Christmas Cookbooks Worth Giving and Keeping

I’m an indifferent cook at best, and baking? – well, let’s just say that if flour and a rolling pin are involved disaster is sure to follow. But despite my shortcomings in the kitchen, every year I look forward to browsing through my keepsake Christmas cookbooks. More than just a collection of recipes, these books have stories, gift ideas, decorating tips, and lovely photographs and illustrations. A cup of tea, a cozy chair, and one of these cookbooks guarantees me one of the pleasantest hours I’ll spend during the holidays.

My favorite Christmas cookbook is Susan Branch’s Christmas from the Heart of the Home. My autographed copy (thanks, Mom!) is vintage Susan Branch: charmingly hand-written recipes, snippets of poetry and epigrams, nostalgic stories all whimsically illustrated with the most delightful watercolors. I’ve even tried several recipes – “Annie Hall’s Butter Cookies” is a delectable butter cookie recipe that you can do anything with – with gratifying success.

So why not give a keepsake cookbook for Christmas? Yummy treats – or at least happy browsing! – will surely follow.