8 Essential Canadian Cookbooks From 2024

For those of you who think you no longer need cookbooks because, well, the internet, you are so very wrong. Nothing is better than cozying up with an actual book and dreaming of what might come out of your kitchen if you put it down and actually cook, even if you never do. Food styling and food photography are at the top of their game, so if you did nothing but look at pictures, there’s still immense value between the pages. Here are some unique selections from this year’s crop that will add joy to any food lover’s cookbook collection. —Cassandra Anderton, Good Life Vancouver

Bacon, Butter, Bourbon & Chocolate Cookbook: Chef Bruno’s Favourite Ingredients by Bruno Feldeisen 

The title alone may grab you as you likely have some of these favourite ingredients in common with Chef Bruno, but the recipes are just as catchy. Chef Bruno Feldeisen is a judge on The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC Television and knows a few things about combining elements to create unique tasting experiences. In this new book, he ventures from Bacon and Salmon Roe Deviled Eggs to Pork Belly with Bourbon Honey Glaze and dishes out recipes for many sweets, including Double Chocolate Whoopie Pies. You can also catch Chef Bruno at Eden West for cooking classes and Swallow Tail Supper Club, where he will cook a local truffle-infused dinner this weekend (December 13 &14, 2024).

Crust: Essential Sweets and Savories from Victoria’s Beloved Bakery by Tom Moore and Rebecca Wellman

Baking took hold of many during those years we spent much time at home, and those still feeding sourdough starters and laminating dough will surely appreciate this new cookbook. From Crust Bakery in Victoria, where I just ate the most divine cheese and provolone roll this morning, comes Crust, a gem from Tom Moore, bakery owner and culinary instructor who knows how to break down a recipe into manageable steps. I’m eyeing the Zucchini Marmalade Cake and the Pecan and Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

The Krause Berry Farms Cookbook: Sweet and Savoury Recipes from the Fraser Valley’s Famous Farm and Bakery by Sandee Krause 

Langley’s Krause family farm is known to Lower Mainlanders as THE place to go for strawberries, waffles, pizza, pies, and ice cream. Now you can create some of these delights at home with owner Sandee Krause’s guide to meals, snacks and celebrations. Recipes range from French Onion Soup to Multigrain Bread, including their famous Strawberry Custard Pie and Roasted Corn Pizza. This cookbook is an excellent resource for cooking in BC farm country.

Matty Matheson: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches: A Cookbook

Cooking kitchen basics that pack flavour takes some creativity. While soups, salads and sandwiches can get boring, you can revolutionize your meals if you follow this excellent guide to these staples. Chef Matty Matheson has been entertaining us lately as a cast member on Chef-focused The Bear, and he continues to weave humour into his latest cookbook with personal stories and photos along with clever suggestions for quick meals. We think his Giant Meatball Soup, a Mac and Tuna Salad, and some Cubano (sandwiches) might just be what we need this weekend.

Plant Magic: A Celebration of Plant-Based Cooking for Everyone by Desiree Nielsen

Desiree Nielson is a registered dietician and recipe developer well worth stopping scrolling for on social media. She has excellent science-backed tips for gut health and plant-based nutrition and will entertain you while educating you. In her newest book, Nielson demonstrates how plant-based cooking doesn’t have to take up all your spare time and money; it can be joyful and tastes oh so very good! Try the Black Olive and Za’atar Focaccia, Carrot Cake with Cashew Frosting or Hibiscus Lemonade.

The Side Gardener: Recipes & Notes from My Garden Hardcover by Rosie Daykin 

I don’t know about you, but I dream of having the time and resources to convert a patch of land into a garden. While that’s not my life’s lot, I will live vicariously through this cookbook’s author, the founder of Butter Bakery, Rosie Daykin, while I flip through this gorgeous book, pouring over her stories of adventures as she nurtured her garden into a source of fresh vegetables, fruit, and beautiful flowers. She even has chickens and fresh eggs! While this is an excellent resource for gardeners, don’t be dismayed if you don’t have a garden of your own, as these recipes can be made from produce from your local market.

Taste Buds: A Field Guide to Cooking and Baking with Flowers by Nikki Fotheringham

If you are lucky enough to have a garden or nearby meadow, this guide will show you how to forage in your backyard and create beautiful meals from edible flowers. Nikki Fotheringham is an avid gardener, forager, and home cook who has made cooking with flowers a fine art. Taste Buds features a guide to flowers, tips and tricks to growing flowers, and over 90 recipes featuring flowers in beautiful colour-coded chapters. There’s everything from savoury dishes, including Flower Pasta with Marigold Pesto, to flower-filled cocktails.

Whitewater Cooks The Food We Love by Shelley Adams and Conner Adams 

Fans of the Whitewater Cooks Cookbook series have something different to cook from with this year’s newest addition to the line-up. Chef Shelley Adams has collaborated with her son, Connor Adams, adding a touch of healthy California cooking to her Kootenay mountain-style tradition. Adams is known for her ability to create recipes with everyday ingredients that are impressive enough for a dinner party yet easy enough for mid-week. Options such as a Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Tarte, Sweet Potato Thai Green Curry and the Best Key Lime Pie Ever will have you returning to this book as your resource for delicious meals.