Best Cookbooks for the Holiday Season

The holidays are finally here and that means so is a lot of food. If you’re like most people, you tend to make some of the same dishes for dinner because it’s what you know. Yes, you can go online and look up recipes or pull out an old-fashioned cookbook, but that requires effort. When it comes time for the holidays, you know you need to retire the boxed mac’n cheese — only until January — and open up the cookbooks. They are filled with dozens of beautiful, useful and different recipes, allowing you to be daring or make a traditional, home-cooked family meal.

This is the time to peruse the slew of unopened cookbooks you have in your kitchen in search of holiday recipes or take a trip to the local bookstore and pick up a copy of the latest, and often heftiest, cookbooks. The latest and greatest cookbooks are stocked with various holiday meals, snacks and treats to bake — conveniently in time for cookie season. Whether you’re looking for cookbooks to gift, to cook for your own holiday tables or just to read and perhaps become inspired, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorites.

Dorie’s Cookies by Dori Greenspan is filled with more than 300 cookie recipes. She is the cookie master and finally dedicated a full cookbook to her favorites. From classic favors to adventurous combinations, these cookies are perfect for the holidays. Try the Little Rascals, a German jam sandwich cookie with walnuts; or Italian Saucissons, chocolate log cookies studded with dried fruit; or the Snowy-Topped Brownie Drops — all perfect treats for Christmas cookie swaps.

Christmas Memories with Recipes by various culinary honchos such as Craig Claiborne, Julia Child, Marion Cunningham, Martha Stewart and more is a compilation of 25 brilliant food writers, chefs and home cooks’ favorite Christmas recipes. Travel back to celebrate Christmas memories and find one that appeals. Enjoy holiday stories, traditions and infamous recipes. You can be sure to come across a few that you might find delicious.

Nothing says a Christmas cookbook better than Betty Crocker. From decking your halls to enjoying Christmas dinner, this book covers every imaginable topic, from party appetizers, drinks, main dishes, cookies, non-edible food gifts and more. The impressive holiday entertaining book contains photos of every recipe, helping you recreate the same results. Keep up with traditional family recipes or create an updated classic. Look no further than Betty Crocker’s Best of Christmas for easy, creative holiday ideas.

The Ski House Cookbook by Tina Anderson and Sarah Pinneo is not a day-of holiday cookbook, but is still perfect for the holiday season. This book features cozy, delicious meals like beef chili and roasted Brussels sprouts, perfect for a cold, snowy, winter day. The 125 recipes are easy and designed with minimum prep times for home-away-from-home kitchens.