See all of our 2020 Best Books lists

Ansel, Dominique. Everyone Can Bake: Simple Recipes To Master and Mix. S. & S. ISBN 9781501194719.

Acclaimed pastry chef Ansel switches things up from the skill-based organization of his debut and tempts readers to learn “the building blocks of baking.” This results in a delightful and inspiring cookbook that guides bakers of all levels through the mix-and-match mentality of experienced pastry chefs.

Clark, Melissa. Dinner in French: My Recipes by Way of France. Clarkson Potter. ISBN 9780553448252.

Clark reflects on family travels to France as a child and ruminates on how those trips influenced her home cooking. Fans of Clark, as well as those new to her work, will appreciate how she encouragingly guides them along as they begin to replicate the tastes of France in their kitchen.

Ghayour, Sabrina. Simply: Easy Everyday Dishes from the Bestselling Author of Persiana. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 9781784727031.

Full of creativity, the latest by popular food writer and author Ghayour is a standout collection of dishes from her childhood, blending the influences of her native Iran with her Western upbringing. The result is a must-have collection of innovative, flavorful, and satisfying meals in which vegetables are the star.

Grinshpan, Eden. Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day. Clarkson Potter. ISBN 9780593135877.            

Like her cooking shows and YouTube videos, Grinshpan’s debut collection reflects on childhood trips to Israel and will have readers feeling as if they are conversing with an old friend. Home cooks will similarly delight in her versatile, simple, kid-friendly meals that rely on classic ingredients and spices.

Kieffer, Sarah. 100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen, with Classic Cookies, Novel Treats, Brownies, Bars, and More. Chronicle. ISBN 9781452180731.

Veteran blogger Kieffer is perhaps best known for her trademark “pan banging” cookie baking technique, and this essential title focuses on her first culinary love: cookies. Featuring predominantly rich and sweet flavor profiles, this collection is the perfect guide for bakers of all levels to create an array of bakery-style cookies at home.

Kimball, Christopher. Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together: Big Flavors. Simple Techniques. 200 Ways To Reinvent Dinner. Voracious. ISBN 9780316540308.

Building their latest cookbook around a flexible approach to getting dinner on the table, Milk Street delivers a winning resource for home cooks seeking practical recipes that deliver maximum flavor with minimal time and effort. The broad range of dishes will also have great appeal for vegetarian and vegan cooks.

Oakley, Gaz. Plants-Only Kitchen: Over 70 Delicious, Super-Simple, Powerful and Protein-Packed Recipes for Busy People. Quadrille. ISBN 9781787134980.

Popular YouTube star Oakley follows his best-selling Vegan 100 and Vegan Christmas with a comprehensive guide to help veteran vegans (or anyone looking to explore plant-based meals) devise creative ways to add protein to their diets. His book of innovative recipes does not disappoint.

Sharma, Nik. The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained in More Than 100 Essential Recipes. Chronicle. ISBN 9781452182698.

Sharma, following up on his best-selling cookbook Season, focuses on the science behind what makes specific flavors and dishes so delicious. This must-have resource will appeal to those who want to expand their Indian cooking repertoire and all who want to know more about the scientific background of cooking.

Sodha, Meera. East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing. Flatiron. ISBN 9781250750730.

Sodha presents an exciting collection of inventive recipes that she’s come to love over the years. As in her popular Guardian column, she offers low-effort, high-reward cooking. Home cooks, especially those looking to incorporate more vegetables into ordinary meals, will be won over by her personable advice and reassuring voice.

Tamimi, Sami & Tara Wigley. Falastin. Ten Speed. ISBN 9780399581731.

With recipes both new and traditional, this practical cookbook is a companion to Yotam Ottolenghi and Tamimi’s Jerusalem, weaving stories and recipes to reveal the heart of Palestine. It is perfect for home cooks wanting to try new flavors and explore doable and delicious Middle Eastern dishes.

See all of our 2020 Best Books lists