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Best Cook Books

Updated March 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Half Baked Harvest Tieghan Gerard
Half Baked Harvest
Tieghan Gerard
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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

Our expert picks this for the best cookbook thanks to its hassle-free recipes great for beginner cooks.

Pros

Our expert notes that the book has over 125 recipes that work well for meal prepping, Instant Pots, and one-pan dishes. Some meals include lobster tacos and slow-roasted Moroccan salmon. It’s available in hardcover, spiral-bound, and Kindle versions.

Cons

Some of the ingredients called for can be hard to find in some areas.

Best Bang for the Buck
Magnolia Table Joanna Gaines And Marah Strets
Magnolia Table
Joanna Gaines And Marah Strets
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Supports Local Ingredients
Bottom Line

Our expert notes that this cookbook champions using homegrown and seasonal produce.

Pros

Comes from Joanna Gaines, one-half of the enduringly popular Gaines family based in small-town Waco, Texas. Recipes are inspired by her family favorites and those found in the Gaines family restaurant, Magnolia Table. It’s available in hardcover and on Kindle.

Cons

There aren’t many pictures of each recipe, which may make it harder for some readers to follow.

An Unapologetic Cookbook Joshua Weissman
An Unapologetic Cookbook
Joshua Weissman
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Most Entertaining
Bottom Line

This cookbook comes from famous YouTube chef Joshua Weissman.

Pros

Our expert likes this cookbook because of the author's upbeat and playful tone that makes cooking fun. It contains over 100 recipes and is available in hardcover, spiral-bound, and Kindle formats. A New York Times bestseller.

Cons

Some found certain recipes too complex.

The Complete Cookbook For Young Chefs America’s Test Kitchen Kids
The Complete Cookbook For Young Chefs
America’s Test Kitchen Kids
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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

Our expert says that this cookbook is great for beginners looking to learn and improve culinary skills.

Pros

America’s Test Kitchen is among the most respected cooking organizations. Each recipe is tested and approved by kids. Offers step-by-step instructions with pictures. Available in hardcover, spiral-bound, and Kindle versions.

Cons

It’s best used as an introduction to cooking rather than a tool to progress and improve your child’s skills.

The Well Plated Cookbook Erin Clarke
The Well Plated Cookbook
Erin Clarke
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

Our expert likes that the recipes in this cook book are simple, quick, and affordable.

Pros

Our expert appreciates that all required ingredients are easily accessible. Our expert also mentions that the author includes “stealthy healthy” ingredient substitutions that don’t alter the flavor of the recipe. Available in multiple reading formats.

Cons

There’s no nutritional information for any recipe.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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