12 Christmas Cookbooks for Every Type of Foodie

Know a foodie in your circle? These are the top festive cookbooks to gift this holiday season

Posted on

9 November 2020

by Clarice Awa

12 Christmas Cookbooks for Every Type of Foodie

Christmas is on the horizon and we're well into cookbook season

It's that special time of the year where people get to indulge and enjoy treats that are traditional to November and December, like roasted turkey, Christmas pudding, or gingerbread houses. It's also a great time to gift a food-lover in your life an inspirational present.

We've found the best of any-category holiday cookbooks that are sure to be loved by even the pickiest foodie in your circle. From the gastronomic historian to the gourmet vegetarian, each of these cookbooks delivers its own beautiful design and fantastic recipes that are sure to be a hit this Christmas.

Or, you could see this is as a chance to introduce yourself to something new this holiday season. These recipe collections offer plenty of material to work with.

Without further ado, these are the best cookbooks in Dubai you need to buy this year.

1. The Great British Bake Off Christmas

Former judges and contestants from the much-loved baking show got together to create a mouth-watering selection of traditional goodies and new Christmas favourites. Foodies will love the traditional recipes such as beef wellington and Christmas pudding, while exploring exciting new recipes such as pumpkin and coconut tartlets (those leftover Thanksgiving pumpkins have to be used for something).

The Great British Bake Off Christmas cookbook is an ideal Christmas present for any Bake Off fan, and even stands as its own wonderful recipe book for non-fans.

2. Fortnum & Mason: Christmas & Other Winter Feasts

This all-you-need holiday cookbook contains real winning recipes for not just the most delicious Christmas ever, but for New Year's Eve, Guy Fawkes and Burns' Night, too! When you flip through its pages, you'll find all the festive classics as well as scrumptious dishes that are sure to become a new Christmas tradition at home.

It has all the bases covered for any meal during the festive season, such as edible gifts, Christmas dinner feasts, party snacks, teatime treats, and even delicious ways to enjoy those leftovers.

Fortnum & Mason: Christmas & Other Winter Feasts

3. Bread & Butter: History, Culture, Recipes

In a time when complicated, lavish dishes feel omnipresent, authors Richard Snapes, Grant Harrington, and Eve Hemingway stand to prove that the simplicity of a slice of bread with butter is still very much loved.

On top of delving into the deep cultural history behind the simple food, Bread & Butter shares over 50 innovative recipes from the sweet to the savoury, proving that even the most basic plate can transform into something deliciously phenomenal.

Bread & Butter: History, Culture, Recipes

4. Eat at the Bar: Recipes Inspired by Travels in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Beyond

Part cookbook, part travelogue, Eat at the Bar is perfect for the foodies with a taste for wanderlust.

This collection of tales and recipes is a written love letter to "the sea that welcomes strangers" by transporting them to destinations soaked in flavours that are rich in history, colour, myth, and culture.

Eat at the Bar: Recipes Inspired by Travels in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Beyond

5. The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook

Curated by food historian Annie Gray, The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook celebrates the hit drama series with a collection of original recipes. All of the recipes in this cookbook were either shown on-screen, alluded to, or were influenced by the tables at Downton Abbey.

Along with these recipes, Gray shares her fascinating insight into the development of food during Downton Abbey's time period - between 1912 and 1926.

6. Asma's Indian Kitchen by Darjeeling Express

From the award-winning Netflix show Chef's Table, Asma's Indian Kitchen cookbook is packed full of homey Indian recipes, from easy-to-follow treats to tasty vegetarian dishes for that perfect South Asian festive feast.

7. Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities

Treat a food-lover's tastebuds this Christmas with a Nigella Christmas cookbook. This Christmas collection is full of easy-to-follow guides and inspirational ideas - an ideal gift for the one who prefers reliable recipes over adventurous ones.

8. Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian and Plant-based Recipes

Sabrina Ghayour's plant-based cookbook is perfect for a vegetarian holiday feast, with flavoursome and colourful veggie dishes that are guaranteed to satisfy even the most die-hard carnivore.

9. The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook

The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook contains over 300 festive recipes from top chefs and contributors, home-cooked gifts, and yummy decoration ideas.

10. Mary Berry Cooks Up A Feast

Make the holiday season extra merry with Mary Berry's cookbook for celebrations. Brimming with more than 160 recipes that will answer any party needs, this trusty collection works well for any occasion - whether the number of guests is small or large. With dishes and desserts that will put any home cook's mind to rest, this is a great gift that can be used throughout the year.

Mary Berry Cooks Up A Feast: Favourite Recipes for Occasions and Celebrations

11. Betty Crocker Lost Recipes: Beloved Vintage Recipes for Today's Kitchen

For the foodie who loves a vintage-inspired meal, look no further than Betty Crocker's collection of lost vintage recipes, ready to inspire new cooks and grace Christmas tables.

12. Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion

Know someone who loves to host occasions? This Christmas, they'll appreciate the Beautiful Boards cookbook, a captivating guide to 50 delicious, family-friendly, visually appealing, and easy-to-recreate snack boards.