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The best cookbooks to buy right now
Erm, anyone else feeling a bit peckish?
Whether you've run out of ideas for mid-week meals (hard relate), you're planning an elaborate dinner party with all your pals or you're looking for the ideal gift for your favourite foodie friend, a good cookbook is a kitchen staple. Sure, there's plenty of food and drink recipe ideas on TikTok, but there's nothing quite like the feeling of flicking through a cookbook that's bursting with original ideas you can't find online. And, of course, they look great stacked up in your kitchen – even the ones with sticky finger marks and pages stuck together. Cake batter gets everywhere, right!?
So, if a cookbook is on your 'to buy' list, then you're in luck as we've done all the hard work for you – that means you can spend more time in the kitchen making magic, and less time scrolling through the internet. From books that'll have you mastering the art of incredible cake baking to books packed with nutritionist-approved meals and even books that'll transform your leftovers into meals worth boasting about, here's our pick of the best cookbooks you can buy right now.
Tuck in, my friend...
Bringing you 81 inventive recipes, Dan Pashman – host of The Sporkful and creator of the cascatelli pasta shape – has been busy. Discover his selection of pasta picks, including classics we all know and love (but with a twist) as well as meals that might leave your Nonna shaking her head.
Transform your kitchen into a tropical oasis with this selection of recipes from the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean islands. Learn how to marinade, ferment and more to create tasty meals that'll evoke the feeling of an idyllic getaway – sans the airfare.
Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice by Christina De Witte and Mallika Kauppinen
Cookbook meets comic in this collection of Thai recipes and stories from the country's main culinary regions. Divided into six delectable sections for every meal and mood, become a pro at your favourite Thai dishes (that includes drunken noodles, AKA Pad Kee Mao).
Bring the islands of Greece to your Tuesday night dinner with these vibrant, modern meal ideas. Inspired by the colourful recipes that author Georgina Hayden grew up with, this cookbook's standouts include spanakopita jacket potatoes, one-pot pastisio and a very moreish baklava cheesecake.
Bringing you the comfiest of comfort foods, this selection from Sophie Wyburd is full of easy-win meals that will have you desperate to cancel all your plans and stay home. Not convinced? You will be after trying the spiced salmon tacos...
Want to spend more time with your family and friends during Ramadan? Cut down on hours in the kitchen with this collection of 80 recipes, including healthy dinner go-tos (think: lemon and herb cod parcels) plus tasty sweet treats (our fave is the rose and pistachio shortbread).
If you've got an air fryer but you've got no idea what to have for lunch, then opt for this round up of 30 minute meals. Want a taste of what's inside? Teriyaki beef bowls and red pepper pasta awaits...
Split into five chapters – covering everything from 'weekend wins' to 'trusty traybakes' – this cookbook from TV legend Jamie Oliver brings you big-flavour food that's fast and easy to whip up. Oh, and there's not a single Turkey Twizzler in sight...
Coming from the icon that is Mary Berry – that alone should be enough to convince you to 'add to basket' – this cookbook features 120 fuss-free recipes that are, as the title suggests, totally foolproof.
No time? No problem. Bursting with recipes that take 15 minutes or less to prep, this cookbook is ideal for busy bees looking to up their batch game from boring to brilliantly delicious.
One of TikTok's favourite nutritionists Emily English is finally here with her first cookbook, full of healthy and delicious meals. From easy to make breakfasts, to quick lunches and tasty desserts, we have a feeling we'll be relying on this cookbook a lot.
Brunch is forever our favourite meal of the day, and this brand new cookbook and coffee table book is the ideal gift for the brunch lover in your life (BTW it's ok to self gift). The book is jam packed with recipes from the best London restaurants including NOPI, Violet Bakery and The Goring, and celebrated chefs including Jamie Oliver, Angela Hartnett and Yotam Ottolenghi. And the best part is 100% of sales of each book will go to OnePlate, a charity that funds sustainable food projects in Africa and Asia, to nourish and nurture children in need.
Baked goods are the way to our heart, and we're always on the hunt for new sweet treats to add to our repertoire. Enter: Rebel Bake – packed with over 80 recipes that are perfect to bring into the office or to your pal's birthday party.
Designed to help you waste less and cook delicious mid-week meals, Kitty Coles' book is ideal for showing you how to use up leftovers and make the most out of your weekly shop. Each chapter has a core recipe plus ways to level up the leftovers. Think: a fresh spread for toast, made with wilting herbs and that forgotten can of beans.
Always the one bringing dessert to the dinner party? Well you've now got a recipe book stacked full of inspo. With chapters divided into Something Fruity, Something Chocolatey, Something Creamy, Something Nutty and Something on the Side, there's something to satisfy every sweet craving and every type of dinner party too.
Mezcla comes from chef Ixta Belfrage, who takes inspiration from Italy, Brazil and Mexico to create over 100 recipes including brown butter curried cornbread and chiles rellenos with salsa roja risotto. Sounds delicious!
When it comes to recipes, Mob Kitchen is one of our go-tos. Their newest recipe book includes over 100 tasty and healthy-ish recipes. Also can we talk about the book cover? That'll brighten up any kitchen table.
Lunch is a tricky meal, do you go all out or just grab a meal deal? Well with Georgia Levy's Let's Do Lunch you have hundreds of delicious, quick and satisfying recipes, that will make you forget all about that sad sandwich and packet of crisps.
From Wahaca co-founder Thomasina Miers comes this fantastic cookbook highlighting all the great Mexican recipes you need absolutely zero meat to make. From salads to enchiladas to puddings, there's something for every course. Sounds like the next group dinner party is sorted.
Finally a whole recipe book centred on our favourite question – what's for dessert? This cookbook has over 100 recipes including molten chocolate olive oil cakes, no-bake strawberry ricotta cheesecake and blood orange pudding cake.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
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