Our 5 Essential Martha Stewart Cookbooks—For Life Lessons In Cooking, Baking, And Pretty Much Everything Else

Just as many as the things Martha Stewart can do, so are the books she has authored and put together, which are all beautiful and useful, in signature Martha Stewart style. Do a search online and check out our local bookstores, and you’ll find a plethora of titles by this iconic doyenne of domestic living. There are lots of cookbooks, plus books on crafts, entertaining, guides for organizing and decorating—you’re sure to find something for everyone. And just in case you’re overwhelmed, here are five top cookbook picks (and one bonus) to get you started:

 

 

1. The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics (2007)

If you love Martha Stewart Living magazines, which was first published almost 30 years ago in 1990, then you must have this cookbook. A collection of Martha’s favorite and best kitchen-tested 1,200 recipes from the magazine are gathered in a single volume and organized into 19 chapters—Breakfast, Hors d’oeuvres, Soups, Salads, Meat, Poultry, Desserts, plus Vegetarian Main Dishes, Potatoes, and more. There are lots of recipes to be mastered and enjoyed, plus lots of cooking tips and techniques and ideas for inspiration. This is definitely something to keep on your kitchen counter.

 

 

2. Martha Stewart’s Cakes: Our First-Ever Book of Bundts, Loaves, Layers, Coffee Cakes, and more (2013)

Make delicious and Instagram-worthy cakes like a pro with this definitive cake book. Choose from the American classics like chiffon, chocolate, red velvet, cheesecake, lemon meringue, pound cake, and angel food cake, to more sophisticated ones like tortes, icebox cakes, and layer cakes. Recipes are categorized by loaves, bundts and tubes, coffee cakes, single layers, cheesecakes, icebox, cakes with fruit, and layer cakes. You name it, Martha Stewart bakes it. And of course, there are lots of tips, techniques, and ideas for decorating, gifting, and storing.

 

 

3. A New Way to Bake: Classic Recipes Updated with Better-for-You Ingredients from the Modern Pantry (2017)

The title says it all—you get the goodness of traditional recipes made with healthier ingredients! You now have alternative ways to bake old favorites like cakes, cookies, breads, etc. using ingredients like whole wheat flour instead of white flour, grains, natural sweeteners instead of sugar, seeds and nuts, buckwheat, and lots of other better and healthier options without having to sacrifice taste. You’ll be whipping up whole wheat or quinoa pancakes, whole wheat sticky buns, vegan French toast, spelt blondies, and other surprisingly delectable treats. You can even make your own nut butter, yogurt, and other basics with lots of photos and step-by-step how-tos.  

 

4. Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast (2010)

Another one from Martha’s magazine archives is Everyday Food’s collection of quick and flavorful dishes. And who doesn’t want fresh flavors fast, right? There are 250 recipes and photos for every dish, which goes from breakfast to dessert. There are lots of practical tips on how to stretch meals and how to use leftovers, lots of time- and budget-saving tips, and also ways to make healthier versions of your favorite meals. This is your guide to making simple yet delicious meals every day!

 

5. Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide: Reset Your Health, Detox Your Body, and Feel Your Best (2014)

It’s always a good idea to detox, hit the reset button, and give your body a clean slate once in a while. And you’ve probably made a new year’s resolution to eat healthier. So how is your first month going? Martha can help you along with this cookbook and guide to feel your best. Here, delicious and healthy recipes will help you eat clean, unprocessed foods that are part of a plant-based diet. There are refreshing juices and smoothies, dishes and snacks that are packed with protein, and even yummy desserts. You’ll also have vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergen-free options. Also try the menus for a simple 3-day cleanse or even a 21-day detox. Your body will be thanking you for this!

 

BONUS!

 

The Martha Manual: How to Do (Almost) Everything (2019)

Martha’s newest book (released January 1, 2019) is your go-to guide for almost everything indeed! She is a lifestyle guru and authority, and she shares her Martha-approved strategies for doing just about anything in this book. Just reading through the table of contents already makes me so excited to dive in and test out her tips. There are things you’d expect like how to clean and organize different rooms in your home, how to do things in the garden, how to entertain and throw parties and create cheese boards, how to frost a cake, and lots of other useful tips and tricks. But then there are also lots of other specific tips which you wouldn’t expect but are definitely going to come in handy, like how to serve wine, host house guests, save food scraps, make your home pet-proof, travel with pets, and so much more! The book is organized according to these categories: Organize, Fix and Maintain, Refresh and Embellish, Clean, Launder, Craft and Create, Garden and Grow, Host and Entertain, Enjoy, Cook, Celebrate, Care for Pets—so it makes it so easy to find something you need to know.

 

 

Catch episodes of Martha Bakes airing Mondays to Saturdays on Metro Channel, channel 52 on SkyCable and channel 174 on HD. Check Metro Channel on Facebook for the weekly schedule.