The Best Cookbooks of 2018 to Give (or Receive) for the Holidays

Holiday gifting can be tough, but thankfully, there's one thing that the foodies in your life are always open to—cookbooks! And with a fresh batch of books every year, the possibilities are endless. Our editors were kind enough to share the books they're loving right now, and the result is the list you see here. From Nordic food to runner-friendly recipes, there's something here for everyone on your list.

Shameless self-promotion alert! This new book is chock-full of the classic CL recipes that you love—all designed for use in your trusty slow cooker. Bonus? There are 40 gluten-free recipes in this volume, as well as 50 variations for your trendy multi-cooker. 10/10, we recommend. But seriously, it’s a nice gift for anyone that could use a little extra help on weeknights.

Martin Nordin’s veggie burgers and sides will make you rethink vegetables in general. Creative recipes like pulled sweet potato burgers cozy up to inventive sauces and buns, all of which will leave you asking (in the best way), “What is a veggie burger?” A fab gift for the plant-based person in your life.

In this follow-up to their smash-hit 2016 tome, Run Fast. Eat Slow., runner and chef Elyse Kopecky and Olympian Shalane Flanagan share more recipes designed to be both delicious and nurturing. Every recipe has a “prescription” attached—for example, a green goddess sauce is “for fighting inflammation”—highlighting the recipe’s functionality.  A must for the runner or athlete on your list.

This book is a two-way love letter to author Katrin Bjork’s native Iceland and adopted home of Denmark. Though Bjork decamped to New York’s Hudson River Valley some years ago, this modern take on traditional Nordic flavors will transport you to life in the North. A beautiful gift for any home cook, but, as one would expect, the abundant seafood recipes stand out, making this particularly lovely for your favorite pescatarian.

This cookbook—the first from Top Chef alum and Chicago restaurant-scene darling Stephanie Izard—is bursting at the seams with the creative-but-accessible recipes that fans have come to love. There’s bouillabaisse, but it’s Thai-inflected. A grilled duck confit gets topped with a fruity kimchi. Crispy cereal turns into a spicy, addicting topping. Your friend that throws dinner parties with endlessly inventive dishes? This is for them.

Former White House chef and nutrition policy advisor Sam Kass doesn’t want you to eat perfectly, he just wants you to eat better. Sure, the book has loads of simple, tasty recipes, but the big takeaway is that small, healthier changes can equal big results for you and sustainability for the environment. The recipes are tasty but simple—a book any home cook would like, but a no-brainer for your eco-minded nephew in college.

This cookbook expression of the beloved Portland, OR restaurant by Bonnie Morales received rave reviews when it was released last year. It’s easy to see why: The book opens with a guided tour of a Russian market before moving on the delicious, simple recipes that achieve their aim: to make the flavors, food, and hospitality of the former Soviet Union accessible to all.

You may recognize Gina Homolka's name from her Cooking Light column, or you may already be a reader of her site, Skinnytaste. Either way, you'll want to check out One & Done, which has an appealing hook—every recipe is made in just one vessel, be it Instant Pot, sheet pan, or Dutch oven. It’s a delightful gift for anyone who’s looking to cook without hours of complicated prep.

This new collection from the media maven nods to the popularity of the Instant Pot, while acknowledging that some may prefer the more traditional stove-top pressure cooker—the recipes are adapted for both. The book puts culinary “projects” like stock and risotto back on the weeknight menu; it’s a perfect gift for the Instant Pot enthusiast in your life.

In his third cookbook, Michael Solomonov (the Philadelphia chef behind wildly popular spots Zahav and Federal Donuts—and their eponymous cookbooks) and his business partner, Steven Cook, dive deep into the canon of Israeli cooking. History is woven into the text around Mediterranean recipes that range from veggie salads to hummus to traditional grilled meats—it’s a beautiful ode to Israeli cuisine and a great gift for just about any cook on your list.

Fans of Goulding's culinary deep-dives (previous books explore the food culture of Japan and Spain) know what to expect: a thoroughly engrossing tour through Italy, packed with stories of the foods that make up the country's multivalent cuisine and the people who make them.