinara are all perfectly acceptable ways to treat your reading experience.

Both new and old, these are my picks for The Best Cookbooks to Gift for Every Type of Home Cook, organized by 'type of cook' and 'who' in the friend group each person is.

Jump to:

• Cookbooks for Convenience Eaters & New Cooks
• Cookbooks for Kitchen Nerds and Technique Lovers
• Cookbooks for Globetrotting Gourmets
• Cookbooks for Bakers & Dessert Makers
• Cookbooks for Seasoned Cooks & Holiday Hosts
• Cookbooks for Weeknight Cooks

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Cookbooks for Convenience Eaters & New Cooks

Perfect for takeout lovers, nervous beginners, and anyone who wants hand-holding in the kitchen.

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For the friend who thinks cooking is intimidating but wants to learn

Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook by Sohla El-Waylly

A gentle, practical guide that walks through real-life skills instead of cheffy flexes. Great for someone who wants to feel confident making everyday meals without a culinary school syllabus.

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For the friend who orders takeout at least twice a week

What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers

Low-effort, high-comfort recipes for the “I cannot” nights. Think realistic pantry meals, not aspirational projects.

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For the friend who just got their first Instant Pot and has no idea what to make with it

The Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook: 100 Simple Recipes for Spectacular Results — with Photographs of Every Step by Jeffrey Eisner

Jeffrey Eisner’s patient, photo-driven guide to pressure cooking: 100 recipes with step-by-step images for each stage, designed to demystify the Instant Pot for cooks of any skill level.

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For the friend whose idea of cooking is making a sandwich

Roll for Sandwich Cookbook for Gaming Enthusiasts and Adventurous Eaters: Go on a Mealtime Quest with the Roll of the Dice! by Jacob A. Pauwels

TikTok creator Jacob A. Pauwels turns sandwich-making into a dice-powered game, with outrageous combinations and roll sheets so you can play along at home. Perfect for tabletop RPG gamers, chaos gremlins, and anyone who wants to make lunch more fun.

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For the friend who thinks the stove is purely decorative

No-Cook Cookbook: Fresh and Healthy Meals to Assemble, Eat, and Enjoy by Susie Theodorou

Proof you can eat well with a cutting board, a knife, and a fridge. Great for hot climates, tiny kitchens, or cooking-averse friends.

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Cookbooks for Kitchen Nerds and Technique Lovers

For the friend who reads cookbooks like textbooks and loves understanding the “why” behind every recipe.

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For the friend who nerds out on technique

The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt

I used to keep a full list of books in this section, but truly, this is the one you want most. It’s a deep dive into the science of everyday cooking with step-by-step explanations and rock-solid recipes, ideal for the person who wants to know exactly why browning, resting, and salting early actually matter.

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For the friend who lives for a cozy cooking project

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volumes 1 & 2 by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck

These are books I genuinely cherish. They’re detailed, project-y, and wonderfully comforting in that “let’s spend the afternoon making something beautiful” way. The recipes are classic and deeply cozy, and the books deserve a spot on the shelf of anyone who loves food enough to sink into a longer recipe just for the joy of it.

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Cookbooks for Globetrotting Gourmets

For the friend who plans their dream vacations around what they’re going to eat.

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For the friend who dreams of French afternoons by the sea

Le Sud: Recipes from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur by Rebekah Peppler

Sun-soaked coastal French cooking with plenty of seafood, produce, and olive oil. It’s full of recipes that feel like a long, lazy lunch on the Riviera.

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For the friend who loves Greek food and sun-drenched Mediterranean kitchens

Greekish: Everyday Recipes with Greek Roots by Georgina Hayden

Georgina Hayden’s fresh, modern Greek-inspired recipes rooted in her Greek-Cypriot background. Think halloumi, herbs, vegetables, grains, and easy “Greekish” dishes that bring big Mediterranean flavor to weeknights and relaxed gatherings without a ton of fuss.

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For the friend who wants Indian home cooking that fits into a weeknight

Made in India: Recipes from an Indian Family Kitchen by Meera Sodha

Real Indian home cooking: fresh, simple, and full of flavor. Meera Sodha shares the food she grew up eating, with lots of vegetables, pantry-friendly ingredients, and recipes that are surprisingly weeknight-doable. It’s a fantastic “first Indian cookbook” and a keeper even if you already have a shelf full.

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For the friend who loves cooking Chinese and Chinese American favorites at home

The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family by Bill, Judy, Sarah, and Kaitlin Leung

The New York Times–bestselling cookbook from the family behind The Woks of Life blog, packed with Chinese and Chinese American recipes plus clear guides to pantry staples, tools, and techniques. It’s approachable, generous, and great for cooks at all levels.

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For the friend who believes food can change the world

The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by José Andrés

Recipes for home kitchens plus stories from chefs and local cooks feeding people after hurricanes, fires, wars, and other crises. Part cookbook, part reminder that a big pot of something comforting can mean care, dignity, and hope.

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Cookbooks for Bakers & Dessert Makers

For the friend who thinks preheating the oven is a love language.

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For the friend who’s always offering to bake your birthday cake

The Cake Bible, 35th Anniversary Edition by Rose Levy Beranbaum

A foundational, very detailed baking book with incredibly precise guidance and impressive cakes.

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For the friend who insists cookies should be a daily food group

Zoë Bakes Cookies: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Favorite Cookies and Bars by Zoë François

A cookie deep-dive full of classics and fun twists. Perfect for habitual “just one more cookie” bakers.

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For the friend who keeps killing their sourdough starter

The Perfect Loaf: The Craft and Science of Sourdough Breads, Sweets, and More by Maurizio Leo

A patient, detailed guide to sourdough and artisan bread that walks through the process step by step. For the baker who’s finally ready to crack the bread code.

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For the gluten-free friend who misses good bread

Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple: A New Way to Bake Gluten-Free by Aran Goyoaga

Thoughtful gluten-free baking with beautiful textures and flavors. A strong “this doesn’t taste like a compromise” kind of book.

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Cookbooks for Seasoned Cooks & Holiday Hosts

For confident home cooks who want deeper comfort, better rituals, and new inspiration.

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For the friend who puts their Christmas tree up November 1st

The Christmas Chronicles: Notes, stories & 100 essential recipes for winter by Nigel Slater

A cozy, atmospheric winter book full of recipes, rituals, and seasonal moments. Perfect for the person who treats the holidays like a whole era, not just a day.

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For the friend who believes Martha Stewart is the original kitchen icon and lives by “It’s a very good thing.”

Martha: The Cookbook: 100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen by Martha Stewart

A greatest-hits collection with polished, reliable recipes for entertaining and everyday cooking. Ideal for the host who loves a classic.

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For the friend whose love language is feeding others (even when life feels heavy)

Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by Samin Nosrat

A warm, generous book about the recipes and small rituals that make feeding people feel meaningful. Great for the friend who treats cooking as a way of taking care of their people.

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Cookbooks for Weeknight Cooks

For the friend who can turn a Tuesday night into an occasion with very little fuss.

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For the friend who’s always saying, “Beans are having a moment."

The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans, from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen by Steve Sando

A love letter to beans in all their forms, from brothy bowls to hearty mains and salads. Great for budget-conscious, high-protein, high-fiber cooking.

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For the friend who never turns down a bowl of pasta

Six Seasons of Pasta: A New Way with Everyone’s Favorite Food by Joshua McFadden with Martha Holmberg

A year of pasta dishes built around seasonal produce so “pasta night” feels both comforting and fresh. Ideal for the pasta person who also loves their farmers' market.

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For the friend who loves a beautiful salad and a thoughtful dessert just as much as the main course

Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor by Hetty Lui McKinnon

Salads, sweets, and stories centered on lingering at the table. It’s full of food that feels gentle and generous, with plenty of vegetables and desserts that make an ordinary evening feel a little special.