Summer is a season that ignites a spirit of adventure and creativity in the kitchen. Here are 10 summer cookbooks for creative cooking.
When you think of summer, do you think of fun, delicious food? As the warm sun shines and fresh produce abounds, it’s the perfect time to unleash your creativity and embark on culinary journeys. Whether you’re an experienced chef or just learning how to cook, these summer cookbooks offer a treasure trove of inspiration and innovative recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and challenge your culinary and creative skills.
Do you want to stay energized and support your summer creative habits and activities? Learn more about creative cooking, foods that boost creativity, and more creative cookbooks to support a healthy lifestyle and inspire creative living.
Goodreads Rating: 4.18
From Garden to Grill: Over 250 Vegetable-based Recipes for Every Grill Master by Elizabeth Orsini is a cookbook that celebrates the versatility and deliciousness of vegetables on the grill.
Backyard barbecues aren’t just for burgers and hotdogs. Delicious seasonal vegetables can be part of every diet with From Garden to Grill. With over 250 recipes, this creative summer cookbook provides a wide array of plant-based dishes perfect for grilling enthusiasts, vegetarians, and anyone looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.
Whether you are dedicated to a lifetime of healthy living or just love bringing that freshly grilled char to seasonal veggies, this is the cookbook for you.
Goodreads Rating: 4.15
Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion by Maegan Brown is the perfect fall cookbook to help you get creative with your food presentation for special holiday occasions and gatherings.
Learn how to make mealtimes, special occasions, and holidays extra memorable with these 50 delicious, inspiring, family-friendly, and easy-to-recreate snack boards. Using beautiful photography and helpful step-by-step guides, Maegan Brown (aka The BakerMama) can help you unleash your creativity to entertain and impress family and friends.
Artful masterpieces, including:
- Pancake Board
- After School Board
- Fall Feast Board
- Pumpkin Halloween Board
- Turkey Board
- Build-Your-Own Taco Board
- Football Board
- Dim Sum Board
- Birthday Dessert Board
Goodreads Rating: 3.32
Summer: A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights by Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson is a delightful culinary guide that captures the essence of summertime dining.
With its collection of inspired recipes, this cookbook offers a variety of dishes that are perfect for lazy days by the beach or enchanting evenings under the stars. Whether for cocktails and bites at the lake house or a come one, come-all dinner with friends, here are more than 100 seasonally inspired recipes guided by the principle that summer cooking means keeping things loose (and the oven off when it’s just too hot out).
Goodreads Rating: 3.93
The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker, and Jen Stevenson is a creative summer cookbook that celebrates and teaches you how to plan the perfect picnic.
A picnic is a great escape from our day-to-day and a chance to turn a meal into something more festive and memorable. In the creative process, changing your surroundings is a great way to boost creative thinking and well-being. With a combination of delicious recipes, cozy artwork, practical tips, and creative ideas, this book is a guide to creating memorable picnics from start to finish.
This picnic cookbook is not only a practical guide but also a source of inspiration for creating special moments in nature. Whether you’re planning a romantic picnic for two, a family outing, or a gathering with friends, this book provides all the tools and ideas you need to make your picnic an unforgettable experience.
Goodreads Rating: 4.48
The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers by Loren Bouchard is a fun and quirky culinary cookbook inspired by the popular animated TV series.
Loren Bouchard, the creator of Bob’s Burgers, has collaborated with the show’s writers and chefs to compile a collection of burger recipes that capture the essence of the Belcher family’s quirky restaurant. Each recipe is accompanied by witty and entertaining commentary, as well as whimsical illustrations that reflect the show’s unique art style.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply looking for creative and delicious burger recipes, the “Bob’s Burgers Cookbook” is a delightful addition to any creative kitchen. It brings the humor, charm, and mouthwatering flavors of Bob’s Burgers into your own.
Goodreads Rating: 3.58
Vibrant Food by Kimberley Hasselbrink is a healthy cookbook perfect for finding seasonal recipes to support your creativity. With a focus on wholesome ingredients and vibrant recipes, this cookbook offers a collection of plant-based dishes that are as nourishing as they are visually appealing.
Kimberly Hasselbrink, photographer and creator of the acclaimed blog The Year in Food, invites you to look at ingredients differently and let their colors inspire you. Thinking about produce in terms of color can reinvigorate your relationship with food. Beyond the recipes, Vibrant Food provides readers with practical tips on ingredient selection, meal planning, and maximizing the nutritional value of each dish.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, Vibrant Food is a delightful cookbook that will inspire you to explore the world of seasonal cooking. With its emphasis on fresh, wholesome ingredients and its artistic approach to food, this book invites readers to savor the flavors and colors of each season and create vibrant and nourishing meals.
Goodreads Rating: 4.14
Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book by Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield, and Nancy Stevens is a fun and creative cookbook for ice cream lovers from the beloved ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s.
Filled with mouthwatering recipes and delightful anecdotes, this cookbook allows ice cream enthusiasts to recreate their favorite frozen treats at home. Perfect for summertime, this cookbook provides a glimpse
into the story of Ben & Jerry’s, as well as 90-plus authentic recipes for their signature flavors spiced with Lyn Severance’s bright, quirky, full-color illustrations
Goodreads Rating: 3.21
Eat Cool: Good Food for Hot Days: 100 Easy, Satisfying, and Refreshing Recipes that Won’t Heat Up Your Kitchen by Vanessa Seder is the perfect summer cookbook to help you stay cool during the hot summer days. With a focus on light, refreshing, and easy-to-make dishes, this cookbook ensures that you can enjoy satisfying meals without heating up your kitchen.
Vanessa Seder, recipe developer, chef, and working mom, has come to rescue summertime cooks with 100+ dishes you won’t hate to cook when it’s already hot as blazes. Discover inspired recipes from around the world that are designed to be simple and fuss-free, using minimal cooking techniques and maximizing the flavors of seasonal ingredients.
Eat Cool is a fantastic resource for anyone seeking culinary inspiration during hot summer days. With its range of flavorful recipes and practical tips, this cookbook helps you stay cool while enjoying tasty and satisfying meals without the need for excessive cooking.
Goodreads Rating: 3.93
The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100 by Dan Buettner is a captivating cookbook for healthy creatives that explores the culinary traditions of the world’s longest-lived populations.
Featuring 100 longevity recipes that promote longevity and well-being, this cookbook draws on the research from the Blue Zones project, which identified regions with high concentrations of centenarians. Learn what centenarians eat from Blue Zone destinations such as Ikaria (Greece), Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Loma Linda (California), and more.
By embracing the recipes and principles presented in The Blue Zones Kitchen, creative readers can create balanced and flavorful meals that prioritize health and longevity, as well as habits that emphasize the importance of community, connection, and mindful enjoyment of meals. Discover the tools and inspiration to make positive changes in your own kitchen and embrace the habits of the world’s longest-lived populations.
Goodreads Rating: 4.37
Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day by Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Elie is a flavorful and insightful exploration of the art of barbecue. No summer cookbooks list is complete without a BBQ book, and Rodney Scott’s is one of the best.
Rodney Scott, a renowned pitmaster and James Beard Award winner delves into the rich traditions and techniques of barbecue from around the world and shares his own journey and passion for barbecue. Discover recipes, valuable insights, and more to help you achieve the perfect barbecue. His genuine love for the craft shines through in the book, inspiring readers to embrace the slow and intentional process of cooking with fire.
With its engaging storytelling, stunning photography, and a wealth of barbecue knowledge, Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ is a must-have for barbecue enthusiasts and food lovers alike. Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or just starting your barbecue journey, this cookbook offers inspiration, guidance, and a taste of the rich and diverse world of barbecue.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
