From pumpkin pie to Halloween candy, fall comes with a slew of tempting treats. But, this season is more than prime time for sugary confections (looking at you, PSL). It’s also comfort food season. With tasty produce such as sweet potatoes, corn, and, of course, pumpkins, in season it’s the perfect time of year to whip up healthy seasonal meals that warm you from the inside out. To help inspire your time in the kitchen, we’ve rounded up ten fall cookbooks perfect for the season.
The First Mess Cookbook: Vibrant Plant-Based Recipes to Eat Well Through the Seasons
By Laura Wright
If you’ve ever scoured Pinterest for a vegan meal your entire family would enjoy, chances are you’ve come across Laura Wright. The writer and culinary expert behind popular blog “The First Mess,” her recipes have been praised across the board by the likes of The Food Network, Food & Wine, and SAVEUR. It’s safe to say her first cookbook (of the same name) surpasses any and all expectations. Each of the 125 whole foods recipes are seasonal and simple to prepare (not to say they don’t turn out superb). Inspired by growing up working at her family’s local market, this cookbook proves that a healthy, plant-based lifestyle is not only delectable, but accessible. From fluffy whole grain pancakes to roasted eggplant, this is a cookbook you can take into all seasons. Buy the book here.
Cook Beautiful
By Athena Calderone
If you’re looking to create an unforgettable meal this fall, look no further. Athena Calderone, creator of lifestyle blog “EyeSwoon,” has created a cookbook to help you achieve just that. Experienced in the world of presentation, Calderone has captured how to cook delicious dinners with stunning appearances. This cookbook combines the importance of visually and literally satisfying your guests—something of utmost importance around the holiday season. Don’t feel intimidated though, with step-by-step instructions and advice each of the 100 recipes is just as approachable as it is impressive. If artful presentation (and, let’s be real, Instagramming your meals) is your forte, Calderone’s cookbook is worth looking into.
Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Celebrations: A Year of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes for Every Occasion
By Danielle Walker
Sometimes having a specific diet can be difficult. This is not one of those times. Walker understands that with adopting a new diet comes a particular fear of social gatherings (no one wants to be “that” person). In attempt to ease that fear and excite your taste buds, she’s created Against All Grain Celebrations, a collection of 125 grain free, dairy free, gluten free, and paleo recipes for gatherings. No, really. The cookbook boasts menus for 12 types of special occasions including birthdays, classic barbecues, and every major holiday you can think of. Yes, including a full-on Thanksgiving spread. Even more, most of the recipes are simple enough to make day-to-day. Most importantly, Wright’s cookbook equips you with meals you can feel confident serving and eating all year.
Gatherings: Bringing People Together with Food
By Jan Scott and Julie van Rosendaal
Scott and van Rosendaal don’t underestimate the importance of food at any large gathering. They understand that sometimes simple is better. In their cookbook, Gatherings: Bringing People Together with Food, they’ve curated a collection of recipes that can be served for holidays, celebrations, or a smaller get-together with friends or family. Simple? Casual? Tasty? It couldn’t possibly get any better–except it does. The book is broken down by occasion and shares serving, presentation, and decor suggestions alongside recipes. In short, this is the social beginner chef’s kitchen Bible.
Half Baked Harvest Cookbook: Recipes from My Barn in the Mountains
By Tieghan Gerard
If your taste leans towards a more elaborate spread, look to Tieghan Gerard’s Half Baked Harvest. Creator of the “Half Baked Harvest” blog, Gerard has finally put her delicious meals and confections down on paper. Having grown up cooking in a “barn-turned-test-kitchen,” each recipe is equal parts comforting and impressive. Why stop at a salad when you can top it with crispy fries? Is a cheese board really a cheese board if you don’t decorate it with a honeycomb? Gerard’s recipes take meals from standard to surprising, making them perfect for any fall gathering. Not convinced? Just check out her White Chocolate Pumpkin Scones with Espresso Glaze and try not to drool.
Cherry Bombe: The Cookbook
By Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu
Online, in print, and now in your kitchen, Cherry Bombe is taking over the food scene. Inspired by the magazine of the same name focused on celebrating women and food, Diamond and Wu have created a cookbook that represents those ideals perfectly. But this isn’t just your average recipe book. Here you’ll find 100+ recipes coming from 100+ of the most interesting and creative women in food. Cover to cover, chefs, bakers, pastry chefs, food stylists, and more share their most meaningful (and delicious) recipes with you. It won’t be hard to lend your trust to these tasteful women.
Purely Pumpkin: More Than 100 Seasonal Recipes to Share, Savor, and Warm Your Kitchen
By Allison Day
If one thing never fails us every fall, it’s the arrival of all things pumpkin. Pumpkin patches, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin Oreos, and inevitably, a pumpkin cookbook. But unlike the tempting drinks and candies that fill the shelves come October, Allison Day’s Purely Pumpkin is packed with wholesome, whole food meals to satisfy any sweet (or savory) tooth. No matter what it is you’re looking to make (quick breakfasts? Soups? Salad? Pie?), Day has included a recipe for that. These meals are fit for any holiday, but we pay it special attention around this time of year—especially to the dessert chapter.
The Best of Thanksgiving: Recipes and Inspiration for a Festive Holiday Meal
By Williams Sonoma
Anyone who’s put on an all-day-long Thanksgiving dinner knows that the event takes special preparation. Because of this, we’re putting one of the best Thanksgiving cookbooks in your path now. Known in large part for their kitchenware and holiday decor, we were delighted to find Williams Sonoma releasing this cookbook last year. As expected, the book is full to the brim with diverse and welcoming dishes that can be made to reflect anyone’s personal (cooking) style. With recipes for beginners, chefs, vegetarians, adults, and kids, you can expect to satisfy everyone this coming Thanksgiving.
BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts
By Stella Parks
Who better to trust with dessert recipes than an award-winning pastry chef? From homemade sweets, like brownies and blueberry muffins, to grocery store staples, like toaster pastries and ice cream, this cookbook has it all. And with over 200 possible variations, there’s no way you’ll accidentally end up bringing the same dessert as someone else to the holiday party. Alongside its delectable recipes, BraveTart gives a us a fresh peek at the history of classic American desserts such as, say, chocolate chip cookies (because, hint: Tollhouse didn’t invent them first). From textbook to table, this book brings your all-time favorite dessert recipes straight into your home. Plus, the vintage designs are to die for.
Vegan Holiday Cooking from Candle Cafe: Celebratory Menus and Recipes from New York’s Premier Plant-Based Restaurants
By Joy Pierson, Angel Ramos, and Jorge Pineda
Award-winning chefs, Pierson, Ramos, and Pineda have found a way (well, many ways) to make Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and every other holiday a vegan feast that everyone will want to savor. Nixing all things meat, egg, and dairy, they’ve blended traditional recipes with modern tastes to bring to you recipes like Porcini-Crusted Seitan with Glazed Cipollini Onions and Mushroom Gravy. Talk about a new Thanksgiving favorite. With a foreword by Alicia Silverstone, it’s hard for vegans and omnivores alike to resist this cookbook.