How to Read Becky Excell’s Cookbooks: The Recommended Path
Unlike fictional series, Becky Excell’s cookbooks do not follow a narrative plot. However, they do build upon each other in terms of technique, kitchen confidence, and pantry setup. If you are new to a gluten-free diet or just discovering her recipes, we recommend the following path to get the most out of her work:
- Start Here: How to Make Anything Gluten-Free (2021). This is the absolute foundation of Becky's culinary philosophy, covering daily staples like bread, pasta, and takeaway favorites.
- Next Steps: Depending on your interests, move to either How to Bake Anything Gluten-Free (2021) for sweet treats and pastries, or Quick and Easy Gluten-Free (2022) if you need fast, midweek meals.
- Technique & Budget Specialties: Once you have the basics down, dive into her targeted guides, such as Gluten Free Air Fryer (2024) or Budget Gluten-Free (2025), which help optimize your kitchen appliances and grocery spending.
- Healthy & Festive Guides: Keep Gluten Free Christmas (2023) handy for the holiday season, and use Feel Good Gluten Free (2026) for lighter, protein-packed everyday dishes.
Becky Excell Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to collect and cook through Becky’s books in the order she developed and shared them, here is the complete chronological publication order:
- How to Make Anything Gluten-Free (2021)
- How to Bake Anything Gluten-Free (2021)
- How to Plan Anything Gluten-Free (2022)
- Quick and Easy Gluten Free (2022)
- Gluten Free Christmas (2023)
- Gluten Free Air Fryer (2024)
- Budget Gluten-Free (2025)
- Feel Good Gluten Free (2026)
Understanding Becky Excell's Cookbook Categories
The Foundation "How To" Series
Becky's first three books form a core trilogy designed to demystify gluten-free living. How to Make Anything Gluten-Free acts as a general guide to replacing gluten in classic savory dishes. How to Bake Anything Gluten-Free focuses heavily on the science of baking, offering reliable methods for tricky items like puff pastry, croissants, and bread. How to Plan Anything Gluten-Free is a highly practical companion guide that helps readers organize their weekly meals, prep ingredients ahead of time, and shop efficiently.
Specialized Kitchen & Budget Handbooks
Her subsequent releases address specific cooking styles and economic needs. Quick and Easy Gluten Free is tailored for busy households, focusing on 30-minute meals and simple cleanup. Gluten Free Air Fryer capitalizes on the speed and efficiency of air fryers to recreate crispy favorites like battered fish and doughnuts. Budget Gluten-Free tackles the notoriously high cost of gluten-free specialty items, focusing instead on affordable pantry staples and low-cost ingredients.
Seasonal & Wellness Guides
Finally, Becky addresses specialized lifestyle needs. Gluten Free Christmas is a comprehensive guide to navigating the holidays stress-free, from appetizers to main dinners and leftovers. Her eighth book, Feel Good Gluten Free, focuses on nourishing, wholesome, and protein-rich recipes that are naturally gluten-free and require minimal processed substitutes.
What to Know Before You Start Cooking
Becky Excell's books are highly regarded because she addresses the common pitfalls of gluten-free cooking. Before you start cooking, keep these tips in mind:
- Dietary Customizations: Nearly every recipe in her cookbooks contains clear labeling and simple adjustments for dairy-free, lactose-free, vegan, vegetarian, and low-FODMAP diets.
- Measurements: As a British author, Becky uses metric weight measurements (grams) for baking, which is crucial for gluten-free baking accuracy. Investing in a digital kitchen scale is highly recommended.
- Flour Blends: Becky frequently uses commercial gluten-free flour blends (such as Free From blends available in supermarkets) rather than forcing readers to mix multiple individual starches and flours at home.