It goes without saying that not all mums love cooking, but if you are shopping for a keen cook or baker this Mother’s Day, look no further than our comprehensive guide to finding the perfect cookbook.
Whether they love Italian food, baking, whipping up effortlessly chic dinner party spreads, or simply want some easy, crowd-pleasing recipes, we’ve got the perfect recommendation for a thoughtful gift that they will genuinely appreciate.
Looking for more Mother’s Day inspiration? We’ve rounded up the best easy (yet impressive) cakes to bake, plus three-ingredient recipes for putting on the perfect afternoon tea.
Mary Makes it Easy
Mary Berry has been demystifying the art of home cooking and baking for decades with her delicious recipes, foolproof instructions, and helpful tips. Now, with Mary Makes It Easy, she’s made the task of putting food on the table even simpler, with over 120 brand-new recipes for one-pot meals, crowd-pleasing catering, prep-ahead dishes, and more.
Simple, flavour-packed recipes for the whole family.
Demystifying the notion that cooking with spices is complicated.
From easy breakfasts and lunches, to side dishes and classic bakes.
Nadiya’s Simple Spices
This beautiful cookbook by Nadiya Hussain celebrates the sheer variety and depth of flavour that spices bring to our food – sweet or savoury. From Peshwari Naans to Badam Cheesecake, each recipe calls for one (or more) of eight readily available spices – cardamom, fennel, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, chilli, bay leaves, and curry powder – to create something truly delicious.
Rick Stein’s Simple Suppers
With chapters covering suppers for one, one-pot wonders, feasts with friends, and more, Rick Stein’s collection of 120 recipes will solve the age-old problem of what to cook for dinner. Expect mouth-watering yet easy-to-cook dishes such as Harissa Lamb Steak with Chickpea Mash, Pilaf with Buttermilk Chicken and Pomegranate, Wild Garlic and Broad Bean Risotto, and Sweet Potato, Chorizo and Sweetcorn Tacos.
Over 120 brand new recipes for everyday cooking.
From speedy pastas to decadent desserts.
A taste of the Mediterranean, using just 5 ingredients for each dish.
5 Ingredients Mediterranean
Jamie Oliver’s first five-ingredient cookbook was a big hit when it came out in 2017. Now the foolproof formula has had a Mediterranean makeover, with 120 recipes celebrating the fresh flavours and dishes of the Med including Warm Halloumi Salad, Smoky Tender Aubergine, Asparagus Carbonara, and Tahini Rocky Road.
Cardiff Mum’s Thrifty Feasts
Ashleigh Mogford, known to her many Instagram followers as @cardiff.mum, is familiar with the challenges of finding budget- and family-friendly meals – so her debut cookbook has got you covered. Find chapters on family meals for £5 and under, air fryer and slow cooker recipes, comfort food, and more.
Brutto
Brutto ma buono: ugly but good. That’s the premise of this gift-worthy cookbook by the late chef and restaurateur Russell Norman. A love letter to the humble ingredients and beautiful flavours of Florentine food, Brutto is packed with effortlessly delicious recipes, stories, and stunning photography.
100 recipes that capture the essence of British rural life and home cooking.
Thoughtful dishes to celebrate the seasons and focus on hero ingredients.
From hearty winter stews and roasts, to fresh summer salads and desserts.
The Farm Table
From hearty winter stews and roasts, to summer-ready salads and chargrilled seafood, chef and “first-generation farmer” Julius Roberts has created a whole year’s worth of recipes that champion the best of local, seasonal produce. Complete with stunning photography and anecdotes about the reality of rural life, The Farm Table is home-cooking with a dose of escapism.
Bitter
From grapefruit to tahini to coffee, former Masterchef finalist and debut cookbook author Alexina Anatole explores the full potential of cooking with “bitter” ingredients. The beautiful writing and mouth-watering recipes in Bitter are sophisticated and inventive in equal measure, making it the perfect gift for any foodie looking to expand their palate.
70 sweet and savoury bakes for everyday eating.
Plenty of fan favourite recipes and brand-new bakes.
From cupcakes and cookies to tarts and pastries.
Jane’s Patisserie Everyday
Bestselling baker Jane Dunn is known for her Instagram-worthy celebration cakes, indulgent cookies and gooey brownies, but this cookbook is all about simple bakes (plus plenty of savoury dinner recipes) that are no less delicious or stunning. From nostalgic favourites like custard creams, to inventive twists on trusty classics and a customisable mug cake you can whip up in minutes, this cookbook is a must-have for any budding baker.
The Ramadan Family Cookbook
Food content creator Anisa Karolia’s second cookbook has 80 brand-new delicious and filling recipes that are perfectly tailored to feeding a family during suhoor, iftar, and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, with chapters covering 15-minute snacks, one-pot dishes, healthier options and drinks and sweets. Whether your family observes the holy month of Ramadan, or simply needs fast and flavourful dishes to put on the table, this cookbook is a treasure trove of family-friendly recipes.
85 beautifully photographed recipes from the founder of Violet Bakery
From cookies and cakes, to desserts and savoury favourites
Packed with twists on classic English bakes alongside Californian staples
Love is a Pink Cake
The ideal cookbook for any star baker, Love is a Pink Cake is a collection of stunning cakes, cookies, pastries and desserts from Claire Ptak, founder of London’s Violet Bakery. The recipes in this book, which include Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s Lemon and Elderflower Wedding Cake, deftly blend English baking traditions with those of her native California – with truly unique results.
The Batch Lady Grab and Cook
From decadent brunch dishes to Friday night fakeaways, these 100 freezer-friendly recipes by Suzanne Mulholland – AKA The Batch Lady – are nothing short of genius. All you need is one weekly shop and a little bit of prep time, and you’ll have a freezer full of tasty, filling meals to last the whole week. Alongside delicious recipes like Brioche Cinnamon French Toast Sticks, Honey Sesame Chicken, and Banoffee Filo Cups, you’ll find helpful tips on how to freeze and defrost your food, meal planning ideas, and an index of recipes that are suitable for kids to make.
Bored of Lunch Healthy Slow Cooker: Even Easier
Fans of Nathan Anthony’s Bored of Lunch platform know that his recipes are a lifesaver for anyone with a slow cooker or air fryer. With his second dedicated slow cooker cookbook, you’ll find 80 super simple, budget-friendly and calorie-counted recipes such as Chilli Con Carne Macaroni Melt, Vegetarian Enchiladas, Tomato and Mascarpone Risotto with Sticky Halloumi, and Carrot Cake Overnight Oats.
Second Helpings
Award-winning food writer Sue Quinn brings fresh inspiration to an age-old problem: what to do with leftover food. With chapters covering small plates, main meals, sweet things, and more, Sue’s clever recipes and advice will have you cutting down on waste and turning leftover food – whether it’s ripening fruit and veg, or last night’s takeaway – into something delicious.
Every Last Bite
Get the most out of the weekly shop (and food budget) with these minimum-fuss, maximum-flavour recipes by chef and food writer Rosie Sykes. With dishes including Catalan-Style Beans with Chorizo, Fregola with Bacon and Peas, Crispy Five Spice Noodles, and Rhubarb and Ginger Crumb Pudding, Every Last Bite has plenty of easy, low-waste recipes that pack a punch.
Share
This beautiful cookbook by Nisha Parmar, private chef to the stars and former Masterchef semifinalist, is the perfect gift for the host with the most. Packed with 100 inventive recipes like Chilli Paneer Dumplings, Mombasa Prawn Masala, and Papaya Pavlova, Share is the ultimate guide to whipping up an impressive yet fuss-free feast, complete with advice on everything from menu-planning to tablescaping.
