Holiday Gift Guides - 2023

Our 2023 Holiday Gift Guides are here! Find our top recommendations for cookbooks, gifts for home cooks, stocking stuffers, and more - ALL from small and independent businesses!

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Our 2023 gift guide is here, and WE. ARE. PUMPED. to share it with you (*happy dance*)

Before we start, a gentle reminder: It's easy to get caught in a spiral of "more more more" during the holidays. And yes, these guides involve a bit of shopping.

But mostly? These gift guides are about celebrating the people you love.

The holidays FOR SURE DO NOT have to be about spending money, racking up debt, or buying a bunch of junk that we don't really need. So while we love each one of these products, please don't feel like you need to run out and buy the latest new, shiny thing. Thrifting, DIY, and nonprofit donations (see a full list of nonprofits we love on our corporate responsibility page!) are also wonderful ways to give to the people you love.

Jump to:

• What to know about this food-focused gift guide:
• Our Favorite Cookbooks of 2023
• Our favorite baking & dessert cookbooks
• Best cookbooks for someone who's just starting to build their collection
• Cookbooks for the Person Who Loves Cookbooks
• Gifts for the person who loves cooking
• Stocking stuffers and gifts under $20
• Gifts you can eat (and that make the world better)
• 💬 Comments & Reviews

What to know about this food-focused gift guide:

We only include products we deem exceptionally useful.

To make it onto our gift guide, a product must be exceptionally useful, bring joy, and make the world better. We are VERY picky about which products make the cut here: for every product that made the list, there are 20 more that didn't.

Brands and authors can't pay to be on this list. 

These are all things we personally use, LOVE, and (in most cases) paid our own hard-earned money for. (We're sometimes sent cookbook review copies from the author or a publisher - any books we received for free are marked with an * asterisk!)

There are NO Amazon links on this list.

Every link you'll find here leads to a small or independent business. And yes - that means you might have to pay shipping. But more than ever, small businesses need all the support we can give them - so if you're able, please buy directly from these creators and artisans!

Also: Please be patient with these small businesses. Independent companies (us included!) don't have the resources for things like lighting-fast shipping or 24/7 support. Allow extra time for shipping, and be kind if you have to email someone about your order (we're all just doing the best we can, right?). Every time you buy from a small business, a real-life person does a happy dance!

All of the books on this list can be purchased through Bookshop.

Bookshop is an online bookstore (and B corporation!) with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.

A portion of every Bookshop purchase goes to an independent bookstore of your choice, or - if you prefer not to select a specific store - your order contributes to an earnings pool that is evenly distributed among bookstores. To date, Bookshop has raised more than $28.5 MILLION for local, independent bookstores.

Also, Pro Tip: Holiday gift shopping goes quite well with a batch of homemade candy cane thumbprint cookies or brown sugar cookies.

Our Favorite Cookbooks of 2023

Quick Guide: (1) Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook (2) Vegetable (3) Love Japan (4) Seasonal Family Almanac (5) Simply West African (6) The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp

1. Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook by Sohla El-Waylly // This is a culinary school crash course in cookbook form, and it's a perfect book for beginners and more advanced cooks alike. We love how much this book focuses on the technique, science, and why behind the recipes!
2. Vegetable by Nik Sharma // This plant-forward cookbook has Nik's trademark deep dives into the science of great recipes, with an approachable recipe collection that's organized by plant family. One note: The ingredients in these recipes are listed within the directions as opposed to in a separate list - we don't mind that style, but it's not for everyone!
3. Love Japan by Sawako Okochi, Aaron Israel, and Gabriella Gershenson // This is a really lovely book with a mix of traditional and not-so-traditional Japanese recipes. The recipe notes are very thorough, and the authors are really focused on helping you hone your instincts and build a SYSTEM: It's great for home cooks who enjoy a mix of follow-to-a-tee recipes and broader skill development. *
4. Seasonal Family Almanac by Emma Frisch and Jana Blankenship // This bright and playful book is organized by season and packed with kid-friendly recipes, crafts, activities, and more. You might also remember this cookbook as the inspiration for this creamy lemon pasta recipe! *
5. Simply West African by Pierre Thiam and Lisa Katayama // This colorful cookbook does a wonderful job of threading stories and detailed notes throughout its collection of recipes. Don't skip the extensive sauce chapter, which includes the history of (and recipes for!) the essential African Mother Sauces. *
6. The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp by Jing Gao // If you (like many of us) have made the famous Fly By Jing chili crisps a staple in your kitchen, you'll love this book from their founder. This story-driven cookbook is a beautiful introduction to Sichuan cuisine (although as the author notes, her cuisine is "not traditional, but personal"), and it's perfect for anyone who loves spice. *

Our favorite baking & dessert cookbooks

Quick Guide: (1) New World Sourdough (2) Hot Bread Kitchen (3) The Book on Pie (4) The Cake Bible (5) Flour Water Salt Yeast (6) Weeknight Baking

1. New World Sourdough by Bryan Ford // This book goes beyond the typical, Amercian-ized sourdough boule to explore sourdough breads from around the world, with shapes, flavors, and techniques that will be new and exciting for new and veteran bakers alike.
2. Hot Bread Kitchen by Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez and Julia Turshen  //  This is one of my FAVORITE cookbooks, and easily in the top five I cook from most frequently. Delicious, well-written recipes and stories from the ladies of the incredible Hot Bread Kitchen - a social enterprise that helps immigrant women succeed in the culinary industry.
3. The Book on Pie by Erin Jeanne McDowell // This pie compendium from pro baker Erin McDowell will teach you everything you ever needed to know to bake the perfect pie! From pastry dough to pie fillings to troubleshooting and best practices, this book has you covered. Bottom line: If you like pie, you need this cookbook.
4. The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum  //  Anytime someone wants to bake better cakes, I send them this book. It's not photo-heavy, but it's incredibly detailed with plenty of notes about the why of a recipe in addition to the recipes themselves. A must-have for any serious baker.
5. Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish  //  If you like baking or want to level up your bread/pizza dough game, this is required reading. Beautiful photos and in-depth technique training for the home baker. Geared towards beginners and intermediate bakers.
6. Weeknight Baking by Michelle Lopez // My favorite cookbook for quick and easy desserts during the week! This book is built for people with busy lives who often decide to bake on a whim: there are easy-to-use baking timelines, time-saving shortcuts, and brand-new recipe ideas in addition to classic recipes that have been tested and tweaked to make them work for your schedule.

Best cookbooks for someone who's just starting to build their collection

Quick guide: (1) Salt Fat Acid Heat (2) The Flavor Equation (3) How to Cook Everything (4) Genius Recipes (5) The Food Lab (6) Small Victories

1. Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat  //  I don't think it's overdramatic to call this book a triumph. Painstakingly detailed (but easy to read and understand!) with beautiful illustrations and plenty of recipes that focus on the WHY and HOW of cooking. (PS - Read this book, and then watch the show on Netflix! The show, like the book, is incredible).
2. The Flavor Equation by Nik Sharma // Nik dives into the science of what makes food taste good - and he does an incredible job of breaking down big ideas into easy, accessible recipes. A follow-up to his popular debut cookbook Season, this book leans on Nik's exceptional photography as well as his talent for making readers feel like they can cook just about anything.
3. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman  //  This book isn't photo-driven, but DANG is it handy. Easily the most-used cookbook in our house, with an easy-to-navigate index and detailed recipes - and it does, in fact, teach you how to cook just about everything.
4. Genius Recipes by Kristen Miglore and Amanda Hesser of Food52  //  After three years in a row on our gift guide, we're moving this cookbook to "must-have" territory. The recipes are, in fact, genius – and the beautiful photos make it a great coffee table book when you’re not cooking from it.
5. The Food Lab by J. Kenji López-Alt  //  This isn't just a cookbook: it's THE cookbook. Kenji focuses on the science - and the why - of our favorite classic recipes. An incredibly thoughtful and detailed cookbook that will quickly become your go-to reference in the kitchen. It's also won basically every cookbook award there is - with good reason.
6. Small Victories by Julia Turshen // This is the cookbook equivalent of a warm, cozy hug. The recipes WORK, and the notes are especially helpful - cooking from this book feels like you have a BFF in the kitchen, cheering you on. Includes a great mix of classic and out-of-the-box recipes with ideas for reusing leftovers, recipe substitutions, and "how-to-cook" lists at the back (like "Seven things to do with a Can of Chickpeas!")

Cookbooks for the Person Who Loves Cookbooks

These are niche, focused, often single-subject cookbooks that go deep into a particular cuisine. They're perfect for that friend or family member who loves to cook, but already has a cookbook collection with the newest or most mainstream titles.

Quick Guide: (1) In Bibi's Kitchen (2) Falastin (3) The Indian Cooking Course (4) Italian American (5) Sababa (6) Six Seasons

1. In Bibi's Kitchen by Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen  // This gorgeous book from Somali chef Hawa Hassan and veteran cookbook author Julia Turshen features stories and recipes from the eight African countries that touch the Indian Ocean. Stunning photography, recipes that WORK, and exceptionally well-organized so it's very easy to cook from. The recipes are rich, flavorful, and unfussy - even picky eaters or cooks who are new to African cuisine will find something to love. *
2. Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley // This book of traditional Palestinian cuisine is beautiful enough to be a coffee table book (the photography is stunning!) but unfussy enough that I'm not afraid to take notes in it or use it while I'm in the kitchen. Folks who read cookbooks like novels will love the stories and profiles, although if you're more of a "get straight to the recipes" person, you can do that, too. Almost every recipe has a photo so you can see what it should look like. *
3. The Indian Cooking Course by Monisha Bharadwaj // By far one of my favorite single-subject cookbooks, and a perfect, robust introduction to classic Indian recipes. There are how-to photos for more complicated techniques, as well as a fascinating overview of the nuances of Indian cuisine - you'll learn which regions favor which flavors and spices, the history of classic (well, classic-to-Americans) recipes, and more.
4. Italian American by Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli with Jamie Feldmar // One of my favorite cookbooks of the last few years! This book makes classic Italian cooking feel special and brand-new - it has a great mix of staple recipes with some awesome out-of-the-box ideas. It also has plenty of step-by-step photos for the more complicated recipes. I bookmarked almost every page. *
5. Sababa by Adeena Sussman // This stunning cookbook gives a bright, colorful introduction to Israeli cuisine. The recipe headnotes are exceptionally detailed and helpful, and cookbook fans will love the history and stories threaded all the way through. The recipes themselves are well-written and easy to follow. There's also a photo with just about every recipe so you can see what a dish should look like!
6. Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden and Martha Holmberg // This is one of the cookbooks I actually COOK from the most. It's organized by season and packed with flavorful (but accessible) recipes. If you're shopping for someone who already has this book, you can also grab their excellent follow-up, Grains for Every Season.

Gifts for the person who loves cooking

Quick Guide: (1) Hedley & Bennett Crossback Apron in Bordeaux (2) Jacobsen Salt Sampler (3) Everyday Artisan Bread (4) Omsom Sauce Sampler (5) Finex Cast Iron Skillet (6) Challenger Bread Pan (7) East Fork Pottery Everyday Bowl (8) EXAU Olive Oil (9) Diaspora Co Spices (10) Wild for Salmon Sustainable Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon

1. Hedley & Bennett All Day Crossback Apron // Hedley & Bennett makes THE. BEST. APRONS. Full stop. No contest. My first H&B apron is 5-6 years old now, and it still looks almost new (even after daily wear plus hundreds of photo shoots, recipe tests, spills, and washes). This All-Day Crossback Apron is SO comfortable - of the several H&B aprons I have now, it's easily my favorite. Made in LA.

2. Jacobsen Sea Salt Gift Set  //  One of my FAVORITE artisan products, this sea salt is harvested in the Pacific Northwest and has the most beautiful texture and clean, pure flavor. Use it as finishing salt (texturally, I find it's somewhere between classic kosher salt and large-flaked Maldon salt). This gift set is a great introduction to their products: buy it with or without the wooden display base (when the salt is gone, it makes for beautiful countertop spice storage!) or, if flavored salts aren't your thing, buy a bag of their pure flake finishing salt.

3. Everyday Artisan Bread Online Course // Alright, SHAMELESS PLUG: We think our bread-baking online course, Everyday Artisan Bread, is pretty great. The perfect gift for a friend or family member who is ready to level up their homemade bread game! Includes exclusive recipes, video tutorials, and regular updates for excellent artisan bread at home. We also have printable gift cards available if you'd like something to wrap!

4. Omsom Sauce Sampler // These chef-crafted sauce starters are the perfect dinner shortcut on busy weeknights. Just pour a sauce packet into a quick stir fry, brush it over some fish or meat, or add it to a salad or noodle dish for an instantly more delicious dinner. Grab the Omsom Bundle (pictured above) for a taste of every sauce they make, or choose a smaller collection of their East Asian or Southeast Asian sauce lines. The samplers come in stunning, bright packaging that's perfect for gifting.

5. Finex Cast Iron Skillet  //  Finex makes some of my favorite cast iron skillets. Handcrafted at their Portland factory, this cookware is stunning and useful - and properly cared for, it will last forever. The handle is also designed to stay cool while the pan is on the stove, which is an amazing feature for a cast iron pan.

6. Challenger Bread Pan // If you're a serious home baker who is already baking frequent artisan, crusty, or sourdough loaves, you'll love this pan. It gets unbelievable oven spring and the thinnest, crispiest crust I've ever had outside a bakery with a professional steam oven. The shallow base means you can tip bread dough onto the hot surface without needing parchment paper (hip hooray for low-waste baking!) and with less risk of burning yourself. This heavy-duty bread pan is an investment, and it's a bit of a single-purpose item. It's also a GAMECHANGER.

7. East Fork Pottery Everyday Bowl // I'm in love with this company. Their hand-thrown pottery is made in North Carolina, and this Everyday Bowl is one of my favorite pieces. Everything is dishwasher and microwave safe and made for daily use; I've had some of my pieces for years and they still look brand new. The pieces are an investment, so we're building our collection a little at a time. East Fork is also a fabulous example of a company that uses its influence to pay people well, prioritize social justice, and leave the world better than they found it.

8. EXAU Olive Oil // I’ve been living my very best olive oil life lately thanks to the husband and wife team behind EXAU. Like wine, the olive oils are pressed in vintages (according to the year the olives were harvested) from their Italian olive groves for incredible flavor and terroir. I grab these olive oils for drizzling, salad dressings, sauces, pesto, and anything that needs a bit of depth and flavor. I'm a member of their olive oil subscription club (like I said: living my BEST. LIFE.) and their Lina and Turi varieties are my go-to housewarming and holiday gifts. EXAU was also kind enough to share a discount code for Life As A Strawberry readers: Enter the code 10FORLIFEASASTRAWBERRY22 at checkout to save 10% on your purchase.

9. Diaspora Co. Spices // Diaspora Co. is on a mission to decolonize the spice trade by sourcing the best, most flavorful spices on the market while building an equitable supply chain that pays their farmers fairly. The quality of their spices is incredible: The first time I smelled their ground ginger, I literally fell out of my chair. I know it sounds dramatic, but I promise you: You haven't had dried spices until you've had these dried spices. Grab their signature Pragati Turmeric, stock up on their flavor-packed black peppercorns, or save a few dollars when you build your own trio of their best spices (perfect for gifting!)

10. Wild For Salmon wild, sustainable Alaskan salmon  // WFS is a dock-to-doorstep delivery service for Wild Alaskan Sockeye (and other delicious seafood!) Owned and operated by a family of fishermen, you can order wild, sustainable Alaskan Salmon caught aboard the Ava Jane. I personally know and love this team of fishermen - we even served their wild sockeye at our wedding! Their delivery area is limited; if you're outside their delivery zone, check out Sitka Salmon Shares (Midwest) or Vital Choice (Nationwide) for wild, sustainable salmon delivered in your area!

Stocking stuffers and gifts under $20

Quick Guide: (1) Jacobsen Pure Flake Finishing Sea Salt (2) Shaquanda Will Feed You Hot Sauces (3) Diaspora Co. Single Origin Cinnamon (4) East Fork Bitty Bowls (5) Stasher Bag (6) Hedley & Bennett Socks (7) "You Tried" Pin (8) Wool Dryer Balls photo credit: Package Free Shop (9) Steve Smith Lord Bergamot Tea

1. Jacobsen Finishing Sea Salt  //  One of my FAVORITE artisan products, this sea salt is harvested in the Pacific Northwest and has the most beautiful texture and clean, pure flavor. Use it as finishing salt (texturally, I find it's somewhere between classic kosher salt and large-flaked Maldon salt).

2. Shaquanda Will Feed You Hot Sauces // Alright. These hot sauces are SO. GOOD. My current favorites are the classic hot pepper sauce (it's perfect with scrambled eggs or mixed with some mayo on a sandwich!) and this green sauce (I've been mixing some into my mac and cheese lately, and OMG), but honestly, they're all excellent.

3. Diaspora Co. Single Origin Cinnamon // I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite among Diaspora Co's incredible spice lineup, but if I had to, it would probably be this cinnamon. It has the most beautiful, rich aroma and an incredible depth of flavor. But also, picking just one spice from this company is ridiculous, so you should also check out their Pahadi Pink Garlic Powder, Pragati Turmeric, Makhir Ground Ginger, and Aranya Black Peppercorns.

4. East Fork Pottery Bitty Bowls // I am an unabashed East Fork Pottery fangirl, and these bitty bowls are a great way to start your pottery collection on a budget. They're sturdy, come in gorgeous colors, and are dishwasher safe: I use mine almost every day to hold snacks, prep recipe ingredients, or store my wedding rings while I'm cooking.

5. Stasher Bag  //  A dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, sous-vide-safe alternative to plastic zip-top bags. Airtight, freezer-safe, easy to store. I buy them for EVERYBODY and they're a great way to reduce plastic use (we haven't bought plastic zip-top bags in 6+ years since we switched to Stasher!) Start with their bestselling sandwich bag (I also love their stand-up bags and half-gallon sizes!)

6. Hedley & Bennett "Wake Up and Fight" Socks // THESE. SOCKS. Colorful? Yes. Fun? Absolutely. Inspiring hidden messages on the soles? Check. But most importantly: These are the most comfortable socks I've ever worn. EVER. They hold up great (I've had several pairs for years) and have incredible support. I've given these socks as a gift to every member of my immediate family (and then some).

7. "You Tried" Pin // This pin from artist @adamjk is one of my very favorite things (especially the past few years, THANKS 2020). It's small - pin it onto a purse, a jacket, or stick it in a cork board in your office - but sometimes, you just need a pick-me-up reminder that you tried your best (and that's awesome). As Adam says: "Here is a gold star. You deserve it."

8. Natural Wool Dryer Balls // We switched to wool dryer balls a few years ago, and I am IN LOVE. These wool balls replace disposable dryer sheets for a waste-free laundry routine, but I've also been impressed by how much they reduce wrinkles and actually help our laundry dry faster so we use less energy, too. I'm buying these for EVERYONE this year. Photo credit: Package Free Shop.

9. Steven Smith Tea // This artisan teamaker is based in Portland, OR, and makes some of the most flavorful, complex teas on the market. I start almost every day with a cup of their Lord Bergamot tea, and I'm also a huge fan of their Meadow Chamomile Blend. Buy their teas in sachets or in loose-leaf form, and check out their variety packs for your gifting needs.

Gifts you can eat (and that make the world better)

JENI'S ICE CREAM. Order the BEST ice cream online from Jeni's Ice Cream! Ships in a freezer box. Jeni's uses no synthetic flavors or dyes, buys ingredients directly from a community of partner-producers, and is a Certified B Corporation. Their Darkest Chocolate flavor is the only ice cream I've ever fought my family for (don't worry, I won).

SEEMORE SAUSAGES. We've been loving these new part-plant sausages from fourth-generation butcher Cara Nicoletti! These colorful sausages are here to help you eat less meat by mixing sausage staples like humanely-raised pork and chicken with bright vegetables. Meat-eaters won't even notice these sausages are part veggie - they taste GREAT and are shipped frozen to your door. Order a variety pack to sample each flavor, or snag their "sausage" sweatshirt to lounge in style.

SUSTAINABLE WILD ALASKAN SALMON. Caught by Captain Steve & the Wild For Salmon aboard the Ava Jane each summer in Alaska, flash frozen within hours of being caught, and shipped to your doorstep (we even served it at our wedding!) If you're in the midwest, check out Sitka Salmon Shares as well.

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HEY! I HEART YOU.

Thank you so much for reading Life As A Strawberry – whether it’s your first time here or you’ve been following from the beginning. Wishing you health, safety, and the happiest of holidays.