Our Favourite Cookbooks of the Year

Since our previous compilation of books, I acquired a lot more in the past 12 months. Just so you can picture how much, the Ikea bookshelf I wished for last Christmas is now full!

Once again, I would like to share with you the favourites of the year. It will look like a large number of dessert books, but a few cookbooks have sneaked onto the list. Hopefully this post will help you with your gift-giving this holiday season!

The Art of Living According to Joe Beef: A Cookbook of Sorts

By David McMillan, Frédéric Morin, and Meredith Erickson

Foreword by David Chang

Photographs by Jennifer May

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published by Ten Speed Press

ISBN 9781607740148

Unique, funny, candid, and filled with amazing photographs. Nine chapters that range from building a restaurant in the middle of nowhere, to trains, to building your own smoker and garden. There's a real emphasis on the "cookbook of sorts," this isn't your typical recipe book. Read this from front to back.

Jacketed hardcover, a double gate fold for their smorgasbord, a ribbon bookmark, this just screams special gift. Watch this video for more information. I love when David explains the best seat in the house. You just want to be there - cozy, safe from the snow, and enjoying a great meal.

I might not be able to recreate most of these dishes, but I might be able to tackle some of the dessert recipes. There's a stunning looking Marjolaine cake, financiers, and éclairs.

Bon Appétit Desserts: The Cookbook for All Things Sweet and Wonderful
By Barbara Fairchild

Photographs by Con Poulos

Hardcover, 704 pages

Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

ISBN 9780740793523

Who doesn't love large encyclopedia styled cookbooks? Plus, it's Bon Appétit, you know that the book will be filled with gorgeous photography and instructive illustrations. There's even a whisk rating - from one to four - that encompasses beginners to experts. Looking for something? Check the extensive index at the back.

Here's a promo video that takes you through each chapter's subject and some sample recipes. It'll give you a general idea, but I wish it told us how one undertakes such a large project! How long did it take to test all of these recipes?

I think it was only offered last year, but when I bought the book, it also came with a year's subscription of Bon Appétit. Now, I'm hooked!

Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe
By Joanne Chang, with Christie Matheson

Photographs by Keller + Keller

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published by Chronicle Books

ISBN 9780811869447

I don't know what it is, but I find this cookbook so charming. People say that baked goods bring out nostalgic memories and even though this book is beautifully designed and really is modern, I find it to reminiscent a time when simple treats are comforting and delicious. There are no elaborate decorations - the food presented here represent the ideal neighbourhood bakery and cafe.

Some of you may know, Joanne beat out Bobby Flay during the sticky bun throwdown! Look how gooey they are on the cover, top left!

Check out this video about how Joanne got her start in baking and cookbookery.

Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes

By Jean-Georges Vongerichten, with Genevieve Ko

Photographs by John Kernick

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published by Clarkson Potter

ISBN 9780307717955

You know the way to my heart if you decide to put brunch on the cover. It looks rustic, home-made, and absolutely delicious. What are they? Stone Fruit Bruschetta - a mixture of apricots, Italian plums, peaches, and nectarines on top of sourdough bread.

I love a good brunch section in any cookbook. This one also covers cocktails, appetizers, salads, lunch, fish and seafood, poultry, meat, side dishes, desserts, and basics. A hundred recipes and a hundred coloured photos - not all the photos are food, there are some family shots in here. Yet, everything looks intimate like he's sharing a family secret. The food is not overly plated and the recipes aren't too intimidating. Give this one a try!

Illustrated Step-By-Step Baking

By Caroline Bretherton

Photographs by Howard Shooter and Michael Hart

Hardcover, 544 pages

Published by Dorling Kindersley Publishing

ISBN 9780756686796

The table of contents is filled with photos of every recipe. This alone takes 15 pages of the book. But it becomes handy when you need to quickly browse and find what you want to make.

While the book boasts 1,500 photographs, not every recipe is illustrated. Some get fifteen or more step-by-step photos, while others show you the finished product. It's like flipping through a food blog. I would also love to read The Illustrated Step-By-Step Cook one day. Let me know if you have the companion book!

Miette: Recipes from San Francisco's Most Charming Pastry Shop
By Meg Ray, with Leslie Jonath
Photographs by Frankie Frankeny

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published by Chronicle Books

ISBN 9780811875042

Love! Sigh! Swoon! You can't possibly be anything else but happy when you look at this cover. Look how perfectly cute the Tomboy Cake is.

Then you open and browse through the book and you're just smitten with all the adorable pastries. Everything looks simple, but if you read Meg's notes and instructions, there's a lot of work and good advice behind the recipes. Make sure you follow them, the end result is quite worth it.

Check out the double chocolate cupcakes I made for National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

Momofuku Milk Bar

By Christina Tosi

Foreword by David Chang

Photographs by Gabriele Stabile

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published by Crown Publishing Group

ISBN 9780307720498

Do I even need to convince you that you're going to want the recipes for corn cookie, compost cookie, pretzel ice cream pie, chocolate chip layer cake, liquid cheesecake, red velvet ice cream, cinnamon bun pie, crack pie or cornflake-chocolate-chip-marshmallow cookies?

Enough said.

The Primrose Bakery Book
By Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas

Photographs by Yuki Sugiura

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published by Square Peg

ISBN 9780224086882

When I first saw this cover, I thought that the font was trying to be all punk with me. But it isn't, the bakery is actually very charming (I know, I've used this word a lot in this post) and homey.

Known for their cupcakes, they've already published a book on the subject (hmm must check that out too). There are cupcakes in this book too, but ones with different flavours, such as violet, lime meringue, lemon meringue, raspberry coconut, cranberry and orange, Christmas pudding, banoffee pie, green tea, maple and pecan, plum, and rhubarb to name a few.

If you or your friend like The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, this will be a great addition.

Sucré: The Recipes

By Philippe Andrieu

Photography by Sophie Tramier

Translated by Kerrin Rousset

Hardcover, 392 pages

Published by Éditions Du Chêne

ISBN 9782812304439

This is the gift cookbook. Nested in delicate lilac tissue paper and Ladurée's trademark pastel green box, this was like unwrapping the jewelry I never got. Frankly, I would choose a beautiful cookbook over earrings any day.

These are the coveted recipes by pastry chef Philippe Andrieu that have been translated to English by Kerrin Rousset. The photos are dainty and capture the essence of Ladurée so well. Even the book's design is filled with ornate borders and images. Funnily enough, this is probably the only book on the list that doesn't fit the typical coffee table specs. Not to sound cheesy, but good things come in small packages....

Happy reading and cooking!

Miette

Happy National Chocolate Cupcake Day! That's right, put October 18 in your calendar so you won't forget. I can't be reminding you every year. ;)

To celebrate, I would like to share a new chocolate cupcake discovery. This year, I made Miette's double chocolate cupcakes three times.

But, let me rewind a bit. The cover of this cookbook caught my eyes. It was such a simple cake (called the Tomboy), but conveyed so much charm that I looked up the Miette bakery in San Francisco. The website made me want to visit San Francisco - soon (fingers crossed)!

Then, there was this cute video from the publisher:

Miette: Recipes from San Francisco's Most Charming Pastry Shop

Written by Meg Ray, with Leslie Jonath

Photographs by Frankie Frankeny

ISBN 13: 9780811875042

ISBN 10: 0811875040

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Hardcover: 224 pages

I could not wait for this book to be released! I liked the way Meg Ray thinks, a piece of cake every morning!

Sadly, the pistachio and strawberry cake she makes in the video is not in the cookbook. =(

Scalloped edges. As if this book needed to be any more charming!

What I actually liked most about the book is the portion of Ray's dessert recipes. The cakes are smaller in size, 6-inch to be exact. Perfect for me, I like small desserts!

Back to the cupcakes, I made them three times because they were good. They were moist, soft, and rich with chocolate flavour. For some magical reason, these cupcakes were the most evenly and uniformed looking cupcakes I've ever made. These are now my go-to chocolate cupcakes. =)

Double Chocolate Cupcakes

From Miette

(Makes about 24 cupcakes)

1½ cups of all-purpose flour
1¼ cups of natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of baking powder
¾ teaspoon of kosher salt
2 ounces of 70% cacao chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup of boiling water

1 cup of buttermilk
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
½ cup of vegetable oil

2¼ cups of sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and have all ingredients at room temperature. Place your cupcake liners in the tray.
2. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
3. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and pour the boiling water in. Whisk until the chocolate has melted. Set aside to cool for about 15 minutes.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk and vanilla together.
5. Using a stand mixer, whisk the eggs on high speed until foamy (about 2 minutes). On low speed, add the oil. On medium speed, whisk until combined.
6. Once again, on low speed, add the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Then, add the buttermilk and vanilla mixture. Add the sugar and whisk until the batter is smooth (about 2 minutes).
7. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and add the dry ingredients. Mix and fold using a rubber spatula, it's okay if the batter looks a bit lumpy. Don't over mix.
8. Pour the batter through a mesh sieve to remove any lumps. Divide the batter evenly into the cupcake liners using an ice cream scoop.
9. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed or until a cake tester comes out clean after being inserted.
10. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let it cool. Make sure they are completely cooled before decorating.

I frosted mine with a light green tea buttercream and sprinkled milk chocolate Callebaut crispearls on top.

Muah! Even chocolate loves chocolate.

Disclaimer: A review copy of Miette was sent to us for review from Danielle Johnson at Raincoast Books. Thank you! No incentives were used to produce a positive review of this book.