Photo Gallery: 7 great gluten-free cookbooks from 2012

Elisa Bosley, Delicious Living

Dec. 20, 2012

Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking

By Kelli and Peter Bronski (The Experiment, 2012)
In this expanded second edition (it first came out in 2009), this book maintains its must-have status for GF cooks. I appreciate the updated notes, like replacing an orange-roughy recipe (now an overfished and unsustainable seafood) with tilapia, plus helpful cooking tips to take down any intimidation factor. Nice design, too, with some beautiful photos (though I would have liked more).
Mouthwatering titles: Brussels Sprouts and Tofu Fried Rice; Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars.
The Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free Kitchen

By Denise Jardine (Ten Speed, 2012)
Lots of gluten-free eaters also eschew dairy (the offending proteins have a similar structure), so this book is a true boon. I love its simplicity: one recipe per page (lots with photos), easy-to-read format, and super clear, colorful icons for additional "free from" designations (egg, soy, nut, sugar, oil). A great gift for parents of allergen-sensitive kids.
Mouthwatering Titles: Rustic Heirloom Pesto Pizza; Cheesy Mac 'n' Nut Cheese.
Everyday Gluten-Free Slow Cooking

By Kimberly Mayone and Kitty Broihier, RD (Sterling, 2012)
I'm so happy to see my favorite cooking appliance, the slow cooker, get a gluten-free makeover. If your slow cooker languishes in your cupboard or garage, get it out—right now—and you'll never go back to slaving over a stove to prepare luscious comfort food. These gluten-free recipes, both classics and some twists, sound delish and easy (no pictures, though).
Mouthwatering titles: Steak Diane Pot Roast with Mushrooms and Potatoes; Chocolate Risotto.
Paleo Desserts

By Jane Barthelemy (Da Capo Lifelong, 2012)
Unless you've been living in a cave (ha), you know that the Paleo hunter-gatherer diet is gaining steam (or maybe fire). It eschews grains, dairy, and sugar—processed foods, in other words—and emphasizes fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, and wild meats. Given the sugar ban, desserts tend to be the diet's sticky wicket. This utilitarian book offers 125 allergen-free (no gluten, dairy, corn, peanuts, or soy), low-carb, diabetic friendly desserts that use only unprocessed sweeteners.
Mouthwatering titles: Coconut Cream Pie; Luscious Lemon Layer Cake.
Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food

By Susan O'Brien (Da Capo Lifelong, 2012)
Two hot diets combined into one accessible cookbook. It doesn't have much in the way of photos, but the useful categories—breakfast, snacks and parties, kids favorites, soups and salads, family classics, ethnic favorites, and delightful desserts—make this a good choice for simple, tasty, and healthy gluten-free solutions all day long.
Mouthwatering titles: Raw Cinnamon Rolls (yes, really!); Spinach and Lentil Enchiladas.
Learning to Bake Allergen-Free

By Colette Martin (The Experiment, 2012)
Gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts … what's a baker to do when common food allergens make birthday cake a potential hazard? Let the party start with this book. As the mom of a multiple-allergen son, Martin expertly guides new allergen-free bakers through reinvented classics. Gorgeous and instructive photos, dozens of recipes, technique "crash courses," and candid product reviews make this clear, cheerful book my new safe-food baking favorite.
Mouthwatering titles: Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls, Triple Play Chocolate Cake.
Nourishing Meals

By Alissa Sergersten and Tom Malterre, CN
Recommended to me by Delicious Living's medical editor, Robert Rountree, MD, this comprehensive tome contains much more than gluten-free recipes. As the cover blurb says, it's "a whole-foods cookbook and guide to raising healthy children, including over 300 nourishing gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free recipes." Not a ton of pictures and a pretty straightforward format, but the information is rich; it's a one-stop shop for healthy, allergen-free living and eating.
Mouthwatering titles: Pecan Crusted Chicken and Apple Salad; Lemon Tahini Kale Chips.

Whether you're new to gluten-free eating or a veteran gluten-free cook looking for new inspiration, these seven cookbooks, all published in 2012, delight with innovative, easy, and healthy recipes. All have thorough information about how to identify and avoid gluten in foods, as well as a friendly tone and easy-on-the-eyes design.