:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Stephanie_Cain_Headshot-StephanieCainVenkatraman-d69cea52c8c1484a86c52bd7e367b3f1.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Stocksy_txp148811e0qqW200_Medium_1956237-38ab66ecc23b4c679018f4a66691e2c7.jpg)
Stocksy
We all love picking up takeout sometimes, but one of the many perks of living with your significant other is making and sharing homemade meals together. There's no better time to get cooking than after your wedding—you're settling in and testing out all the new cookware and kitchen gadgets from your registry! Whether the two of you are seasoned home chefs or just starting out in the kitchen, cookbooks can offer you step-by-step guides to producing all sorts of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. You'll start to collect an arsenal of favorite recipes that you can whip out for everything from romantic date nights to family brunches.
"A relationship is always nurtured with time and effort from both parties. Whether you’re newlyweds, a parent with a child, good friends, or some family, cooking and sharing life together in the kitchen can be very tactile, joyful, and a celebration of learning and discovery for everyone," says award-winning cookbook author Jenny Jefferies. "Cooking with love provides food for the soul and as Virginia Wolf once said, 'one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.'"
When looking for a cookbook that's right for you and your spouse, first consider your level of experience in the kitchen. If you need to master the basics, like poaching an egg or roasting a chicken, go with an option that offers simple everyday recipes to get you started. Then, look for flavors and types of food that appeal to both you and your partner so you can experiment together with tastes you love.
To help satisfy your stomachs and spice up your date nights, we've researched various cookbooks that are perfect for all kinds of couples. For nutritious meals packed with flavor, our favorite picks are Whole Food Cooking Every Day and Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables. Craving something sweet? We love Momofuku Milk Bar.
Meet the Expert
Jenny Jefferies is an award-winning author of the story/cookbook series, For the Love of the Land, For the Love of the Land II, and For the Love of the Sea, which celebrates British farmers and the British seafood community.
Read on for the best cookbooks for newlyweds.
Best for British Classics
For the Love of the Land
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/image2-7523e01796a44dd4816774ca98621902.jpeg)
This cookbook combines both real stories and recipes that celebrate British farming in all its hardship and glory. The hearty dishes in this book, from real British farmers, make the most of local and seasonal ingredients, creating delicious meals that anyone can cook at home–including Blackbrook beef bolognese, Reestit mutton soup, and more.
Price at time of publish: $27
Best Heirloom Classic
Joy of Cooking
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8b40b4f2-7e35-458d-a05b-422e4b71ba2d--2018-1022_graphic-image_leather-bound-joy-of-cooking_family_silo_ty-mecham_001-1bbcc9eddf094c8f8a35991718bee779.jpg)
Courtesy of Food 52
You might already have a beat-up copy of The Joy of Cooking—one of the most robust manuals for the kitchen—but this gorgeous leather-bound copy really takes the cake. Think of it as a new family heirloom.
Price at time of publish: $160 in gold
Best Wedding Gift
The Newlywed Cookbook
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51TShn5igzL._SX425_BO1204203200_-f23c2273bb58418b926f203ffb0839b3.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
What’s better for couple’s cooking than a book based solely on recipes for newlyweds? Check out Sarah Copeland’s inventive, easy-to-execute dishes that are perfect for a pair.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best for Basics
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SaltFatAcidHeat-MasteringtheElementsofGoodCooking-e7d27d7e7a24408ab98b4440d5213fb0.jpeg)
Amazon
You may have seen the Netflix show based on chef Samin Nosrat’s modern cooking manual. In both, she focuses on how mastering four aspects of food—salt, fat, acid, and heat—will make you the ultimate at-home chef.
Price at time of publish: $38
Best for Laid-back Dinner Parties
Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/DiningIn-HighlyCookableRecipes-aeb56b231a4b4cab9f293df7a7092c3f.jpg)
Barnes & Noble
This book is for anyone who fears staying at home to cook is boring while going out to a restaurant is not. Food writer and Instagram celebrity Alison Roman shares simple recipes for restaurant-caliber dishes that prove staying in is more glam than going out.
Price at time of publish: $33
Best for the Instant Pot
The Instant Pot Bible
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/instantpot-adc12f4e61e844b49d4feabfb78e7495.jpg)
Amazon
If you registered for an Instant Pot, you definitely need this manual. It's going to teach you how to cook everything from a simple soup to an elaborate one-pot chicken dinner.
Price at time of publish: $22
Best for Farm to Table Food
Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/amazon-a-new-way-with-vegetables-055251731fc743729494d04a85baa3fb.jpg)
Amazon
This comprehensive book will change the way you think about vegetables. McFadden, the genius chef behind Ava Gene’s in Portland, Oregon, has crafted original, farm-fresh recipes that highlight seasonal ingredients—the perfect choice for an al fresco dinner party.
Price at time of publish: $40
Best for Entertaining
Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BatchCocktails-2fa3dd99e0124361b11f101e0c2a5245.jpeg)
Amazon
The secret to stress-free cocktail party? Delicious specialty drinks that are made ahead of time in big batches, leaving more time for mingling instead of mixing.
Price at time of publish: $20
Best for #Couplegoals
Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cooking-for-Jeffrey-Cookbook-0e97b6a33d5040309ecc3f10a13a42d5.jpeg)
If Ina Garten’s dishes work for Jeffrey, her husband of nearly 50 years, they’re bound to be spot on for your significant other too. In this cookbook by the Food Network star, all the couple’s favorite dishes are featured.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best for Healthy Recipes
Whole Food Cooking Every Day
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51k9dMwzORL._SX401_BO1204203200_-78d5bf1589f84c69a335ec6b2da0414f.jpg)
This book is a perfect choice if you're looking to add more healthy dishes to your cooking repertoire. The nutrient-rich, delicious recipes make cutting back on gluten, refined sugar and dairy that much easier.
Price at time of publish: $40
Best for Weeknight Meals
Half Baked Harvest Super Simple Cookbook: More Than 125 Recipes for Instant, Overnight, Meal-Prepped, and Easy Comfort Foods
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/harvest-7a2a85a86b2648f3b081a21c86fcbcdf.jpg)
Amazon
Popular food blogger Teighan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest launched her second cookbook, a collection of simple and quick—but always delicious—dishes that are perfect for busy couples.
Price at time of publish: $30
Ten Speed Press Jerusalem: A Cookbook
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/JerusalemACookbook-2c00776c4c5e4e7f8024039f1751143e.jpg)
Amazon
Every single one of London-based chef Yotam Ottolenghi's many cookbooks has something great to offer, from creative vegetarian dishes to Middle Eastern-inspired sweets. This one, based on the food of his home city, Jeruselum, is chock-full of flavorful dishes, from herby hummus to savory turkey meatballs.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best Coffee Table Book
Foxfire Living
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51KaSAb00ZL._SX398_BO1204203200_-80bbc4ff36d349a1ae248bb302a863f7.png)
Curtesy of Amazon
The Catskills inn (and popular wedding destination) launched a cookbook/living guide inspired by their rustic surroundings, farm-to-table cuisine, and laidback design. We’re all in for the hosting tips combined with easy and delicious recipes for cocktails, including mint bitters, and dishes, such as thyme and cheddar biscuits and bison ragu.
Price at time of publish: $45
Best for Family Gatherings
Magnolia Table
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51iDWMHbdhL._SX400_BO1204203200_-664d9cd0a8714828bcdb77ec031bbad0.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Leave it to Chip and Joanna Gaines to give us a stellar collection of recipes for getting the whole family together, whether it's two people or twenty. The comfort food recipes are sure to be crowd-pleasers—we’re all about the chicken pot pie.
Price at time of publish: $30
Best Old-School Classic
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/amazon-mastering-the-art-of-french-cooking-6197b13a2cce41f9b58744b78bc6b40b.jpg)
Amazon
No kitchen is complete without this Julia Child tome. In it, you’ll find instructions, recipes, and illustrations for more than 500 dishes, snacks, and desserts.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best for Creative Inspiration
Modernist Cuisine
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/41sVzjNnmrL._SY498_BO1204203200_-dcf5504320964e59862585dde172d9a8.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
This award-winning, 6-volume set fuses revolutionary food photography with the science of cooking. This massive collection includes inventive recipes for everything from a simple chicken broth to molecular gastronomy-inspired dishes.
Price at time of publish: $625
Best for Mexican Food
Made in Mexico: Classic And Contemporary Recipes From Mexico City
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51m8blBwPqL._SX398_BO1204203200_-bf85f698f088472ca1608750c1863eff.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
The chef behind contemporary Mexican restaurant Hecho en Dumbo, Danny Mena put together this collection of dishes—from street food to desserts—inspired by his childhood in Mexico City. If you’re one for guacamole and churros, this is the cookbook for you.
Price at time of publish: $40
Best Unexpected Option
From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5160yyObJrL._SX417_BO1204203200_-5af49737d843445b8f59983312cde468.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Yes, Snoop Dogg launched a cookbook to tailwind off the success of his food show with Martha Stewart, Snoop & Martha’s Potluck Dinner Party. Here you’ll find everything from fried chicken to gin and juice, and it may (or may not) call for a secret ingredient.
Price at time of publish: $25
Best for Unusual Desserts
Momofuku Milk Bar
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51JthESfoYL-6b1a20114e054887aa0ceb00de034170.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Pastry chef Christina Tosi shares the secrets behind the famous sweets that have gained her a cult following. Think birthday cake truffles, cereal milk ice cream, and everyone's favorite, Crack Pie.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best for Indian Food
Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cooking
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51JK7JT957L._SX326_BO1204203200_-5339b1cb91474e3db05b84c213c4e2fe.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
The grand dame of Indian cooking in America, Madhur Jaffrey is the go-to resource if you want to learn how to cook your very own Dal Makhani, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Carrot Halva.
Price at time of publish: $34
Best for Science Lovers
The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__static.seriouseats.com__1__dorado__live__images__the-food-lab-better-home-cooking-through-science-306435ba2be94699af3d994ec2ced730.jpg)
Forget most things grandma taught you. This book delves into the science behind how to cook things well, including how to get the perfect crust on a rare steak. It dispels some old-school myths and offers new, and simple, techniques to up your kitchen game.
Price at time of publish: $50
Best for Scandinavian Food
Aska
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/9780714875774_p0_v2_s550x406-e290a5bd96fd40eb9df3ac2dacfc6020.png)
Courtesy of Barnes & Noble
Fredrik Berselius holds two Michelin stars at Aska, his restaurant in Brooklyn, so it’s no wonder his sleek cookbook is just as discerning. Rooted in his Scandanavian heritage, the text feels like Nordic design-meets-coffee-table book, and is just as beautiful in a living space as it is open on the kitchen counter.
Price at time of publish: $60
Best for Comfort Food
The Dude Diet Dinnertime: 125 Clean(ish) Recipes for Weeknight Winners and Fancypants Dinners
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51NHv69-ZJL._SX402_BO1204203200_-5ef0664fdebd491fa6e1e591122cd366.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Popular blogger and chef Serena Wolf admits we all love our “dude food” sometimes—wings, burgers, mac and cheese and other not-so-healthy treats. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be loaded with grease and preservatives. In this cookbook, she gives us plenty of “cleaned up” versions that are better for you, without sacrificing flavor.
Price at time of publish: $30
Best for Learning Skills
Jacques Pépin New Complete Techniques
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/JacquesPepinNewCompleteTechniques-d2f0bf9e5d8540598418dcb6cfcafc48.jpeg)
Amazon
This illustrated guide will literally walk you through the steps to make all the basics, like poached eggs, sourdough bread, plenty of French sauces, and even a puffy meringue.
Price at time of publish: $42
Best for Southern Food
Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/9781501166273_p0_v8_s550x406-b29be48ddcb34c83b38bf94c4a3e9ae1.png)
Courtesy of Barnes & Noble
Actress Reece Witherspoon just may be the hostess with the mostess. She shares her favorite recipes, riffs on entertaining at home, and dishes—no pun intended—on plenty of Southern food secrets.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best for Ice Cream
Salt and Straw Ice Cream Cookbook
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51bSy-QNCML._SX413_BO1204203200_-200b29e40141423c85c9cd70b44c2643.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
You didn’t think you needed a cookbook dedicated to ice cream until now. Scoop up the recipes behind the cult-worthy Portland ice cream shop’s decadent flavors—think sea salt with caramel ribbons, honey lavender, or butter-roasted chestnut.
Price at time of publish: $25
Best for Italian Food
Lidia’s Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/41oMnQI6-GL._SX370_BO1204203200_-de19f322abd242648b7a968571bc5258.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Lidia Bastianich partners with her daughter, Tanya, on this comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to Italian food. You’ll be whipping up hand-rolled gnocchi and bolognese sauce in no time.
Price at time of publish: $40
Best for Asian Food
Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/61vlXSaDu5L._SX364_BO1204203200_-b5074eb81db34200a610df5d7c18e8dc.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Chef and Momofuku founder David Chang’s now-defunct—and much beloved—food journal has lived on in this killer cookbook. It’s filled with many of the Asian recipes from the magazine.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best For Detoxing
Clean Eats
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/open-uri20170811-26236-15bp696-2f9b3fe14dec4f8981dbcd7f12020267.jpg)
Courtesy of Goop
Cardiologist and detox specialist Dr. Alejandro Junger has put together a collection of vegetarian-focused, paleo-friendly and grain-free recipes to improve your health and wellness, one meal at a time.
Price at time of publish: $33
Best for Spanish Food
Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/41YZYDZJ1aL._SX373_BO1204203200_-ccec5502f4ad48e589660d00bb899b8a.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
If you love Spanish food, the recipes of José Andrés will become your go-to resource for recreating those favorite dishes at home. The chef has shown Americans how to eat Spanish food, so it’s no wonder that this iconic cookbook, focused on tapas, is still a winner nearly 15 years later.
Price at time of publish: $35
What to Look for in a New Cookbook
Specific Foods and Occasions
Picking a new cookbook with your spouse can be a fun collaboration. Discuss both of your favorite foods and flavors, then search for books about those specific types of cuisine–such as classic Mexican dishes or French favorites. Need inspiration for hosting a party with 30 of your closest friends? Enter simple hors d'oeuvres that will steal the show or books full of artisan cocktails to impress your guests. If you want to experiment with something new to you—whether it's modernist cuisine, Asian ingredients, or cleaner eating—there are tried-and-true resources out there to help.
Experience Level
Whether you've never cooked a meal from scratch or you're a seasoned home cook, there is a cookbook out there to suit your experience level. Need to brush up on the basics? We recommend going with easy-to-follow recipes and instructions, which you can find in books like Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. While trying something new can feel intimidating at first, don't be afraid to have fun and experiment! It's a fun way to grow and learn alongside your partner, and you'll create an arsenal of new recipes to make for years to come.
Why Trust Brides
Stephanie Cain is a journalist and content strategist in the lifestyle space, who has 14 years of experience as a magazine editor, digital producer, content marketer, and public speaker. She focuses on weddings, wine, food, and travel. She has a long history with Brides, working as an intern for the publication in 2007 and returning to write about weddings in 2014. In addition to Brides, she also covered weddings for The New York Times, The Knot, Hamptons, and Fortune.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Stocksy_txp1818496d7Xi200_Medium_2296353-c32e92a788c64ef7be8cf0471de4d131.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Stocksy_txpcd66b89eNZZ200_Medium_714662-600be18f81b640d08f7d97ed1de1228b.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BestOnlineCookingClassesforCouples_edit-63ca73622f134701bd43c6eee312b70d.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BestOnlineCookingClasses_edit-b43f3d8365bc4e6d844ce4893b7e5bb0.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BRIDES-23-best-wedding-gifts-4769982-recirc-8d2c560c343244728b1db296a8c6a699.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/brides-best-engagement-gift-boxes-tout-7af885d84fdc420db1602b5f62572bba.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BRIDES-24-engagement-gift-ideas-24c87b1fee3e414bad855035cb88b106.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/chef-cover-44767c12b9ce4f4bbe3cc478d2787895.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BRIDES-21-10-year-anniversary-gifts-for-him-her-and-them-e69ac2f1ed1b42be94dda91d18878b5c.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/The-25-Best-Valentines-Day-Gifts-for-Him-of-2023-Credit-Photo-by-Wild-Heart-Visuals-649d0d8ecefd4889b0d12d60eb8fb186.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BRIDES-18-best-wedding-gifts-for-parents-4774137-recirc-b91ac86393ac45efb13ad420c1b65a8a.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-177262506-19668381f53043f7bf7ec8b388b26293.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BRIDES-Best-Anniversary-Gifts-for-a-Girlfriend-5180120-85ac03286a0949d38110cc23eb27d9fb.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BRIDES-18-ridal-shower-gifts-for-the-bride-recirc-9d45b349045647b6b63e779091ab6b90.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TheBestMealDeliveryServicesforBusyAsHellCouples_no_badge-6f9fd8352bef4acb9651ff53a1753c13.jpg){kind=icon}