20 Cookbooks Coming Out This Fall That We Can’t Wait to Get Our Hands On
One of the small joys I’ve found in this no-good, very-bad year is cookbooks. More specifically, Kitchn’s Cookbook Club. When things feel bleak, I know I can visit our club’s Facebook group and find someone gleefully talking about a new favorite recipe they discovered in one of the books we’ve featured. I, like many of you, have been cooking way more this year. And while there have admittedly been times when I’d rather eat a week’s worth of frozen pizzas than fire up the stove again, it’s also been an everyday pleasure in a time where that feels harder to find.
This is all a long way of saying I was particularly excited for fall cookbook season this year — not only because the lineup is stacked, but also because cookbooks have taken on a new role in my life. Maybe you can relate? In collaboration with all the other Kitchn staffers and editors, we came up with this list of the 20 cookbooks we can’t wait to get our hands on. There’s work from Ina Garten, Nik Sharma, Nadiya Hussain, Yotam Ottolenghi, and so many more incredible authors. And while we haven’t read or cooked our way through many of these (yet), it’s something we can all look forward to.
In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries that Touch the Indian Ocean by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen (October 13)
In Hawa Hassan’s debut cookbook, she presents illuminating stories and 75 recipes from the kitchens of bibis (grandmothers) from eight African countries that border the Indian ocean. Each chapter highlights a different country, and starts with a brief history of the nation and an interview with one of the bibis who lives there. The book looks absolutely stunning, with photographs shot on location. Recipes include things like ground chickpea stew, and stewed plantains with beans and beef. I can’t wait to cook and read my way through this one!
Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten (October 6)
The Barefoot Contessa — the patron saint of cooking, the queen of the stove (and our hearts) — has a cookbook coming out this fall. What more do I need to say? In Ina Garten’s 12th cookbook, she shares 85 recipes for things we could all use more of right now: comfort food. How did she know? “This book is devoted to helping you serve up seriously satisfying and delicious food that will feed not only cravings but also your soul,” she writes in the introduction. The book includes things like cheddar and chutney grilled cheese sandwiches; Boston cream pie; and roasted sausages, peppers, and onions.
The Book on Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies by Erin Jeanne McDowell (November 10)
The pie master herself, Erin Jeanne McDowell is finally gracing us with her epic tome. The book has all your basics: how to get flaky pie crust, how to store and freeze your pies, the best tips for decorating, and more. And the recipes range from classics, to new favorites, like blood orange brûlée pie and dulce de leche chess pie. Basically, if you have an affinity for pies, you need this book.
The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained in More Than 100 Essential Recipes by Nik Sharma (October 27)
In another life, Nik Sharma was a molecular biologist — but just because he traded his lab coat in for a chef’s coat doesn’t mean he’s no longer a scientist. Sharma’s recipes are thoroughly researched and meticulous in their execution. So, yes, to say I’m excited to get a peek into how he builds flavor in his new cookbook feels like an understatement. With spices, herbs, and pantry items, Sharma shows you how to upgrade over 100 simple dishes. Look forward to things like coconut milk cake, lemon-lime mintade, and roasted tomato and tamarind soup.
Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter by Nigel Slater (September 8)
Prolific writer and recipe maven Nigel Slater has a new book coming out this fall that promises to be good. “Greenfeast” is a collection of 110 recipes for the colder seasons, and it includes things like Brussels sprouts, brown rice, and miso and butternut squash, bread crumbs, and curry. If you can’t already tell from the recipe titles, the book is about simple, seasonal dishes — presented with a British flair, of course.
The Good Book of Southern Baking: A Revival of Biscuits, Cakes, and Cornbread by Kelly Fields and Kate Heddings (September 8)
If you’re on a quest to find the very-best biscuit recipe, then this is the cookbook for you. “I’ve spent 20 years figuring out how to perfect every dessert in my repertoire, and it’s high time I share these honed recipes,” Kelly Fields explains in her introduction. In her first cookbook, the chef behind Willa Jean in New Orleans provides a whopping seven (seven!) biscuit recipes, including a sweet potato variety. The rest of the book is filled with things like king cake, bourbon-butterscotch pudding, and cornbread.
Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food by Sheela Prakash (September 1)
Kitchn’s very own Senior Contributing Editor, Sheela Prakash, came out with her first cookbook this fall — and after flipping through it I can’t wait to make absolutely everything. If you’ve cooked anything from Sheela, then you already know her recipes are generally un-fussy, sometimes healthy, and always delicious. My favorite recipe in this Mediterranean-inspired book (so far) is the melting broccoli pasta. There are only a few ingredients: capers! Anchovies! Garlic! Bread crumbs! On their own, these things pack a punch. When they’re all together? It’s downright magical.
Time to Eat: Delicious Meals for Busy Lives by Nadiya Hussain (November 10)
In addition to being an incredible baker and all-around amazing human, Nadiya Hussain is a busy mom just trying to put food on the table for her family. Sound familiar? In this cookbook from the “Great British Bake-Off” star, she shares her best recipes and tips for fast, but delicious meals that everyone in the family will enjoy. The book includes recipes you’ll find on her Netflix show of the same name, like peanut butter and jelly traybake and egg rolls.
100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen, with Classic Cookies, Novel Treats, Brownies, Bars, and More by Sarah Kieffer (August 25)
A couple of years ago I tried Sarah Kieffer’s incredible cinnamon rolls, and I have evangelized them ever since. Kieffer’s recipes are all so smart and wildly delicious. So yes, I was very excited when I heard she was coming out with a book all about cookies. And it does not disappoint! I’ve already made the Instagram-famous Neapolitan cookies, and upon tasting them I had to immediately make a second batch to stuff in my freezer for emergency cookie situations. Other things I can’t wait to make: French silk pie bars, turtle brownies, and of course every single one of her pan-banging cookies.
Coconut & Sambal: Recipes from my Indonesian Kitchen by Lara Lee (October 13)
With an intimate introduction, gorgeous photos, and 80 recipes that show the vast array of Indonesian cuisine, Lara Lee’s debut cookbook is generous in knowledge and spirit. The London-based chef grew up in Australia, and didn’t visit Indonesia until she was adult. Her earliest memories of Indonesian cooking comes from her grandmother, Margaret Thali (who Lee calls Popo), who came to live with Lee’s family in Sydney. “The flavors of Popo’s food left an impression that stayed with me long after she moved back to Timor,” she writes. In Lee’s cookbook, you can look forward to recipes like spiced corn fritters and lamb martabak, and an entire section dedicated to the cuisine’s most popular condiment — sambal.
This Will Make It Taste Good: A New Path to Simple Cooking by Vivian Howard (October 20)
If you’ve been following along with Kitchn’s Cookbook Club, you’ll know that we featured Vivian Howard’s “Deep Run Roots” in March this year with great success. Howard’s ability to weave story into her fantastic recipes is part of what makes me so excited for her next book coming out this fall. In “This Will Make It Taste Good,” Howard solves everyday cooking dilemmas and provides next-level meal prep ideas (hello, great pantry staples). Think: lunch-at-my-desk quinoa salad, macaroni hot dish, and hippie burritos.
I Cook in Color: Bright Flavors from My Kitchen and Around the World by Asha Gomez (October 6)
Armchair travel has never tasted so colorful! In her second cookbook, Asha Gomez explores the vibrant colors of ingredients found all throughout the world, culminating in recipes like spicy garlic shrimp with capers and passion fruit, lime, and grapefruit grouper ceviche. In addition to creating beautiful recipes, Gomez says that eating the rainbow is good for our health. “We eat a wide variety of brightly colored foods, because it’s one of the best and easiest ways to make sure we get the nutrition we need.”
Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day by Eden Grinshpan (September 1) Eden Grinshpan draws on her Israeli heritage to provide 100 bright and colorful recipes that feel special enough for a Saturday night, while being easy enough for a busy Tuesday. There are also tons of crowd-pleasing ideas, which is especially important for Grinshpan. “Filling my home with people is as nourishing to me as food itself,” she explains in her introduction. Recipes include vinegar and honey-roasted Beets with labneh, and cardamom coffee cake.
East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing by Meera Sodha (October 20)
I’m a huge fan of Meera Sodha’s cookbooks and her column in the Guardian, so I can’t wait to check out her most recent project. Originally published in the U.K. in 2019, Meera Sodha’s latest cookbook explores the diversity of vegetarian and vegan dishes found in Asian cuisines. The London-based recipe developer and food writer collaborated with home cooks and chefs throughout places like India, Japan, and Singapore to inspire the recipes you’ll find in the book. You can look forward to dishes like kimchi pancakes, chili tofu, and sweet potato momos.
Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking with Confidence by Claire Saffitz (October 20)
You might know Claire as the smart person behind Bon Appétit’s “Gourmet Makes.” This is her first cookbook, and we can only imagine it’ll be just as charming as she is. Claire calls herself a “dessert person” because she believes every meal isn’t complete without something sweet to finish. Which, hard agree. The cookbook has it all: classic birthday cake, honey tahini challah, minty lime bars, and so much more.
The Mexican Home Kitchen: Traditional Home-Style Recipes That Capture the Flavors and Memories of Mexico by Mely Martínez (September 15)
Mely Martínez has been a food blogger for over 12 years, and this is her first (and long-awaited) cookbook. Martínez grew up in Mexico and traveled all over the country as a teacher before moving to the United States. She initially started her blog, “Mexico in my Kitchen,” to document traditional family recipes for her teenage son, but along the way she found a community of readers who became devoted fans. With recipes like pozole, carnitas, and empanadas, Martínez’s coobkook provides “home-style meals that are cooked in everyday life in Mexico.”
Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You’re Not Drinking for Whatever Reason by Julia Bainbridge (October 6)
In the last few years, non-alcoholic drinks have seen a boom in popularity. And whether you’re participating in Dry January, or are cutting out booze for health reasons, you still deserve a toast-worthy beverage — which is exactly what this cookbook is about. Julia Bainbridge sourced these libations from traveling all over the country and talking to expert drink-makers. The result is stuff like a salted rosemary paloma and a shiso spritz — things that anyone can drink anytime, anywhere. Cheers to that!
Ottolenghi Flavor: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage (October 13)
This is the third installment in the Ottolenghi “Plenty” trilogy — one book to inspire them all, one book to teach them, one book to gather them all and at the table feed them.“Flavor” introduces us to the “three P’s” of flavor — Process, Pairings, and Produce — which help home cooks amplify and understand flavor. We’ll get recipes like za’atar cacio e pepe, stuffed eggplant in curry and coconut dal, and cabbage tacos with celery root and date barbecue sauce.
The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food by Marcus Samuelsson with Osayi Endolyn (October 27)
This book is a celebration of Black excellence in cooking — something that is always important, and feels essential for 2020. With 150 recipes, Marcus Samuelsson illustrates how “Black cooking is the engine of what we commonly understand to be American food.” Each recipe in the book honors various chefs, activists, artists, authors, and historians who “illuminate the space we share.” And in between recipes like baked sweet potatoes with garlic-fermented shrimp butter, and Haitian black rice and mushrooms, you’ll find beautiful profiles of each of these inspiring people from Osayi Endolyn. It’s a book you’ll want to cook from, but also sit down and read.
Sheet Pan Chicken: 50 Simple and Satisfying Ways to Cook Dinner by Cathy Erway (September 29)
Fifty chicken recipes? Fifty sheet pan recipes? Fifty chicken recipes you can make on a sheet pan? Sold. This cookbook from Cathy Erway is the kinda thing you’ll reach for over and over again on a Tuesday night when you want something tasty, but also don’t have a ton of time to make that happen. It’s chock-full of great-sounding chicken recipes, including Nashville-style hot chicken and chicken Katsu with plum sauce.