12 Beautiful Cookbooks To Display In Your Kitchen
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This post is all about beautiful cookbooks for your kitchen.
If you're in search of cookbooks that not only offer delicious recipes but also double as decor, you're in luck! We've rounded up a dozen of the most highly-rated, beautiful cookbooks available. Each cookbook selected is packed with mouthwatering recipes that we've personally tried and fallen in love with, and they're practically works of art in themselves – the kind of books you'd proudly display on your kitchen shelf.
From their eye-catching covers to their simple yet stylish designs, these cookbooks are a feast for the eyes as much as they are for the taste buds. Whether you're on the hunt for a cookbook to gift to a friend or to treat yourself, these carefully curated selections are sure to inspire creativity in the kitchen and add a touch of elegance to any kitchen space.
This post is all about the best cookbooks.
The Best Cookbooks
1. Cook Beautiful
About the book:
Organized by season, each section closes with a tablescape inspired by nature, along with specific table décor and entertaining tips. Cook Beautiful is where design meets food, where culinary tradition marries food styling, where home chefs become experts. These are luscious dishes to make for friends and family, with advice that will inspire you to create visually stunning, and still wholly delicious, culinary masterpieces.
Why we love it:
It represents everything that P.L.L. embodies when it comes to cooking and entertaining. The unique black spine on the book is also so lovely displayed.
2. Pasta
About the book:
Whether making pasta sheets for lasagna or stamping out pasta “coins” for Corzetti with Goat Cheese and Asparagus—or even buying handmade pasta to make Tagliatelle with Porcini, Rosemary, and Garlic—Robbins provides all the inspiration, instruction, and encouragement required to make pasta exceptionally well. Evocatively photographed with nearly 100 full-color mouthwatering photos of pasta dishes and twenty images from Italy, this is a richly illustrated ode to the ingredients, recipes, and craft that have made pasta the most popular fare of a beloved cuisine.
Why we love it:
Pasta? Say no more. This cookbook is iconic for a reason and we love the colors and overall simplicity of the cover.
3. La Buvette
About the book:
With tips on selecting wine and sourcing antique kitchenware, recreating the charm and ease of Parisian-style entertaining has never been so enjoyable. Whether you are traveling to Paris or bringing a piece of the City of Light into your home, you’ll learn how to drink, eat, and shop like a true Parisian.
Why we love it:
Another reviewer said it best, think "aspirational French girl vibes". This book exudes beauty both in its contents and its aesthetics, igniting so much inspiration. We were particularly drawn to the wine selecting tips and the stunning gold-foiled spine, which added to its allure.
4. Nothing Fancy
About the book:
An unexpected weeknight meal with a neighbor or a weekend dinner party with fifteen of your closest friends—either way and everywhere in between, having people over is supposed to be fun, not stressful. This abundant collection of all-new recipes—heavy on the easy-to-execute vegetables and versatile grains, paying lots of close attention to crunchy, salty snacks, and with love for all the meats—is for gatherings big and small, any day of the week.
Why we love it:
The recipes are both simple and wonderfully distinct, and the result is one that never fails to impress. Among the collection are numerous essential dishes, such as your new go-to dip, an unbeatable roast chicken recipe, and a delightful lemon loaf cake. The cookbook's cover is strikingly vibrant and elegantly simple, making it the perfect addition to any kitchen display.
5. Table For Two
About the book:
From uncomplicated-but-outstanding in Part I, to over-the-top-but-no-stress cooking in Part II, Table for Two helps you impress at breakfast, lunch, aperitivo, dinner, and dessert. With illustrated essays on topics like the simple pleasure of a delivery pizza, and breathtaking, multi-course menus catering for special occasions, Table for Two guides you through the moments you want to say: "I love you, let me feed you something that will make you feel good."
Why we love it:
First of all, can we just appreciate how adorable this cover is? The entire book exudes cuteness. It's perfect for year-round display in your kitchen, but especially festive during an anniversary month and in February, for Valentine's Day. The recipes strike a wonderful balance between simplicity and sophistication.
6. Dinner
About the book:
Each recipe in this book is meant to be dinner—one fantastic dish that is so satisfying and flavor-forward it can stand alone—maybe with a little salad or some bread on the side. Organized by main ingredient—chicken, meat, fish and seafood, eggs, pasta and noodles, tofu, vegetable dinners, grains, pizza, soups, and salads that mean it—Dinner covers an astonishing breadth of ideas about just what dinner can be.
Why we love it:
This cookbook is a very reliable choice, especially for those starting their collection. It's versatile and incredibly approachable, making it ideal for beginners. You'll discover so many new staple recipes with this book. Plus, the cover beautifully showcases what we'd consider a go-to weeknight meal.
7. That Sounds So Good
About the book:
Great food is an achievable part of every day, no matter how busy you are; the key is to have go-to recipes for every situation and for whatever you have on hand. The recipes in That Sounds So Good are split between weekday and weekend cooking. When time is short, turn to quick stovetop suppers, one-pot meals, and dinner salads. And for the weekend, lean into lazy lunches, simmered stews, and hands-off roasts.
Why we love it:
This cookbook is so well designed and organized, streamlining prep time in a refreshing manner. Each recipe we've tried has been utterly delicious, making it a highly recommended addition to your collection or as a thoughtful gift. A fantastic addition to any kitchen, with its bright and cheerful display.
8. Half Baked Harvest Every Day
About the book:
In this collection, there are plenty of plant-forward favorites, like Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chowder and Spinach and Pesto–Stuffed Butternut Squash. Tieghan also shares flavor-packed family go-tos, like Pizza Pasta with Pepperoni Bread Crumbs, Crispy Carnitas Taquitos, and Spicy Pretzel Chicken Fingers with Hot Honey. And to keep a smile on everyone’s face, you’ll find luscious desserts, like Chocolate Olive Oil Cake and a Lemon Tart with Vanilla Sugar, made with a focus on wholesome, minimally processed ingredients.
Why we love it:
Basic recipes are elevated into something truly special, utilizing ingredients you likely already have on hand. Plus, the photographs are simply stunning!
9. Seriously, So Good
About the book:
The 100 flavor-bomb dishes, which are approachable, nourishing, and always fun. Stanton shares her recipes and balanced outlook to motivate others to experience a stress-free cooking approach while enjoying mouth-watering meals alone or with loved ones.
Why we love it:
When you need a straightforward, delicious weeknight meal—whether it's quick one-pot chicken thighs and rice or crispy teriyaki salmon bites—this cookbook is a must-have. Its vibrant and gorgeous cover is just the cherry on top.
10. The Modern Proper
About the book:
The Modern Proper will expand your “go-to” list and help you become a more intuitive, creative cook. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, a busy parent or a workaholic, this book will arm you with tools, tricks, and shortcuts to get dinner on the table. Every ingredient is easy to find, plus you’ll find plenty of swaps and options throughout. Each of the 100 recipes (some all-time fan favorites and many brand-new) includes prep time, cook time, and quick-reference tags.
Why we love it:
Nicely written and laid out, this cookbook features excellent photos that not only enhance the overall experience but also offer realistic visuals of the dishes you can expect to create. It's the kind of book you'll likely cook through from cover to cover.
11. Sunday Suppers
About the book:
For those who yearn to connect around the table, Karen’s simple, seasonally driven recipes, evocative photography, and understated styling form a road map to creating community in their own kitchens and in offbeat locations. This collection of gatherings will inspire a sense of adventure and community for both the novice and experienced cook alike.
Why we love it:
The recipes foster a deeper connection to your food and the visually appealing pictures make this book one you'll enjoy flipping through for both inspiration and relaxation. Plus, it looks superb displayed in any kitchen!
12. Sweet Laurel
About the book:
The recipes here are indulgent yet healthful. They use just a few quality ingredients to create delicious desserts that benefit your body; all of these treats are paleo, and many are vegan and raw. Whether you’re looking for simpler recipes, seeking a better approach to dessert, or struggling with an allergy that has prevented you from enjoying sweets, Sweet Laurel will change the way you bake.
Why we love it:
Sweet Laurel Bakery, situated in Pacific Palisades, CA, is definitely worth a visit if you ever get the chance. The desserts from this book not only taste delightful but also make you feel good about indulging. Many of them pair wonderfully with a morning coffee. It's the most perfect and adorable dessert cookbook to showcase in your kitchen.
This post was all about the best cookbooks.
