The Best Cookbooks to Buy for Friends and Family

Here are some great cookbooks from the Dineread review team.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1

JULIA CHILD, LOUISETTE BERTHOLLE AND SIMONE BRECK

If taking on decadent new recipes is your favorite weekend pastime, Julia Child's got your back. Her superbly-detailed instructions ensure that you will accomplish even the most complex creation. Just be warned: it's hard not to hear her voice in your head as you work your way through them.

Joy of Cooking: 2019 Edition Fully Revised and Updated

IRMA S. RONNBAUER, MARION ROMBAUER BECKER, ETHAN BECKE

Your grandmother probably had a copy of an earlier Joy edition for a reason. This definitive tome comes packed with instructions on making everything from a classic roast to perfect brownies. Its no-frills, no-nonsense recipes include clear, easy-to-follow instructions anyone can use, even if you tend to burn water.

Good Housekeeping Cookbook: 1,200 Triple-Tested Recipes

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Our test kitchen experts triple-tested all of the recipes in this cookbook, so you know you can trust every single one. It’s both fun to page through and use in your kitchen adventures with beautiful food photography and mouthwatering dishes.

The Fannie Farmer Cookbook: Anniversary

Initially published in 1896 as The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie Merritt Farmer, this O.G. cookbook stands the test of time. In addition to tried-and-true recipes, it offers advice from Marion Cunningham that feels like you've got a cheerleader by your side every step of the way. If you're not a confident cook, this book can help.

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