Culinary Empowerment, as explained by celebrity life coach Sloan Sheridan-Williams, invites us to view home cooking as a deeply restorative ritual that reaches far beyond nutrition. The entire culinary experience, including preparation, environment, and company, is a powerful tool for emotional and mental wellbeing that can be used to satisfy the six basic human emotional needs: Certainty, Variety, Love and Connection, Significance, Personal Development, and Contribution. Each meal becomes an opportunity to restore balance, soothe negative emotions like stress, and elevate daily living. The best cookbooks can therefore evolve into empowering guides, encouraging exploration, refining skills, and inspiring creativity that nurtures confidence, connection, and a richer sense of everyday wellbeing.
Preneur World has selected this year’s best cookbooks with intention, choosing each one for its ability to help readers cultivate culinary empowerment in its true sense, where cooking becomes a pathway to emotional balance, creativity, and meaningful connection. Each beautifully crafted book encourages us to approach cooking with confidence and curiosity, transforming familiar rituals into moments of purposeful pleasure. Whether refining cherished classics or embracing bold new flavours, these books invite us to enrich family life through dishes that elevate the everyday. For those seeking inspiration, intention, and deeper fulfilment at the dinner table, they offer an enticing pathway to cook with meaning, joy, and mindful sophistication.
Larousse French Cooking
This masterclass in classic French cuisine brings the warmth, technique, and flavour of the French home kitchen to life. With over 130 recipes spanning every region, from Toulouse Cassoulet to Provençal Pissaladière, and including desserts like Crème Brûlée and Kougelhopf, it blends everyday favourites with showstopping dishes. Step-by-step guidance, evocative photography, and insights into regional traditions make this both an authoritative reference and a practical companion. Ideal for aspiring chefs and home cooks alike, it transforms French classics into approachable, rewarding meals that celebrate culinary craftsmanship and timeless taste. £40 published by Hamlyn.
The Sourdough School: Proven by Dr Vanessa Kimbell
This comprehensive guide offers a considered pathway into the art of sourdough, blending scientific insight with practical mastery to help readers create bread that genuinely supports wellbeing. Dr Kimbell’s expertise shines through as she demystifies starters, techniques and fermentation, before expanding into an impressive repertoire of breads, pastries and wholesome bakes designed to nourish both gut and mood. Her focus on microbial diversity and blood sugar balance brings a modern, health-led dimension to traditional craft, making the book as enlightening as it is comforting. Ideal for those seeking flavour, ritual and measurable benefits in their baking. £40 published by Kyle Books.
Ginger Pig One Pot by Tim Wilson and Rebecca Seal
This book is a celebration of simplicity, flavour, and the joy of cooking without fuss. With a collection of more than 140 recipes, curated by the award-winning Ginger Pig butchers, this cookbook covers everything from succulent meats to vibrant vegetarian dishes, all designed to shine in a single pot. From Shawarma-style chicken to Steak, Ale and Mushroom Pot Pie, each recipe delivers comfort, colour, and depth, making weeknight dinners and leisurely weekend meals equally rewarding. With expert guidance and inventive ideas for leftovers, it’s a practical, indulgent, and inspiring companion for every home cook. £30 published by Mitchell Beazley.
Persiana Easy by Sabrina Ghayour
Best-selling food writer Sabrina Ghayour returns with a vibrant celebration of Middle Eastern cooking made wonderfully accessible for busy, flavour-seeking home cooks. This collection distils her signature generosity and sunshine into recipes that feel effortless yet deeply satisfying, from bright salads and bold midweek plates to aromatic traybakes and fragrant pastries. The mood is relaxed, joyful and rooted in the pleasure of sharing food, with every dish guided by clarity and confidence. It is the sort of cookbook that lifts everyday cooking into something memorable, inviting readers to explore colour, texture and warmth with ease. £28 published by Mitchell Beazley.
Silk Roads: A Flavour Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing by Anna Ansari
Shortlisted for both the Jane Grigson Trust and Yan-Kit So Awards, Silk Roads is an extraordinary debut that charts the ancient trade routes through taste, memory, and story. Iranian-American food writer Anna Ansari offers a sumptuous blend of recipes and reflections that illuminate the shared language of food across continents. From saffron-scented rice to Uyghur lamb chops, each dish is steeped in heritage and humanity. With its evocative prose and stunning photography, this is more than a cookbook – it’s a sensory passport across cultures, connecting kitchens from East to West. £27 published by DK.
Portugal by Anaïs Bourny Delon
This captivating celebration of Portuguese cooking celebrates the soulful elegance of a nation where culinary tradition and modern creativity walk hand in hand. We are invited into kitchens from Lisbon to Porto, guided by twelve talented chefs who showcase vibrant seafood, hearty stews and indulgent pastries that speak to Portugal’s Mediterranean spirit. The recipes feel both accessible and quietly sophisticated, offering flavours that nourish wellbeing as much as they delight the palate. For those seeking to broaden their culinary horizons, this book encourages curiosity and a sense of adventure at the table. A beautifully crafted book for anyone who savours culture as deeply as cuisine. £26 published by Mitchell Beazley.
French Bakes Made Simple by Edd Kimber
This is a masterful guide to recreating the elegance and charm of a French patisserie at home. Bake Off winner Edd Kimber offers over 80 accessible recipes, from delicate canelés and financiers to flaky croissants and indulgent Buche de Noël, all presented with clear, step-by-step instructions. Chapters cover sweet treats, desserts, tarts, and essential creams and icings, making complex techniques approachable without sacrificing authenticity. With practical guidance and a focus on everyday bakeware, this book empowers home bakers to produce stunning, flavourful results with confidence and creativity. £25 published by Kyle Books.
The Science of Flavour by Dr Stuart Farrimond
The late, great Dr Stuart Farrimond delivers a final triumph with this exquisite exploration of taste and chemistry. *The Science of Flavour* reveals how aroma, texture, and the mind combine to shape every mouthful, blending culinary artistry with hard science. From the alchemy of salt to the psychology of sweetness, it transforms cooking into a sensory adventure. Elegantly illustrated and endlessly fascinating, it’s both a tribute to Dr Stu’s genius and a guide for anyone who delights in understanding why food tastes so good. A beautiful celebration of science, flavour, and life itself. £22 published by DK.
Party People: A Cookbook for Creative Celebrations by Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom
Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom’s Party People is a joyful manifesto for celebration in all its messy, marvellous glory. With 100 inventive recipes and playful party ideas, it turns any gathering – from impromptu movie nights to themed extravaganzas – into something truly memorable. Expect irreverent humour, big flavours, and a heartfelt reminder that food is about connection, not perfection. Dishes like Jenga-Style Cheesy Bread and Roast Chicken for the Ages sit alongside clever cocktails and creative twists that spark laughter as much as appetite. A wildly fun invitation to cook, share, and celebrate life. £22 published by DK.
Menolicious: Eat Your Way to a Better Menopause by Mariella Frostrup and Belles Berry
Menolicious is a joyful, life-affirming celebration of midlife nourishment from broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and chef Belles Berry. With over 100 recipes designed to ease menopause symptoms and uplift body and mind, it transforms nutrition into empowerment. From revitalising breakfasts to mood-boosting dinners, every dish balances science with comfort, crafted to nourish women through transition with flavour and flair. Accessible, delicious, and deeply reassuring, this cookbook reframes menopause as a time of renewal – one plate at a time. £22 published by DK Red.
Eating Together by Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and Professor Stephen Scott
Eating Together is a heartfelt guide to creating healthier, happier family lives through shared mealtimes. Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and Professor Stephen Scott combine over 70 accessible, UPF-free recipes with practical advice on routines, table games, and meal planning to turn eating into a meaningful daily ritual. From air-fryer chicken skewers to turbocharged porridge and comforting dhal with sweet potato, each recipe is designed to be simple, nourishing, and family-friendly. More than a cookbook, it celebrates connection, laughter, and resilience at the table, empowering parents to cultivate joy and wellbeing through food and togetherness. £20 published by Short Books.
20-Minute Air Fryer: Easy High-Protein Meals Under 600 Calories by Christina Kynigos
TikTok sensation Christina Kynigos returns with her most tempting collection yet – fast, flavour-packed meals that deliver satisfaction in 20 minutes or less. *20-Minute Air Fryer* proves healthy eating can be bold, indulgent, and joyfully easy. From Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Mac to Sticky Soy Garlic Halloumi, every recipe bursts with high-protein goodness and vibrant taste. Balanced and fuss-free, this is modern comfort food reimagined for busy lives – a culinary upgrade for anyone craving both flavour and fitness. £20 published by DK Red.
Student Air Fryer by Denise Smart
Denise Smart serves up a lively, practical guide for students keen to cook well with minimal fuss and maximum flavour. Brimming with quick breakfasts, packable lunches, easy dinners and late night snack fixes, it’s a warm invitation to eat better on a budget without sacrificing pleasure. The recipes feel fresh, flexible and genuinely achievable, with clever tips on batch cooking, freezing and making the most of the beloved air fryer. Perfect for beginners finding their feet in the kitchen, it empowers young cooks to swap pricey takeaways for simple, satisfying dishes they’ll return to again and again. £16.99 published by Hamlyn.
The Jane Austen Recipe Book by Robert Tuesley Anderson
Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, this delightful cookbook brings Regency-era feasting into the modern kitchen. Over 70 recipes – from Elizabeth Martin’s sausage rolls to Mr Woodhouse’s ‘All-Apple’ tarts – capture the charm, elegance, and conviviality of Austen’s novels. With clear instructions, vintage illustrations, and essays that illuminate eighteenth- and nineteenth-century dining, it’s as much a literary journey as a culinary one. Perfect for recreating breakfasts, picnics, luncheons, and grand dinners, it celebrates tradition with warmth and accessibility, offering fans and food lovers alike a chance to taste the world of Austen for themselves. £10 published by Hamlyn.
The Pumpkin Spice Cookbook by Eloise Goode
Eloise Goode delivers a charming celebration of autumn, blending nostalgic sweetness with cosy small town warmth. This inviting collection of bakes, puddings and spiced treats brings the joy of golden leaves and café culture straight into the kitchen. With classics like pumpkin pie alongside treacle rich favourites and comforting lattes, it captures the essence of the season with gentle flair. Every recipe feels like an invitation to slow down, savour the moment and embrace simple pleasures. Perfect for those who adore autumnal flavours and want to recreate that familiar, fireside comfort at home. £9.99 published by Hamlyn.
The Cinnamon Bun Cookbook by Eloise Goode
This is a warm, inviting celebration of autumnal flavours and comforting baking. Eloise Goode offers over 40 irresistible recipes, from Glazed Pear & Cinnamon Loaf to Spicy Apple Parkin, each infused with the heady spices of cinnamon, ginger, apple, and maple. Designed to be achievable yet indulgent, the recipes evoke cosy coffee shop vibes and the simple pleasure of seasonal treats. With approachable instructions and a focus on joy and flavour, this book turns your kitchen into a haven of warmth, aroma, and seasonal charm, perfect for sweet-tooth lovers and festive baking alike. £9.99 published by Hamlyn.
Hamlyn Cooks: Curries
Vibrant, handy and full of flavour, this compact cookbook proves that great curries need neither complexity nor compromise. Bringing together dishes inspired by kitchens around the world, it champions healthier home cooking while keeping the indulgent richness curry lovers crave. Clear recipes, clever variations and full colour photography make it effortlessly accessible, whether you enjoy mild comfort or bold heat. Its pocket sized format belies just how versatile and inspiring it is, offering exceptional value and everyday practicality. Ideal for cooks seeking fragrant, fuss free meals that still feel special, it earns its place as a reliable, much used companion. £6.99 published by Hamlyn.
