Holiday cooking is different from everyday cooking. The dishes are big, the guests are watching, and you only get one practice run a year. A good book takes some of the worry out of that, mostly by telling you what to do and when.
The right one depends on which days you actually host. We’ve looked at seven books by named authors and established brands, covering the whole calendar, one big meal, Christmas, Mexican celebrations and Jewish holiday baking.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications, makers’ statements and the independent sources we name. We have not used these products ourselves.
Quick verdict: the best holiday cookbook for most kitchens
Buy The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays if you host through the year: it runs from New Year’s Day to Christmas with step-by-step photos. If Thanksgiving is the worry, Sam Sifton’s Thanksgiving is the short, reassuring choice, and Muy Bueno: Fiestas is our pick for Mexican celebrations.
Five holiday cookbooks at a glance
One for each kind of host. All seven are reviewed below.
| Book | Best for | What it covers | Recipes | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All year | Seven occasions | Sources differ | View on Amazon | |
Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well, Sam SiftonBest for Thanksgiving
|
Thanksgiving | Turkey to table | Not stated | View on Amazon |
The Christmas Companion, Skye McAlpineBest for Christmas
|
Christmas | Food, planning, crafts | Not stated | View on Amazon |
Muy Bueno: Fiestas, Yvette Marquez-SharpnackBest for Mexican celebrations
|
Mexican holidays | Food and decoration | Over 100 | View on Amazon |
The Big Book of Christmas, Editors of Southern LivingBest for big gatherings
|
Christmas | Menus and hosting | Not stated | View on Amazon |
Our picks for the best holiday cookbook
1. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays, Ree Drummond – One Book for the Whole Calendar
Most holiday cookbooks are really Christmas cookbooks. Ree Drummond’s book is the one on this list that takes the phrase literally. It runs through the year: New Year’s Day, the Big Game, Easter, the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, with menus for breakfasts, brunches, dinners, parties and larger feasts. That range is why it leads this page. You buy one book and it still has a job in July.
The food is big, friendly American home cooking, and the recipe names tell you the tone: Whiskey BBQ Sliders and Dr Pepper Cupcakes for the game, a Glazed Ham for Easter, Watermelon Sangria for the Fourth, Popcorn Balls for Halloween, and Caramel Apple Rolls and Christmas Rum Cake for December. A Davenport Public Library staff post and a bookseller listing both describe nineteen Thanksgiving recipes and hundreds of step-by-step photos, which is a lot of hand-holding for a cook who only roasts a turkey once a year.
One thing to check before you rely on a number. Amazon’s listing title says 112 recipes, while other sellers print 135 or 140 in the subtitle of the same ISBN, and page counts differ too. We can’t tell you which is right, so we’d ignore the figure. The outside material we read is descriptive rather than critical, so this pick rests on what the book covers and on Drummond’s record as a named author at William Morrow.
Why we like it
- Covers seven occasions, from New Year’s Day to Christmas
- Nineteen Thanksgiving recipes, per the library post
- Hundreds of step-by-step photos
- Useful outside December as well
Key specifications
| Author | Ree Drummond |
|---|---|
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 400 on the listing; another seller says 352 |
| Published | 2013 |
| Occasions covered | New Year, Big Game, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas |
| Recipes | Sources differ: 112, 135 or 140 |
| Outside source read | Davenport Public Library post; Exodus Books listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a household that hosts several times a year and wants one familiar, photo-led book, especially a cook who likes to see each stage before trying it.
Skip it if you want restrained food or serious technique. This is comfort cooking, and it is meant to be.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest calendar on this list
- Step-by-step photos
- Named author at a major publisher
Cons
- Recipe count differs between sources
- No critical review read
- Some of the food is more party than dinner
2. Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well, Sam Sifton – Calm Help for the Biggest Meal
If only one meal scares you, buy a book about only that meal. Sam Sifton’s small hardcover does one holiday, and it does the whole of it: planning, the turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, sides, pies, cocktails and setting the table. Publishers Weekly counted six ways to cook a turkey and four ways to use the leftovers, and called it a survival guide with a playful tone.
The voice is the reason to read it. Sifton is a former New York Times restaurant critic who founded NYT Cooking, according to Penguin Random House, and the book’s central message, in the publisher’s words, is “There is no need for fear.” Publishers Weekly picked out his advice on dessert: “It absolutely should not be experimental.” That is a fair summary of the book’s view of the day. It would rather you cook the familiar meal well than chase something new.
It is only 160 pages at about the size of a paperback novel, so this is a book to read in the week before, not a reference for the rest of the year. Pair it with a good roasting pan and a thermometer you trust, and you have most of what the day asks for.
Why we like it
- Six ways to cook a turkey, per Publishers Weekly
- Four ways to use the leftovers
- Covers planning and the table as well as the food
- A named review we could read
Key specifications
| Author | Sam Sifton, illustrated by Sarah Rutherford |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Random House |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 160 |
| Published | 2012 |
| Occasions covered | Thanksgiving |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Outside source read | Publishers Weekly; Penguin Random House |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if you are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, or if every year ends with cold gravy and a late bird.
Skip it if you want a book for more than one day of the year. It covers Thanksgiving and very little else.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
- Clear, reassuring voice
- Small and easy to read through
Cons
- One holiday only
- Short by design
- Illustrated; the publisher mentions no step-by-step photos
3. The Christmas Companion, Skye McAlpine – A Month of Christmas Planning
This is the answer to anyone searching for a Christmas dinner cookbook who also wants help with the rest of December. Skye McAlpine is a British cookery writer, and the book is organized into sections including Magic Making, Feasting and Making Merry, with checklists and planners along with the recipes.
Síana Clifford’s review in Cuisine magazine calls it “a manual for all things Christmas” and says you can imagine a “well-thumbed pudding batter-splattered copy coming out every year.” She points out turkey, ham, mince pies and mulled wine, then the less expected Egg Nog Cream Pie and a Black Truffle, Mascarpone and Quail’s Egg Pasta Pie. She also notes tips on decorating, gift wrapping and homemade advent calendars, so a fair share of its 368 pages goes beyond the kitchen.
Two things to weigh. The food leans British in places, with mince pies and Marmite butter, which may be a treat or a puzzle depending on your family. And Cuisine is a New Zealand magazine, reviewing it for readers there. We didn’t find a US review, so we can’t say how American cooks have taken to it. The listing also doesn’t say whether measurements are given in cups.
Why we like it
- Checklists and planners for the season
- Traditional dishes and less expected ones
- Reviewed by Cuisine magazine
- Crafts and table ideas in the same book
Key specifications
| Author | Skye McAlpine |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Bloomsbury |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 368 |
| Published | 2025 |
| Occasions covered | Christmas season |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Outside source read | Cuisine magazine, issue 232 |
Why we recommend it
It suits the person who starts planning Christmas in November and wants the food, the table and the to-do list in one place.
Skip it if you only want dinner recipes. You’d be paying for a good many pages about crafts and decorating.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Planning help as well as recipes
- Named review read
- A full-size book
Cons
- British leanings in the food
- Measurement system not stated on the listing
- Christmas only
4. Muy Bueno: Fiestas, Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack – Mexican Food for the Whole Year
We’re a Mexican kitchen, so we’ll say it plainly: a holiday cookbook doesn’t have to mean turkey and mince pies. Muy Bueno: Fiestas collects more than 100 Mexican recipes by occasion, and Publishers Weekly lists Lent, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the Fourth of July, Day of the Dead and New Year’s Eve among them. It is a follow-up to the author’s earlier Muy Bueno.
The review names beer-battered shrimp tacos, tres leches bread pudding and pan de muerto, and it mentions decorating ideas such as tissue-paper flowers and mini piñatas. It calls the recipes accessible and concludes: “Anyone looking to enhance their holiday tables will find Marquez-Sharpnack an expert guide.” That is the strongest outside endorsement of any book on this page.
For a Mexican Christmas table, it is worth reading alongside our guide to Mexican Christmas food, which covers the dishes themselves. If your family’s December turns on tamales, also read our explanation of what tamales are before you plan a big batch. The book is a celebration book, not a regional reference, so anyone after depth on one part of Mexico should look at our regional Mexican cookbook guide instead.
Why we like it
- Over 100 recipes arranged by occasion
- Publishers Weekly calls the author an expert guide
- Includes Day of the Dead and Lent
- Decorating ideas as well as food
Key specifications
| Author | Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Weldon Owen |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 304 |
| Published | 2023 |
| Occasions covered | Lent, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Day of the Dead, New Year’s Eve |
| Recipes | Over 100 |
| Outside source read | Publishers Weekly |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if your family’s celebrations are Mexican or Mexican American, or if you want a change from the usual holiday menu.
Skip it if you want a traditional American turkey dinner. That isn’t what this book is for.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, positive named review
- Arranged by occasion, so easy to use
- Food and decoration together
Cons
- Not a regional reference
- Built for celebrations, not everyday cooking
- Not reviewed outside Publishers Weekly in what we read
5. The Big Book of Christmas, Editors of Southern Living – Menus, Decorating and Hosting
Southern Living has been publishing Christmas books for a long time, and this new one from Abrams is the big version. At 368 pages, it offers contemporary menus, cocktails, small bites and desserts, then moves into decorating the tree, mantel and table, with step-by-step projects for wreaths, ornaments and wrapped gifts.
The part most useful to a nervous host is the planning. Abrams describes help with invitations, buffet and bar setups and cooking for a crowd, along with 350 color photographs. That makes it more of a seasonal home book than a straight cookbook, so think about whether you want that before you buy.
It came out in October 2026, and Publishers Weekly has no review on its page for this ISBN. We read no independent review, so this pick rests on the publisher’s description and on the brand’s name. It has a corporate byline, not a single author, and you are buying a magazine’s house style rather than one cook’s point of view. The food’s Southern flavor is likely to suit some tables more than others, although the publisher doesn’t list recipes by name.
Why we like it
- Menus, cocktails, small bites and desserts
- Buffet and bar setups for a crowd
- 350 color photographs
- Decorating projects with steps
Key specifications
| Author | Editors of Southern Living |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Abrams |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 368 |
| Published | 2026 |
| Occasions covered | Christmas season |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Outside source read | Abrams product page only |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone hosting a house full of people who wants the decorating and the serving plan along with the menu.
Skip it if you want a kitchen book first. Much of this one is about the house.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Help with cooking for a crowd
- 350 color photographs, per the publisher
- Bar and buffet planning
Cons
- No independent review read
- No single author’s voice
- Christmas only
6. The Artisanal Kitchen: Jewish Holiday Baking, Uri Scheft – Baking for Four Holidays
A small, focused book from a real baker. Uri Scheft runs Lehamim Bakery in Tel Aviv and founded Breads Bakery in New York City, according to the publisher, and he wrote this with Raquel Pelzel, a former Cook’s Illustrated editor with more than 20 cookbooks behind her.
It holds 25 baking recipes for holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Purim and Passover. Workman names Poppy Seed Hamantaschen, Coconut Macaroons, Apple Babka and Jam-filled Sufganiyot as examples, and it describes the style as drawing on European and Middle Eastern influences with some creative twists.
You should be clear about what this isn’t. At 112 pages it covers baking, so you won’t find a brisket or a Seder menu. For the savory side of the Jewish table, see our Jewish cookbook guide. The publisher’s page carries no reviews and we read none elsewhere, so this rests on the publisher’s details and the author’s bakeries.
Why we like it
- 25 recipes from a working baker
- Organized around named holidays
- Co-written with an experienced food editor
- A small book that’s easy to give
Key specifications
| Author | Uri Scheft with Raquel Pelzel |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Artisan, Workman Publishing |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 112 |
| Published | 2020 |
| Occasions covered | Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover and more |
| Recipes | 25 |
| Outside source read | Workman (Hachette) product page only |
Why we recommend it
Buy it for a home baker who wants to make holiday sweets and breads from scratch, or as a gift for one.
Skip it if you need a whole holiday meal. This is baking only.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Author with two named bakeries
- Clear focus
- Easy gift size
Cons
- Baking only
- Only 25 recipes
- No independent review read
7. The Cozy Christmas Cookbook, Taylor Vance – A Small, Trendy Stocking Gift
Not every holiday cookbook has to run the whole show. Taylor Vance’s little hardcover from Rock Point has 50 recipes in 120 pages, mixing comfort food with newer ideas. The publisher names matcha white chocolate peppermint lattes, cranberry and brie stuffed mushrooms, and edible flower cupcakes, with sidebars on prep and hosting.
That list tells you who it’s for. It’s a pretty, modern, snack-and-sip kind of book, better for a tree-trimming party than for Christmas dinner. The publisher’s biography calls Vance a foodie and a fan of kawaii culture, and credits a Friendsgiving cookbook and some coloring books. It doesn’t describe a chef or food writer’s career, so judge it as a gift book rather than a trusted reference.
We list it last on purpose. It rests on the publisher’s details alone, and it’s here because a small, cheerful book is what many people want when they look for a holiday cookbook to give. A different book from DK has nearly the same title, so check the author’s name when you buy.
Why we like it
- 50 recipes in a small format
- Mixes classic comfort food with newer ideas
- Sidebars with hosting tips
- Sits easily in a stocking
Key specifications
| Author | Taylor Vance |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Rock Point |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 120 |
| Published | 2024 |
| Occasions covered | Christmas season |
| Recipes | 50 |
| Outside source read | Quarto product page only |
Why we recommend it
It suits a gift for a younger cook or a friend who likes a festive drink and a party snack.
Skip it if you need to feed a family on the day. This won’t plan a full dinner.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy gift size
- Modern ideas
- Short and approachable
Cons
- Thin on main courses, judging by what’s named
- No independent review read
- Author’s biography shows no professional cooking
How to choose a holiday cookbook
Start by being honest about the calendar. If you only cook one big meal a year, a single-holiday book will serve you better than a general one, and it will probably be read cover to cover. If you host several times a year, a book arranged by occasion earns more of its shelf space.
Look at how it is arranged. Holiday cooking is mostly a timing problem. A book built around menus does some of that thinking for you, and a book built around dish types leaves it to you. Sifton’s and McAlpine’s books both spend real space on planning.
Decide how much non-food you want. The two Christmas books here spend a good part of their pages on decorating and crafts. That is a bonus for some buyers and padding for others. If you only want recipes, read the description before you buy.
Match the book to your family’s food. A British Christmas, a Southern Christmas, a Mexican one and a Jewish holiday baking table are very different things. Pick the tradition you actually cook, or the one you want to learn.
Check the kit. A turkey-centered book assumes a pan that can hold the bird. Our roasting pan guide is the place to start, and a good meat thermometer does more for a holiday roast than any recipe. A cookbook stand keeps the page open and out of the gravy.
How we chose these seven books
We didn’t cook from these books, and we make no claim about how their recipes turn out. We looked for books by a named author or an established brand at a trade publisher that are in stock as new copies, then read what we could find about each: Publishers Weekly by ISBN, the publisher’s own page, and named reviews.
Only Sifton and Marquez-Sharpnack have a Publishers Weekly review we could read, and McAlpine has one from Cuisine magazine. Drummond’s rests on a library staff post and a bookseller listing. Southern Living, Scheft and Vance rest on publisher details. We’ve said so under each one, so you can weigh them yourself.
We left out anonymous or undated Thanksgiving and Christmas titles that look self-published, plus novelty film and television tie-ins. Christmas cookie books have their own guide, so we didn’t repeat them here. Books that already appear on our other cookbook pages were also left out, which is why some well-known names are missing.
Holiday cookbook questions, answered
What is the best Christmas dinner cookbook?
Of these, The Christmas Companion is the closest fit, with a Feasting section alongside its checklists and planners. The Big Book of Christmas is better if you are feeding a crowd and also decorating the house.
Is a Thanksgiving-only cookbook worth buying?
Yes, if that meal is your worry. Sifton’s book is short and covers the day from planning to leftovers. If you host other holidays too, the Drummond book goes further.
Which book covers holidays besides Christmas and Thanksgiving?
Drummond’s runs from New Year’s Day through the Big Game, Easter, the Fourth of July and Halloween. Muy Bueno: Fiestas covers Lent, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Day of the Dead, among others. Scheft’s covers Jewish holidays, with baking only.
Is there a good holiday cookbook for Mexican food?
Muy Bueno: Fiestas is the one here, and it has a positive Publishers Weekly review. Our guide to Mexican Christmas food covers the dishes themselves, and what tamales are explains one of them.
Do these books make good gifts?
The small ones do: Scheft’s and Vance’s are easy to give. If you are shopping for a host, our Christmas hostess gift guide has other ideas.
Our final pick for your holiday shelf
If you want one book that still earns its place after December, buy A Year of Holidays. If Thanksgiving is the meal that worries you, buy Sifton. If you want to cook the holidays the way many Mexican families do, buy Muy Bueno: Fiestas, and read our regional Mexican cookbook guide if it sparks a bigger interest. For the savory side of the Jewish table, there’s our Jewish cookbook guide, and a Christmas tablecloth finishes the table.
And if the day gets away from you, Julia’s Mexican Restaurant on N Highway 6 in Houston is happy to help: call to order.