Discover the best recipe books for families, including cookbooks for first-time parents, vegetarians, and large households.
The right cookbook can become a family heirloom – memories of food and delicious recipes etch into children's memories just like bedtime stories and rhymes. We know that not every family cooks and eats the same. Some are beginning their journey into parenthood and need to adjust their nutritional needs during pregnancy; others are vegetarian households that require recipes packed with greens to keep both kids and adults sustained. Many of the family cookbooks in our list focus on nutrition and ease. While cooking can be a type of therapy, family cooking is a particular kind of operation. Parents and carers are often managing a hectic schedule, busy environments and fussy appetites. Discover the right cookbook for your family's needs here. Looking to grow your cookbook collection? Check out all our other cookbook recommendations including the best air fryer cookbooks, best slow cooker cookbooks, best cookbooks for kids, best Italian cookbooks, best Indian cookbooks and our best budget cookbooks for savvy cooking tips. For more recipe inspiration, out our range of family recipes, from family lunch recipes to healthy family recipes and family desserts. If you like to plan ahead, we also have our freezable family recipes, family traybakes and quick family recipes – perfect if you're usually in a rush around mealtimes. Best family cookbooks at a glance Best cookbooks for a growing family: How to Grow Your Family by Adam Shaw, £6.68 Best for comfort food: Easy 10 by Amy Sheppard, £14 Best for quick recipes: Donal's Real Time Recipes by Donal Skehan, £25 Best for seasonal recipes: River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook by Nikki Duffy, £16.99 Best for busy families: The National Trust Family Cookbook by Claire Thomson, £20 Best for toddlers: Feel Good Food by Joe Wicks, £10.99 Best for comfort food fans: Family Comforts by Rebecca Wilson, £7.99 Best for vegetarian families: Green Kitchen at Home by David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl, £26 Best for oven cooking: The Quick Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer, £16.83 Best for easy cooking: 7 Ways: Easy Ideas for Every Day of the Week by Jamie Oliver, £7.29 Best for minimal ingredients: My First Meals by Grace Mortimer, £17.51 Best family cookbooks to buy 2025 How to Grow Your Family by Adam Shaw Available from Amazon (£6.68), Waterstones (£20) Best for growing families If you’re having your first child, then this is the book for you. Anyone on the other side will say that the transition to parenthood is an almighty gear shift, so enter Adam Shaw of @At_Dad’s_Table with something akin to a recipe guidebook to meet your changing nutritional needs. The first part of How to Grow Your Family focuses on recipes for each trimester of pregnancy, followed by a section on feeding new parents, before moving onto weaning and catering for all the family. Must-try recipes: Look out for the crowd-pleasing potato and cheese rosti, as well as the surprise all-family win with spiced courgette, pea and feta fritters with turmeric yogurt. Available from: Amazon (£6.68) Waterstones (£20) Easy 10 by Amy Sheppard Available from Amazon (£14), Waterstones (£18.99) Best for comfort food If you’re stuck in a rut cooking for the family, this clever cookbook will show you new ways with ingredients you buy every week. Based around 10 familiar ingredients including family favourites like sausages, pasta, rice and cheddar cheese, this gives plenty of easy dinner inspiration, erring on the hearty, comfort food side. From all-in-one prawn jalfrezi rice to oven-baked fajita gyros, there’s so much in here we want to add to our regular recipe rotation. If you often make a roast chicken at the weekend, there are lots of great ideas throughout using roast chicken leftovers. Must try recipe: chicken Kyiv spaghetti Available from: Amazon (£14) Waterstones (£18.99) Donal’s Real Time Recipes by Donal Skehan Available from Amazon (£20.55), Waterstones (£25) Best for quick recipes We’ve pretty much cooked our way through Donal Skehan’s previous book Home Cooking, so were excited to get our hands on his latest release, promising easy recipes ready in 30 minutes or less. As the father of two young boys, he knows a thing or two about cooking for the family on hectic weeknights. There's plenty of soon-to-be family favourites and crowdpleasers in here, from one pot creamy chicken pasta to upgraded sausage sandwiches. Must try recipe: broc n cheese Available from: Amazon (£20.55) Waterstones (£25) River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook by Nikki Duffy Available from Waterstones (£16.99) Best for seasonal recipes First published in 2011, this weaning cookbook is still the go-to reference for thousands of parents. Its winning formula is a combination of accessible nutritional advice alongside failsafe seasonal recipes. There’s also a chapter on dealing with conflict and anxiety at mealtimes, which is full of kind, helpful ideas that you’ll want to copy down and send to all the parents you know. The recipes – split by season with additional sections on purées and all-year round inspiration – call for short ingredient lists (all easy to source) and cooking methods that don’t need much supervision, which is particularly handy when you have little ones at home. Must try recipes: Cheese and apple on toast, frittatas and homemade burgers Available from: Waterstones (£16.99) The National Trust Family Cookbook by Claire Thomson Available from Amazon (£3.75), Waterstones (£20) Best for busy families This is a lifesaver if you and your family are in a recipe rut. Claire believes in cooking one meal for the whole family, and vegetables are often the focus. Chapters are divided into time frames, so whether it’s a chard & leek frittata ready in 10 minutes or a slow-roasted lamb shoulder with beans, rosemary & garlic, there are recipes for every eventuality Must-try recipe: Broccoli, feta & filo pie Available from: Amazon (£3.75) Waterstones (£20) Feel Good Food by Joe Wicks Available from Waterstones (£20), Amazon (£10.99) Best for toddlers Fitness guru Joe Wicks is on a mission to help everyone eat better, and he’s back with energy-boosting recipes for the whole family. I’m always looking for recipes my toddler will enjoy (particularly ones with lots of veg), as I don’t have the time or energy to cook two separate dinners, and Joe’s recipes have been a hit so far – think baked feta with roasted veg, creamy courgette & basil pasta, Thai green chicken & pea curry, and beef & black bean burgers, all tested on toddlers with great success. Recipes are easy to make, colourful and there are brilliant breakfast, weeknight and sweet treat ideas. We can’t wait to try more. Must-try recipe: Chicken caprese burgers Available from: Waterstones (£20) Amazon (£10.99) Family Comforts by Rebecca Wilson Available from Amazon (£7.99), Waterstones (£18.99) Best for comfort food fans From the mum behind weaning and family cooking book, What Mummy Makes, Rebecca’s second book is packed with nutritious and easy dishes that everyone will enjoy, from babies to adults. There are quick recipes (we love the creamy spinach & fish gratin), breakfasts, midweek meals and a slow cooker chapter, too. Must-try recipe: Garlic bread salmon Available from: Amazon (£7.99) Waterstones (£18.99) Green Kitchen at Home by David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl Available from Waterstones (£26), Amazon (£30.66) Best for vegetarian families In their best-selling cookbook, Green Kitchen Travels, this vegetarian couple travelled the world with their toddler. Now a family of five, their latest book is packed with quick veggie recipes for all ages. Colourful and exciting, these recipes are a great way to get kids (and adults) eating more veg. Must-try recipe: Middle Eastern sweet potato wraps Available from: Waterstones (£26) Amazon (£30.66) The Quick Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer Available from Amazon (£16.83), Waterstones (£20) Best for oven cooking Want quick, easy recipes that are ready in no time and don’t use every pan and utensil you own? This is the book for you! All the recipes are cooked in a roasting tin (you might need an extra bowl or pan for some of the prep), keeping washing-up to a minimum. Plus every recipe is ready in just 40 minutes max, from start to finish. There’s a chapter of family favourites including baked gnocchi and summer sausage traybake, as well as make-ahead lunches, lazy weekend feasts and indulgent desserts that everyone will enjoy. Must-try recipe: Quick meatball pizza with cherry tomatoes & mozzarella Available from: Amazon (£16.83) Waterstones (£20) 7 Ways: Easy Ideas for Every Day of the Week by Jamie Oliver Available from Waterstones (£26), Amazon (£7.29) Best for easy cooking For this book, Jamie Oliver researched what ingredients we as a nation put into our shopping baskets most regularly. Armed with 18 of the most popular everyday ingredients, including broccoli, peppers, chicken breasts, salmon fillets and eggs, Jamie invented new and exciting ways to prepare our favourite ingredients. The focus is ‘maximum flavour, minimum effort’, so every recipe is simple to make, and uses no more than eight easy-to-source ingredients. Expect new twists on classic favourites, such as filo chicken kyiv, broccoli & cheese pierogi, potato lasagne and spiced cauliflower rice pie. Must try recipe: Easy prawn curry Available from: Waterstones (£26) Amazon (£7.29) My First Meals by Grace Mortimer Available from Amazon (£9.99), Waterstones (£20) Best for minimal ingredients This book is a saviour for busy parents. It’s full of five-ingredient meals that even the fussiest kids will enjoy, and there are so many clever ways with hidden veg and baked beans. We tested the baked bean bobble patties on a veg-avoiding toddler, and he ate six! Must-try recipe: Carrot & cashew pesto pasta Available from: Amazon (£9.99) Waterstones (£20) Recipes for kids Spaghetti and meatballs with tomato sauce Vegan Thai green curry Toddler recipe: Salmon fish fingers with chunky chips Toddler recipe: Sweetcorn spinach fritters More cookbook inspiration Best baking books Best student cookbooks Best vegetarian cookbooks Best vegan cookbooks Best cookbooks for kids Best Italian cookbooks Best budget cookbooks Best keto cookbooks
We've gathered our best beginner cookbooks, perfect if you're starting out in the kitchen or looking for a gift
New to the kitchen, or know someone who is? We've gathered the best cookbooks for beginners to get you started and give you the confidence to keep cooking. There's plenty of options for budding new chefs: learn the essentials from Jamie or Nadiya, keep it simple with one-tray roasting tin recipes, or aim for speed with recipes ready in under 15 minutes. These would also make a great gift for students heading to university, ready to cook for themselves for the first time! If you're new to cooking, consider other kitchen equipment you might need. Our guide to the best kitchen essentials covers all the basics, from peelers to saucepans. Think about what you want to cook the most. If you want to master a Sunday roast, a meat thermometer and roomy roasting tin will be handy. If you want to try some baking, a wire rack, baking trays and cake tins are essentials. Once you’ve got the cooking bug, check out all our other cookbook recommendations. Get meat-free inspiration with our best vegetarian cookbooks, make sweet treats from our best baking books, give our best student cookbooks to someone heading to uni, or spend time in the kitchen over the school holidays with one of our best cookbooks for kids – perfect for rainy days. Best cookbooks for beginners at a glance Best for everyday ingredients: Easy 10 by Amy Sheppard, £14 Best for quick recipes: Donal's Real Time Recipes by Donal Skehan, £25 Best for five-ingredient meals: One Pot Wonders by Grace Mortimer, £17.57 Best cookery bible: Leiths How to Cook, £45 Best for simple shoppers: 7 Ways by Jamie Oliver, £7.29 Best for speedy meals: Speedy MOB by Ben Lebus, £16.99 Best for global recipes: The Roasting Tin Around the World by Rukmini Iyer, £10 Best cookbook for a budget: Eat Well for Less Every Day by Jo Scarratt-Jones, £9.14 Best for flavoursome meals: Chetna's 30 Minute Indian by Chetna Makan, £10.49 Best one pan cookbook: Just One Pan by Jane Lovett, £14.95 Best for unusual flavour combinations: Nadiya's Fast Flavours by Nadiya Hussain, £22 Best cookbooks for beginners 2025 Easy 10 by Amy Sheppard Available from Amazon (£14), Waterstones (£18.99) Best for everyday ingredients A great concept for beginner cooks – centred around 10 everyday ingredients to make 100 accessible, easy dinners. You won’t be stuck for midweek inspiration again! Each chapter focuses on a cheap, familiar ingredient – think cheddar cheese, chicken, potatoes – and shows you interesting ways to use them, helping you build confidence in the kitchen. Sheppard isn’t afraid of timesaving hacks (think risotto made using microwave rice and fishcakes with frozen mash), making this a great option for students, too. Each recipe also has a helpful tips and swaps section, so you can easily customise them. Must try recipe: 20-minute Chinese chicken curry Available from: Amazon (£14) Waterstones (£18.99) Donal’s Real Time Recipes by Donal Skehan Available from Amazon (£20.55), Waterstones (£25) Best for quick recipes If you're new to the kitchen, you might not want to spend hours cooking. This latest release from trusty Donal Skehan is full of recipes that are ready in less than 30 minutes, perfect for midweek cooking. We instantly had a list of recipes we wanted to make and could easily slot into weekly meal planning. Chapters are centred around familiar ingredients, such as pasta or chicken, and we particularly like the clever versions of recipes that traditionally would take much longer, such as beef bourguignon or a sausage ragu. Must try recipe: cacio e pepe orzo with chicken Available from: Amazon (£20.55) Waterstones (£25) One Pot Wonders by Grace Mortimer Available from Amazon (£17.57), Waterstones (£20) Best for five-ingredient meals Forget long shopping lists and using every pan in the cupboard, make mealtimes easier with Grace Mortimer’s latest book – all the recipes need just five ingredients and, as the title says, they’re made in one pot. It’s amazing how much flavour she can pack in with just a few ingredients, from crispy chicken and leek with parmesan beans to creamy spinach and walnut spaghetti, this is a great book for easy family cooking. Must try recipe: roasted aubergine lasagne Available from: Amazon (£17.57) Waterstones (£20) Leiths How to Cook Available from Amazon (£32.43), Waterstones (£45) Best cookery bible This cook school classic has been given a makeover. Now, along with all the trustworthy techniques, you also get stunning photographs and new recipes, making this a must-have manual for every aspiring cook. From butchery to beurre noisette, you can’t do better than to follow these clear instructions and step-by-step photographs. Must try recipe: Lemon tart Available from: Amazon (£32.43) Waterstones (£45) 7 Ways by Jamie Oliver Available from Waterstones (£26), Amazon (£7.29) Best for simple shoppers For this clever cookbook, Jamie Oliver found out what ingredients we put in our shopping baskets most regularly. Armed with 18 of the most popular everyday ingredients, including broccoli, peppers, chicken breasts, salmon fillets and eggs, Jamie shares new and exciting ways to prepare them. The focus is ‘maximum flavour, minimum effort’, so every recipe is simple to make, and uses no more than eight ingredients that aren’t difficult to find. Expect new twists on classic favourites, such as filo chicken kyiv, broccoli & cheese pierogi, potato lasagne and spiced cauliflower rice pie. Must-try recipe: Moreish aubergine salad Available from: Waterstones (£26) Amazon (£7.29) Speedy MOB by Ben Lebus Available from Amazon (£8.93), Waterstones (£14.99) Best for speedy meals This book from Ben Lebus and the MOB Kitchen team is all about creating flavour-packed dishes in just 12 minutes (we’ve time-tested a fair few of them!). Split into chapters, including brunch, salads, pasta and gnocchi, rice and noodles, ‘flashy’ (for when you want to impress) and ‘sweet stuff ’, it features creative dishes like chorizo cauliflower fried rice, and lots of clever time-saving hacks. Must try recipe: Cheat’s dan dan noodles Available from: Amazon (£8.93) Waterstones (£14.99) The Roasting Tin Around the World by Rukmini Iyer Available from Amazon (£16.85), Waterstones (£22) Best for global recipes Rukmini Iyer’s cookbooks all have a common theme: they’re made in just one roasting tin. This edition in the series features 75 one-tin recipes inspired by her global travels. Examples of Rukmini’s hassle-free, flavour-packed dishes include pork pibil with pink pickled onions (inspired by her time in Central America) and a mash-up of s’mores and rocky road with peanuts, marshmallows and chocolate. Must-try recipe Korean-style aubergines Available from: Amazon (£16.85) Waterstones (£22) Chetna's 30 Minute Indian by Chetna Makan Available from Amazon (£9.99), Waterstones (£20) Best for flavoursome meals We love Indian food but making a curry can sometimes be a lengthy affair with grinding spices, prepping ingredients and marinating, so we were very happy to see this book from former The Great British Bake Off contestant Chetna Makan. All the recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less and really pack in the flavour – from a speedy salmon curry to a creamy and delicately spiced butter chicken, everyone will think you’ve been in the kitchen for hours! Make a midweek curry or choose a few recipes for the weekend and make a feast. Must-try recipe: Coconut paneer tikka Available from: Amazon (£9.99) Waterstones (£20) Just One Pan by Jane Lovett Available from Amazon (£20.63), Waterstones (£26) Best one pan cookbook No one actually likes washing up (or they certainly don’t in my house) so recipes which cut down on clean-up are a big plus, add in the time-saving benefits of cooking in one pan and I’m sold! Food writer Jane provides more than 100 genius one-pan recipes in this diverse collection, with everything from traybakes, curries and stews to pastas and tarts. Must-try recipe: Creamy leek, potato & parmesan chicken thigh tray bake Available from: Amazon (£20.63) Waterstones (£26) Nadiya's Fast Flavours by Nadiya Hussain Available from Amazon (£12.98), Waterstones (£22) Best for unusual flavour combinations In Fast Flavours, you’ll find all the recipes from Nadiya’s programme on BBC Two. Packed with speedy makes and clever shortcuts, it’ll help you get dinner in the table in no time. Chapters are divided into things you might fancy as you’re on your way home from work – herby, spicy, cheesy, fruity, sweet etc, taking the hassle out of deciding what to cook. There are fabulous bakes (Nadiya was the 2015 Bake Off queen, after all) and brilliant midweek meals, from tarragon chicken to Bombay veggie burgers. Available from: Amazon (£12.98) Waterstones (£22) More cookbook inspiration Best baking books Best student cookbooks Best vegetarian cookbooks Best vegan cookbooks Best cookbooks for kids Best Italian cookbooks Best budget cookbooks Best keto cookbooks Best Indian cookbooks Best air fryer cookbooks Best slow cooker cookbooks This review was last updated in September 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Best baking books – cakes, bread, patisserie and more
We've reviewed the best baking books, from new twists on classic cakes, to bread, patisserie, chocolate bakes and more
Fancy a spot of baking and not sure where to start? We've gathered some of our favourite baking books to keep you going with plenty of inspiration. There's something for everyone, no matter what you want to make, how much you've baked before or who you plan to gift your bakes to. We've got bread books to practice focaccia and sourdough, patisserie books so you can make the perfect afternoon tea and books packed with chocolate treats for the ultimate sweet tooth. Once you've got your baking bookshelf sorted, check out all our other cookbook recommendations. Get meat-free inspiration with our best vegetarian cookbooks, give our best student cookbooks to someone heading to uni or spend time in the kitchen over the school holidays with one of our best cookbooks for kids, perfect for rainy days. Best baking books at a glance Best all rounder baking book: Sift by Nicola Lamb, £22.70 Best for American-inspired bakes: Sure Thing Desserts by Matt Lewis, £19.35 Best for indulgent bakes: Comfort Bakes by George Hepher, £16.99 Best for desserts: I'll Bring Dessert by Benjamina Ebuehi, £18.53 Best for sourdough: Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson and Elizabeth Prueitt, £20.93 Best for patisserie: Everyone Can Bake by Dominique Ansel, £23.13 Best for limited equipment: One Tin Bakes by Edd Kimber, £14.19 Best comprehensive guide: The Pastry Chef's Guide by Ravneet Gill, £20 Best coffee table baking book: The Irish Bakery by Cherie Dunham, £27 Best for bread bakers: Crumb by Richard Bertinet, £22.33 Best for chocolate: Cocoa by Sue Quinn, £25 Best bargain buy: Bread Ahead e-book, £5 Best for families: Nadiya Bakes by Nadiya Hussain, £17.73 Best story behind the book: Rising Hope by Luminary Bakery, £12.28 Best American baking book: What's for Dessert? by Claire Saffitz, £18.78 Best for global inspiration: Chetna's Easy Baking by Chetna Makan, £20 Best for on-trend bread recipes: The Dusty Knuckle by Daisy Terry, Rebecca Oliver & Max Tobias, £17.73 Best baking books to buy 2025 Sift by Nicola Lamb Available from Amazon (£23.05), Waterstones (£25) Best all rounder new baking book We have made many of Lamb’s recipes and each one has been a complete success. Her book is divided into two halves, with the first focussing on the science of baking, and the second full of delicious bakes. They range from twists on classics, such as a roasted strawberry Victoria sponge, to brand-new innovations such as a citrus, olive oil and cream cheese dome. It is the perfect gift for the best baker you know. Must-try recipe: miso-walnut double chocolate chip cookies Available from: Amazon (£23.05) Waterstones (£25) Sure Thing Desserts by Matt Lewis Available from Amazon (£19.35) Best for American-inspired baking Matt Lewis previously ran bakeries in New York for 15 years so can be trusted to know a good cookie or brownie. We love the mantra behind this baking book: simplifying recipes and developing a collection of ‘Sure Thing desserts’ – perfect examples of classic desserts that can always be relied on to be crowdpleasers. After five essential baking recipes (including ‘choose your own adventure chocolate chip cookies’ and a Scottish-inspired lemon drizzle cake, chapters are based around different categories of bakes, including bars, cookies and breakfast bakes. Skill level is basic with some slightly more moderate recipes, with plenty tempting us from the first read. If you get served a lot of American baking influencers on your Instagram feed, the American-style bakes should draw you in: think cornbread blondies, peanut butter and jelly cookies, or lemon cheesecake bars. Must-try recipe: choose your own adventure chocolate chip cookies Available from: Amazon (£19.35) Comfort Bakes by George Hepher Available from Amazon (£16.99), Waterstones (£22) Best for indulgent bakes Calorie counters, look away now. The second book by George Hepher, founder of cult favourite George’s Bakery in Cambridgeshire, is filled with more signature OTT bakes. Think towering layer cakes with a whole pecan pie stuffed inside, salted caramel cornflake sandwiches stuffed with chocolate ganache, and thick slabs of rocky road topped with nougat and yet more ganache. It’s a riotous feast for a sweet tooth, with the secret recipes behind some of George’s most viral bakes and all written in his fabulously fun tone of voice. Must-try recipe: triple chocolate cornflake roll Available from: Amazon (£16.99) Waterstones (£22) I'll Bring Dessert by Benjamina Ebuehi Available from Amazon (£18.53), Waterstones (£25) Best for desserts Here’s one for those who feel a meal is not complete unless they’ve had something sweet. Split into chapters such as ‘Something Fruity’ and ‘Something Chocolatey’, it is a book to refer to when you have a craving but lack inspiration. All of Benjamina’s books have interesting uses of herbs and spices. Standout recipes include a cherry slab pie and white chocolate, tahini, sumac and strawberry trifle. Must-try recipe: miso and nutmeg custard pie Available from: Amazon (£18.53) Waterstones (£25) Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson and Elizabeth Prueitt Available from Amazon (£20.93), Waterstones (£30) Best for sourdough This is the original sourdough guidebook. Many of the best bakers in the world attribute at least some of their knowledge to Chad Robertson and the Tartine bakery, so you know you’re learning from the best. It has excellent instructions that are clear and concise, but also has novel-like storytelling that means you read it cover to cover. It also makes a beautiful coffee table book. Must-try recipe: golden raisin, fennel seed and orange zest bread Available from: Amazon (£20.93), Waterstones (£30) Everyone Can Bake by Dominique Ansel Available from Amazon (£23.13) Best for patisserie The second book from acclaimed pastry chef (and inventor of legendary croissant-doughnut hybrid, the cronut) Dominique Ansel, Everyone Can Bake breaks down the art of patisserie into manageable building blocks, chapter by chapter. It’s split into four sections: bases (think cakes, tarts and cookies), fillings (mousses, jams and pastry creams) and finishings (meringues and chocolate glazes), plus one on assembly and technique. The idea is that, once you’ve mastered some of the basic recipes in each section, you can put them together in endless different ways to create impressive desserts, cakes and bakes worthy of a patisserie window. You’ll master everything from basic banana bread to showstopping mousse cakes, pavlovas and more. Must-try recipe: peach brown sugar charlotte Available from: Amazon (£23.13) One Tin Bakes by Edd Kimber Available from Amazon (£14.19), Waterstones (£22) Best for limited equipment It is a rare joy to leaf through a cookbook and find you want to make every single recipe in it. Such is the case with Edd Kimber’s clever book. Perfect for anyone who loves to bake, the recipes are all made in just one tin – a 23 x 33cm brownie tin, to be precise. Covering cakes, cookies, brownies, pies, tarts and desserts, there’s a bake for every occasion, from simple favourites like classic birthday cake and tiramisu, to unique bakes, including tahini chocolate chip cookie bars, grapefruit meringue pie and pistachio crème brûlée tart with honey-roasted apricots. We also love his newer book, Small Batch Bakes, for more of the irresistible flavour combinations, but all shrunk to make smaller quantities. Must-try recipe: chocolate & cardamom carrot cake with brown butter cream cheese frosting Available from: Amazon (£14.19) Waterstones (£22) The Pastry Chef’s Guide by Ravneet Gill Available from Amazon (£9.59), Waterstones (£20) Best comprehensive guide After working as a pastry chef in some of London’s top restaurants, Ravneet Gill has written her first book, in which she shares secrets for achieving perfect pastry. Ideal for home cooks, this is a complete guide to baking, which includes an enlightening theory section as well as recipes. It’s divided into handy chapters, including sugar, custard, chocolate, cakes and biscuits. Must-try recipe: salted chocolate & caramel tart Available from: Amazon (£9.59) Waterstones (£20) The Irish Bakery by Cherie Dunham Available from Montgomery Press (£27) Best coffee table baking book We fell in love with the gorgeous full-page photography in this book. But, while it's beautiful to flick through, it shouldn't just stay on the coffee table – it's full of must-make recipes. A deep-dive into Irish baking, there are over 80 recipes for both traditional bakes that have been passed down through the generations, as well as new ideas for contemporary flavour twists. The bread section is particularly strong, including recipes for treacle & linseed bread, barmbrack and honeyed oaten bread. Spotlights on Irish producers and artisans sit alongside the recipes for a rich understanding of Ireland's baking culture. Must-try recipe: sticky date & Guinness pudding with warm whisky sauce Available from: Montgomery Press (£27) Crumb by Richard Bertinet Available from Amazon (£22.33), Waterstones (£28) Best for bread bakers Bread genius Richard Bertinet makes baking easy with his step-by-step recipes. Once you’ve mastered the essential loaves, try your hand at brioches, plaits, crumpets and flatbreads, and experiment with different ferments. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s plenty to try, from a stunning plum tart to a Russian plait stuffed with chocolate crème pâtissière. A beautiful book guaranteed to improve your baking technique. Must-try recipe: sourdough pizza Available from: Amazon (£22.33) Waterstones (£26) Cocoa by Sue Quinn Available from Waterstones (£25), Amazon (£7.99) Best for chocolate This book is perfect for chocolate lovers. As well as the story of chocolate – from bean to bar – and its history, there’s plenty of information, from how to perfectly melt it to the best way to taste it. Heavenly cakes sit among tarts, mousses and cookies, with plenty of innovative ideas, including a duck fat caramel & chocolate bay leaf tart. There’s even a handful of savoury recipes (realise your childhood dream of eating chocolate for dinner) with chocolate adding richness to chilli, game dishes and even pasta. Must-try recipe: chocolate milk cake with pecan praline cream Available from: Waterstones (£25) Amazon (£7.99) Bread Ahead online baking recipe e-book Available from Bread Ahead (£5) Best bargain buy A wallet-friendly baking choice from London bakery Bread Ahead, this e-book is an accessible collection of some of the bakery’s most-loved recipes. Learn how to make 18 different bakes, including Bread Ahead’s legendary doughnuts – affectionately dubbed ‘pillows of joy’ – and its fluffy focaccia & almond amaretti biscuits. Must-try recipe: cinnamon buns Available from: Bread Ahead (£5) Nadiya Bakes by Nadiya Hussain Available from Amazon (£17.73), Waterstones (£22) Best for families Accompanying her BBC Two series of the same name, Nadiya Bakes features over 100 recipes, from celebration cakes, biscuits, traybakes, tarts and pies to showstopping desserts, breads and savoury bakes. Nadiya puts her signature creative twists on classic recipes (sheekh kebab toad-in-the-hole and croissant bread & butter pudding) and provides plenty of inventive shortcuts so anyone can easily achieve delicious and impressive bakes at home. Must-try recipe: strawberry & clotted cream shortcake cupcakes Available from: Amazon (£17.73) Waterstones (£22) Rising Hope by Luminary Bakery Available from Amazon (£16.26), Waterstones (£20) Best story behind the book Luminary Bakery is a London-based social enterprise that supports disadvantaged women, including those who have been homeless or experienced abuse, by offering courses, employment and work experience in its bakeries. Its first book combines inspiring stories from some of these women alongside beautifully illustrated sweet and savoury recipes. Must-try recipe: Honeycomb cheesecake blondies Available from: Amazon (£12.49) Waterstones (£20) What's for Dessert? by Claire Saffitz Available from Amazon (£18.78), Waterstones (£26) Best American baking book If you read pastry expert Claire Saffitz’s first cookbook, Dessert Person, you might have high hopes for this one. Full of creative flavour combinations, she uses her advanced knowledge to break down showstopping recipes, such as marbled mint chocolate mousse and boozy orange soufflés, to make them achievable at home. This retro-looking cookbook looks good enough to eat. Must-try recipe: Pineapple & quince tart Available from: Amazon (£18.78) Waterstones (£26) Chetna's Easy Baking by Chetna Makan Available from Amazon (£9.49), Waterstones (£20) Perfect for loved ones with overflowing spice cupboards, this collection of sweet and savoury bakes from Chetna Makan includes her pear, chocolate, star anise & hazelnut tarte tatin; rainbow chard masala pasties; and chilli naan pizzas (that’s one the kids will love). There’s inspiration for impressive desserts, too – banoffee chocolate pavlova, coffee cream profiteroles and vegan saffron cheesecake. Must-try recipe: Mango & lime meringue pie Available from: Amazon (£9.49) Waterstones (£20) The Dusty Knuckle by Daisy Terry, Rebecca Oliver & Max Tobias Available from Amazon (£17.73), Waterstones (£22) Best for on-trend bread recipes The Dusty Knuckle bakeries in Dalston and Harringay are famous for their enormous sandwiches packed with creative fillings, such as pickled beetroot, whipped feta, za’atar & slaw. Learn to make them (we’ll be starting with the egg, chilli & cheese), as well as fabulous breads and pastries. Must-try recipe: Seedy soft tin loaf Available from: Amazon (£17.73) Waterstones (£22) More baking inspiration For more baking inspiration, check out our recipe collections online. We've got everything you need from easy bakes for novices, indulgent brownie recipes, impressive birthday cake ideas, creamy cheesecake recipes and much more. Check out our reviews for all the best baking kit you'll need to get started: Best stand mixers Best spatulas Best baking gifts Best cake tins Kids baking essentials If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
We've selected the best cookbooks of 2021, from Bake Off stars Nadiya Hussain and Kim-Joy, to cult chefs Jamie Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi
With hundreds of cookbooks out each year, it's easy to get lost in the sea of foodie possibility. We've handpicked our favourites, from the wacky and delicious creations found in Celebrate with Kim-Joy, to the healthy easy meals of Family Comfort by Rebecca Wilson. In our list of the best cookbooks of 2021, you can find an essential guide for the budding host, for someone with a sweet-tooth, and the vegan in your life – all of them will make a thoughtful gift this Christmas. For more gift inspiration, explore our gift guides, with lists such as the best wine to gift and the best gifts for coffee lovers. Our taste tests show you the best food and drink buys from supermarkets and independent producers, such as the best host chocolate and the best limoncello. On our product reviews, you'll find expert and essential advice on kitchen gadgets like the best sandwich toasters and the best air fryers, handy for any big gift purchases this Christmas. Together by Jamie Oliver This is the new bible for weekend cooking. We all missed the simple joy of eating with loved ones during the pandemic, and to celebrate us being reunited, Jamie has put together this fun collection of 18 menus. There’s something for every occasion: a taco party, curry night, picnic and celebration roast, with handy get-ahead tips so you don’t spend all evening in the kitchen. (Penguin Michael Joseph) Available from: Waterstones (£26) Tesco (£13) WHSmith (£13) The Sweet Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer Food writer Rukmini is known for her best-selling Roasting Tin cookbooks, all designed for minimum fuss and maximum flavour. Her latest book follows suit with 75 sweet and savoury bakes designed to be made in one tin or tray, cutting down on washing-up. There are traybakes, brownies, cookies, crumbles, tarts and more, and some recipes have easy swaps to make them vegan, gluten-free or low-sugar. (Square Peg) Available from: Amazon (£12.99) Waterstones (£18.99) WHSmith (£12.99) Tarkari by Rohit Ghai Chef and restaurateur Rohit has worked at some of the UK’s best Indian restaurants, including Trishna and Bombay Bustle, but in Tarkari, his first book, he goes back to his roots and home-style cooking. Paying tribute to his mother, he shares his favourite vegetarian and vegan dishes to cook at home, from paneer makhani, dal and aloo gobi, to lesser-known regional specialties. This book is a must-have for any fan of Indian cooking. (Kyle books) Available from: Amazon (£16.99) Waterstones (£25) WHSmith (£20.50) Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love by Yotam Ottolenghi Ottolenghi teams up with Noor Murad to share some fridge-raid recipes with dinner-party-worthy results. Expect Ottolenghi’s classic big Middle Eastern flavours and vegetable-focused recipes, all given a cheffy twist, from burnt aubergine and tomato & tahini to black lime beef skewers with sumac onions. (Ebury) Available from: Amazon (£16.56) Waterstones (£25) Bookshop.org (£25) Asian Green by Ching-He Huang Taiwanese chef and food writer Ching-He Huang started adapting dishes to make them vegetarian and plant-based in 2017 after her husband went vegan to help combat asthma and eczema. She fell in love with the flavourful dishes, and shares a wide range, including shiitake tofu scramble for breakfast and spicy Singapore-style noodles for dinner. (Kyle books) Available from: Amazon (£10.91) Waterstones (£20) Bookshop.org (£20) Family Comforts by Rebecca Wilson If you know someone who’s in a rut with family meals, this is the book for them. From the mum behind What Mummy Makes, Rebecca’s second book is packed with nutritious and easy dishes that everyone will enjoy, from babies to adults. There are quick recipes (we love the creamy spinach & fish gratin), breakfasts, midweek meals and a slow cooker chapter, too. (DK) Available from: Amazon (£10) Waterstones (£16.99) WHSmiths (£9.49) Fast Flavours by Nadiya Hussain In Fast Flavours you’ll find all the recipes from Nadiya’s programme on BBC Two. Packed with speedy makes and clever shortcuts, it’ll help you get dinner in the table in no time. Chapters are divided into things you might fancy as you’re on your way home from work – herby, spicy, cheesy, fruity, sweet etc, taking the hassle out of deciding what to cook. There are fabulous bakes (Nadiya was the 2015 Bake Off queen, after all) and brilliant midweek meals, from tarragon chicken to Bombay veggie burgers. (Penguin Michael Joseph) Available from: Amazon (£11) Waterstones (£22) Bookshop.org (£22) Celebrate with Kim-Joy You’ll find a bake for every occasion in Kim-Joy’s new book, whether it’s a show stopping birthday cake, Valentine’s treat, spooky Halloween make (I love the brownie spiders), something festive or, if you’re feeling ambitious, wedding cakes. Kim-Joy’s creations are as cute and creative as ever, for all skill levels, and are guaranteed to make you smile. (Quadrille) Available from: Amazon (£14.47) Waterstones (£20) Bookshop.org (£20) At Christmas We Feast by Annie Gray Take a trip through time with food historian Annie Gray as she delves into the origins of Christmas feasts – from the popularity of mince pies to why roast potatoes were slow to catch on – and shares original and contemporary recipes for traditional favourites. (Profile Books) Available from: Amazon (£10.58) Waterstones (£12.99) Bookshop.org (£12.99) More Foodie gift inspiration: Best Italian cookbooks Best budget cookbooks The best chocolate hampers to give in 2021 15 of the best cheese gifts 2021 Best fondue sets to buy in 2021 for cheese and chocolate 30 best gifts for coffee lovers 2021 Best gifts for bakers Best letterbox gifts Best gifts for coffee lovers Best gins to give as gifts
Planning a gourmet getaway in sunny Portugal? Check out our foodie guide to the Douro Valley and our top 10 must-try delicacies, drinks and day trips.
Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to. All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of 1 September 2017 and will be checked and updated annually. If you think there is any incorrect or out-of-date information in this guide please email us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. One of the most stunning wine regions in the world, the Douro Valley in northern Portugal is bursting with rural wineries, vintage port and experimental modern restaurants. For an authentic experience, head to local tascas and tabernas for fresh seafood, creamy cheeses and suckling pig. You can get a real taste of the region by following in our footsteps with this handy guide. White port & tonic Made from white grapes, white port is more summery and herbal than its dark, sweet counterpart, making it a refreshing aperitif with lots of ice and tonic. Try one on the terrace at Six Senses’ Vale de Abraão restaurant as the sun goes down. Kid goat Vastly overlooked in the UK, kid goat is very popular in the Mediterranean. The meat is delicate and tender, and usually slow-cooked in stews, or roasted. Pastéis de nata A buttery pastry case encases creamy egg custard. Dreamy... You’ll find them on most hotel breakfast menus in the Douro and after your trip, you'll be tempted to make your own pastéis de nata at home. Bacalhau à bras A comforting cod hash made with salt cod, eggs, black olives and fried potatoes. Alheira sausage This pork-free sausage was originally invented by Portuguese Jews during the Inquisition. They were made from a mixture of poultry and game, then smoked. Try it at Papas Zaide in Provesende. At lunchtime there’s no menu, instead, the owner will bring out charcuterie, cheese, bread and olives. Polvo (octopus) The Portuguese are big fans of octopus and usually save it for special occasions. It’s served everywhere grilled, in stews and salads. Simple is best – try it grilled and drizzled with garlic-infused olive oil at DOC. Feijoada de cogumelos Food in the Douro is very meat- and fish-focused; feijoadas are traditionally made with beans, pork and beef, but if you’re craving something vegetarian, order feijoada de cogumelos, a version made with mushrooms and butter beans. Graham's ruby port A rich port with chocolatey notes, Graham’s ruby port is particularly good after dinner with chocolate truffles or sheep’s cheese. Bacalhau com grão A salt cod salad with chickpeas and eggs served cold, usually eaten with other tapas. Terrincho cheese Made using sheep’s milk, pair this soft and creamy cheese with a glass of Quinta da Boeira Reserve – a smoky, spiced red. 5 foodie travel tips Barrel down the river Take a ride down the Douro in a rabelo – a wooden boat once used to transport port barrels to Porto. You'll taste some port on board and get a unique view of the surrounding quintas. Two-hour trip from Pinhão, £18, book here. Get high Learn about the Alto Douro at Quinta das Carvalhas on a guided two-hour jeep ride through this 1,000-acre property with their agriculturist Álvaro. You’ll find a spectacular panoramic view at the top. Afterwards, enjoy a wine tasting with local cheeses in the estate’s wine shop. £65 per person. To book, email: carvalhas@realcompanhiavelha.pt. Visit a winery Picnic among the vines at Quinta do Pôpa. Get comfy on beanbag chairs and enjoy incredible views of the valley while you eat. In September and October you can get involved with the harvest, too: learn about the grapes, help to pick and tread them and finish with a wine tasting. Picnics from £24 for two; the harvest experience costs £52 per person, including lunch. Taste port A port tasting is a must, and Quinta da Bomfim is one of the best places to do it. Owned by the Symington family, who produce a fifth of the Douro’s port, including Dow’s vintage and Graham’s, their south-facing vineyard offers prime ripening conditions. Knowledgeable guides will show you around before a tasting of three vintage ports. £17 per person, reservations only. Learn from a chef At Six Senses Douro Valley you can learn to cook Portugese food with chefs Ljubomir Stanisic and Luis Borlido. You’ll also get a taste of local life by accompanying him to the market to buy fresh ingredients before the class starts. £175 per person, call +351 254 660 600 to book. Like these foodie treats? See other travel guides... Our ultimate travel hub Top 10 foods to try in Croatia Top 10 foods to try in Tuscany Where to stay Six Senses Douro Valley is a foodie haven with restaurants serving local produce in a stylish setting with its very own herb garden and a wine library with nightly tastings. Rooms from £237 a night. How to get there TAP Portugal flies from Gatwick to Porto from £44 one-way. From Porto airport, it’s 90 minutes by road to the Douro. Flights and accommodation for this feature were provided by Six Senses Douro and TAP Portugal. Are there any foods we've missed? Leave a comment below...
Discover BBC Good Food's top tips for buying local produce. We reveal the benefits for the community and the challenges our writer faced when only ingredients from nearby.
Who took the challenge? Fiona Forman, BBC Good Food deputy chief sub-editor: I live in Teddington, south-west London, and cook for my boyfriend and me. I plan meals ahead and do a weekly shop online. We mainly cook fish and vegetables, and only eat meat once a week – we buy organic and high-welfare, which is expensive. The challenge: buy only local ingredients for two weeks More than half of our food now comes from abroad, mainly the EU, South America and South-East Asia. The further food travels, the greater the carbon footprint. The Campaign to Protect Rural England defines ‘local’ as within 30 miles of where you live. In this challenge, I had to buy all meat, fish, bread, dairy, fruit and veg locally. How to buy local food Week one As I live inside the M25, I knew this wouldn’t be easy – there’s not much pasture or agriculture. My local supermarket had some British veg, but most was imported. At the nearest farmers’ market, in Twickenham, only one of the 29 producers was from within 30 miles, and one stallholder had travelled over 200 miles! The nearest fruit and veg came from 51 miles away. So I bought eggs, a whole chicken and organic lamb from Lee House Farm in Sussex. My sister volunteers at Grace & Flavour, a community garden in Surrey 14 miles away, and she gave me a big bag of veg for about £5. From one squash, I made curry, risotto and soup. I knew it would be impossible to get fish (the nearest fishing coasts are over 60 miles away), so we ate more meat than usual. My local butchers stocks beef from Surrey, so I bought a rump steak and some honey made in Teddington. For lunch, I made vegetable soups with sourdough and rye bread that I made with flour from E5 Bakehouse (they mill their own flour from locally sourced wheat). I also found cheeses from Woking and Berkshire in a local cheese shop. Week two I was determined to find veg grown closer to home. I went to Osterley Park, a National Trust estate just five miles away, in Isleworth. At the farm shop, we bought cheap, good-quality onions, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, parsnips and cauliflower for £5.90. Buying locally means you’re restricted to what can be grown in season in the UK, which is difficult in winter – I missed bananas and avocados! The verdict Buying local involves a lot of time and planning – Saturday mornings were spent at the farmers’ market, farm shop or butchers – but I loved supporting farmers and interacting with people. Shopping online is a convenient but disconnected way to shop – even if I buy British, it arrives without any engagement with my local community. I spent £140 in two weeks rather than my usual £90, but meals tasted better and I appreciated them more, as I felt more connected to where they came from. I’ll keep shopping locally as much as I can. Top 5 ways to eat locally Do your research. Visit farmshop.uk.com to find your nearest farmers' market and nationaltrust.org.uk for National Trust farm shops - they're all over the country. Find out what's in season. Before you shop, find out what's in season and plan meals accordingly. Check out our seasonality guide. It's worth calling your butcher, fishmonger and cheesemonger before you go, to see if they have anything local – it often goes quickly, but they may be able to put some aside for you. Plan how much food you need. Most farmers' markets only happen at weekends, and local shops often close early, so be sure to get enough to last the week. Many farmers' markets and farm shops only take cash, and not all have bags, so take some with you (plus it's better for the environment!). See our Seasonal calendar for what to eat when. What are your tips for buying local produce? Let us know in the comments below...
Our guide to Lyon and Beaujolais is packed with local knowledge to help you find the very best French food and drink on offer in the region.
Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to. All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of 1 April 2017 and will be checked and updated annually. If you think there is any incorrect or out-of-date information in this guide please email us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Lyon has it all; culture, beautiful architecture and above all, incredible food and wine. The vineyards of Beaujolais are just a 40-minute drive away so you can combine a city break with a rural retreat in one. Don't leave Lyon and Beaujolais without trying... Cervelle de canut A dip made from creamy white cheese, garlic and herbs, good with crusty bread. The name translates as 'silk worker's brain', so-called because these craftsmen were generally looked down upon by the affluent classes. Quenelles de brochet Lyon's signature dish of pike dumplings served with a creamy crayfish, lobster or mushroom sauce. You'll find them at every bouchon in the city. Saucisson These hang from the ceilings of every bouchon and wine bar in Lyon. Rosette de Lyon is the most famous, and for good reason — a garlicky sausage air-dried for up to six months, it has a deep, rich flavour. Other local specialities include Jesus (tied in a pear shape, said to resemble a swaddled baby Jesus) and cured sausages with truffles and pistachios. Tablier de sapeur Tripe marinated in white wine, coated in breadcrumbs and fried. It's an acquired taste! Bugnes A sweet, deep-fried treat. Strips of dough flavoured with vanilla, lemon zest, orange water or rum are twisted into different shapes, fried and dusted with icing sugar. Traditionally made for Mardi Gras, they are now so popular that many bakeries, including A La Marquise, sell them all year round. Salade Lyonnaise A perfect combination of bitter frisée lettuce, crisp salty lardons, poached eggs and a sharp mustardy dressing. Gâteau de foie de volaille Another bouchon staple. Chicken livers are blitzed with cream, garlic, eggs and herbs, then baked to make these light, moussey 'cakes'. Often eaten as a main course with a tomato sauce and salad. Château de la Chaize Brouilly The 17th-century Château de la Chaize is surrounded by the Brouilly hills where pink granite soil and old wines (half of them are over 50-years-old) produce a silky red wine. The estate's owner, Caroline de Roussy de Sales, runs tours of the eco-friendly vineyard and holds tastings in what is the longest cellar in Beaujolais. Buy some brouilly to take home and after a few months (if you can wait that long), it'll taste even better. Tête de veau Calf's head, including the brains, is simmered in a broth for hours and served with a mustardy sauce. Try it (if you dare) at Daniel & Denise which does such Lyonnaise classics very well. Pink pralines Locals love these rosy sugared almonds that are often used to adorn brioche or stuffed croissants and come mixed with cream in the hot pink tartes aux pralines found in bakeries and on dessert menus across Lyon. 5 foodie travel tips Explore the Beaujolais wine route. Driving routes wind through scenic countryside and medieval villages, with vineyard tours and cellar tastings along the way. For a map of the route, visit beaujolaisvignoble.com. Most of the wine in the region is produced from the gamay grape, but forget Beaujolais Nouveau — the older wines are far superior. You can hire a car with a chauffeur (from £245 per day) who will arrange your route and book tastings and meals, at gatelyon.fr. Eat in a B&B. Lots of vineyards have B&Bs attached, and most offer table d'hote: a fixed-price dinner, often eaten with the winemaker and their family. At Domaine David-Beaupere (domainedavidbeaupere.fr; doubles £77 per night) in the village of Juliénas, hostess Claire serves a four-course supper made from local, organic produce for £22 per person. Shop at a local market. The main market in Lyon, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, is crammed with high-end local produce. Make a beeline for La Mère Richard — the creamy Saint Marcellin cheese is the region's best, and staff will vacuum-pack it for you to take home; and Charcuterie Sibilia, where local legend Colette Sibilia makes the city's top charcuterie. Slow down. Locals love to linger over a meal. Eat a relaxed lunch at neighbourhood favourite AOC (+33472607957), a wine bar at Les Halles that uses produce such as platters of charcuterie and succulent steaks staight from the surrounding stalls, or pay homage to chef Paul Bocuse with a visit to his popular bistro, Le Sud. Go grape picking. Visit in September to take part in the harvest. At Domaine Paire in southern Beaujolais, join the charismatic Jean-Jacques Paire for a morning in the vines, then sit down to a three-course lunch, followed by a tour of the wine museum and cellar, and a tasting of his organic wines. £43 per person. To book, email domainepaire@gmail.com Is there anything we've missed? Let us know in the comments below...