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The Epicurious editors are constantly surrounded by a wealth of cookbooks that fill their kitchens, living rooms, and more. Each month, they rediscover these culinary treasures, turning to them for inspiration, whether it’s for weeknight dinners, sweet treats, or to expand their culinary knowledge. This month, they spotlight some particularly exciting titles that might just inspire you to add a new cookbook to your collection or even gift one to a friend who shares your passion for food.
Justine Doiron’s debut cookbook, Justine Cooks, offers a delightful glimpse into her culinary world, much like her charming TikTok videos. The book invites readers into her cozy kitchen, encouraging them to savor fresh, seasonal ingredients with produce-centric recipes. Each dish, such as the burrata and broccoli toast topped with puréed roasted peppers and creamy smashed honeynut beans with crispy mushrooms, promises to elevate home cooking. Her innovative desserts, including tiramisu-inspired cookies, add the perfect finishing touch after any meal. —Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior service editor
Justine Cooks: A Cookbook by Justine Doiron
Sarah Kieffer’s latest offering, 100 Afternoon Sweets, showcases her Midwestern charm and baking prowess that has captivated fans through her renowned food blog. This collection features a variety of tempting treats that will challenge bakers to try new creations. Starting with the Scotcharoo Blondies, which blend Rice Krispies, peanut butter, and butterscotch, she effortlessly combines flavors to create irresistible desserts. The caramelized base paired with gooey blondie creates a perfect shareable dessert, while the Minnesota Sheet Cake with bold black walnuts promises to be the next exciting project. —Kelly Janke, director of culinary production
100 Afternoon Sweets: With Snacking Cakes, Brownies, Blondies, and More, by Sarah Kieffer
Known for her vibrant desserts, Hetal Vasavada captivates with her new cookbook, Desi Bakes. This collection marries her Indian roots with American dessert traditions, featuring stunning confections like Block Print Flower Cookies and Badam Burfi Bark. With approachable instructions, she encourages readers to embrace their creativity in baking, as seen in her Dirty Chai Cheesecake Brownies, which utilize a boxed brownie mix for convenience while still delivering lush flavors through a chai-infused batter. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, associate director of social media
Desi Bakes: 85 Recipes Bringing the Best of Indian Flavors to Western-Style Desserts, by Hetal Vasavada
The beautifully organized Big Night by Katherine Lewin simplifies the art of entertaining, providing comprehensive meal plans for diverse occasions. Its thoughtfully curated menus allow for flexible recipe pairing, encouraging home cooks to create a seamless dining experience without stress. A standout recipe is the Artichoke Dip with smoked trout, an unexpected twist that enriches the flavor profile, making it a crowd favorite when paired with crunchy endive leaves and blue corn chips. Just keep in mind that the recipes cater to larger gatherings, so adjustments might be necessary for smaller crowds. —K.J.Y.
Big Night: Dinners, Parties, and Dinner Parties, by Katherine Lewin
Chef Nisha Vora’s Big Vegan Flavor reinvigorates a classic ingredient through her inventive recipes. With dishes like maple-Dijon glazed beets accompanied by creamy pistachio butter, she deftly balances flavors for satisfying meals that still feel light. The versatility of her recipes shines as she encourages repurposing leftovers, making each dish memorable and unique, such as when those roasted beets find their way into a pita pocket for a next-day sandwich. —U.R.
Big Vegan Flavor: Techniques and 150 Recipes to Master Vegan Cooking, by Nisha Vora
For those who have yet to try Jim Lahey’s transformative no-knead bread, now is the perfect moment with the release of the 15th anniversary edition of My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method. The simple five-minute preparation leads to a crusty loaf unparalleled in flavor, making it a quintessential complement to any meal, especially alongside a cozy soup. The joy of going from a few basic ingredients to a warm, finished loaf fresh from the oven encapsulates the satisfaction of home baking. —E.L.
My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method by Jim Lahey
Professional pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz embraces the world of cake baking in her enchanting cookbook More Than Cake. Her Jammy Coffee Cake is a testament to the beauty of detailed baking; each layer combines different textures and flavors creating an incredibly satisfying dessert. The skilled incorporation of cocoa and seasonal raspberries, topped with a crunchy oat crumble, proves that putting in a little extra effort yields delightful results that will have your family and friends coming back for more. —Olivia Quintana, social media manager
More Than Cake: 100 Baking Recipes Built for Pleasure and Community Hardcover, by Natasha Pickowicz
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