Draft, but “IMNHO” enough useful details to be helpful to some. Please feel free to as for additional details or clarification
My Criteria: 1. Is NOT a conglomeration of recipes cut and pasted from the work of others, but rather recipes have been formatted to conform within the book and therefore, are easier for the average person to use with some confidence. Generally I honor my upbringing to say nothing unless it is nice. This links to a book that “made me” break that rule: https://wheatcarr.com/2023/06/25/dont-buy-kbs-bread-machine-cookbook-150-simple-and-time-saving/ 2. Recipes that will work with my machine – at a minimum ingredient lists and if “settings” for: Bread, 1, 1.5 & 2 pound machines AND use WORDs not numbers for menu selections. Note: even within a single brand those numbers may not be consistent. Ninja Foodie/Instapot/Electric Pressure Cooker/Air Fryers 3. NOT Necessarily Machine Specific – but if it is it better be complete details. 4. HUGE PLUS if the format used happens to mirror your/my machine recommended order of ingredients. Especially important for Bread Machines 5. Enough details in the General Info section at the front of the book so that even beginners can work with the recipes. 6. Enough Photos to give a good idea of the ideal finished product because not every one is comfortable with the “older but invaluable” almost textbook timeless treasure from Michelle Anderson & Beth Hensperger. 7. Most (preferably all) recipes include both imperial (lb/oz/cups/tsp/Tbl/etc) AND Metric (grams/ml/etc)
This criteria has been applied to the following recipe books – none are “prefect” for every user, but they are IMNHO worth the price (and trust me there are some where “Free” is too high a price.
Michelle Anderson Stewart Brooks Beth Hensperger
The (first) Official Ninja Food Complete Cookbook for Beginners by Kenzie Swanhart For the Ninja Foodie Series 300 and 400 this is an excellent reference for most skill levels. It was extremely useful in helping me to adapt my favorite recipes from traditional stove top or oven methods. It appears that this product is manufacturer discontinued. Guess that means I need to start thinking about a future replacement.
Note: Affiliate and other links open in a new tab.
Caveat Lector: My blog reviews include information found in the (mostly Amazon) on lines sales data, my personal experience, and sometimes responses to comments/complaints posted elsewhere.
Brief Review: It was pleasantly surprising to see just how the content lived up to the hype. For the last week or two we borrowed this book thru Kindle Unlimited. Today (2025/01/01) the Kindle version was on sale for $3.99. We now own the Kindle Version. This is the first bread machine cookbook I have added to my library in more than 20 years. I was planning to buy at full price as soon as budget allowed – so yeah today I am a happy girl – spent my entire affiliate earning for the past 6 months on a $3.99 plus tax book.
DRAFT Review Outline: last update 2025-Dec-15 2026-Jan-01
The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook for BeginnersPro: – Recipe Sizes for 1#, 1.5# & 2# – Recipe Ingredients: Most are readily available either thru Amazon or your local grocery store. – KBS & Neretva bread machine friendly order of ingredients “So far” – Instructions: although a bit basic, more than enough to answer maybe 95% of the average to adventurous beginner questions. (unlike so many that “assume” the reader has bread baking experience) Easy-to-Follow Recipes for a Perfect Loaf Every Time. Step-By-Step Baking Guide with Simple, Healthy, Whole Grain, and Gluten-Free Options. by Stewart Brooks (Author) Brief Review: It was pleasantly surprising to see just how the content lived up to the hype.
DRAFT Review Outline: last update 2025-Dec-15 2026-Jan-01
Pro: – Recipe Sizes for 1#, 1.5# & 2# most if not all (sometimes not applicable) – Recipe Ingredients: Most are readily available either thru Amazon or your local grocery store. – KBS/Keepeez/Neretva & many others friendly order of ingredients “So far” – Instructions: although a bit basic, more than enough to answer maybe 95% of the average to adventurous beginner questions. (unlike so many that “assume” the reader has bread baking experience) – ALL recipes show both imperial and metric quantity – Photos of “types” for most if not all “menu” selections – Photos of at least one or two of the recipes in each of those sections.
Added: Has a number of recipes that use a variety of speciality flours – looking forwarded to the adventure.
The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook for BeginnersCon: – Menu Cycle is not as obvious as might be needed by some, it is mentioned in the brief instructions – not as a “banner” as in the KBS guides.
The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook for Beginners Thoughts: Not really a con, so just a note. This book is bread recipes only, so those looking for Jam, Yogurt, Sticky Rice and other odd menu cycles will not find help in this book.
Added 2026-Jan-06: The instructions for Sourdough are easily misunderstood and at the same time some the best, if brief instruction for a start to finish sourdough adventure! Based on the recipe I have used over the years,
Added 2026-08-Jan: Amazon Review “no apples in apple strudel recipe pg. 67 incorrect This review is based on the KINDLE version. CHOPPED FRESH APPLES 1 cup (125g) 1 ½ cups (188g) 2 cups (250g)
Added 2026-Jan-07:Sourdough Clarification: DRAFT I can agree that the amount of starter may not be obvious. The TWELVE Sourdough recipes are NOT treated as a dump and go process. Each Sourdough recipe is a two part process where first you make the starter with your choice of flour and then you use that starter with the “other ingredients” on baking day. Based on my “real world” experience both inside and outside the box, the recipe ingredients either matches my notes over the years for the flours I have used, and look right for the specialty flour(s).
Added 2026-Feb-03 If you already have a starter “ready to go” the ratio in the book seems to match mine over the years. REPLACE 1 cup flour & 1 Tablespoon of liquid With ONE (1) Cup Starter.
Product details – price subject to change Last checked 2025-Dec-16 The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook for Beginners: Author: Stewart Brooks Publisher: Independent Kindle List: $18.99 List Kindle Unlimited: Free Kindle File: 8.9mb Amazon ASIN: B0DL374XGJ Published: October 25, 2024 Language: English Paperback: 79 pages Amazon List: $18.99 ISBN-13: 979-8332320774 Item Weight: 9.3 ounces Dimensions: 8.5x 0.18×11 inches
Note: The Amazon Links are affilitate links, however, I also suggest you look at ThriftBooks.com as some of my favorites come and go for paperback and hard cover and as far as I know, does not benefit me if you buy something.
DRAFT should be more interesting a bit at a time in the coming months.
So far, I have reviewed all of the KBS specific books. There are several that are an absolute horror story.
Many do not even have the correct order of ingredients. Much like many of the Instapot/Ninja Foodi books, just copies of others were the name of the machine is often not even edited. Not to mention those partially scraped by various website, usually without any credit to the author and often without complete details.
In my opinion, better to have a book that will help you understand the process of bread machine baking, AND offer a wide range of basic recipes with a few variations for each. Combine that with the Order of Ingredients and most bread recipes will work in your machine.
What is lacking seems to be a really good description of the various “functions” and how they are useful (i.e., the beginner’s confusion that often occurs between “raw” and “leaven” dough KBS has improved its “manuals” and there is lots of information specific to their products but written in a cross between “Googlish” or “Chinglish”. The features that are unique to those manufactured by Jiangmen KasgBaiShi (KBS) but sold under several (5 I am sure of) brand names. A project for a future time,
Bread (Mostly Machine) Cook Books and a brief overview
Easy-to-Follow Recipes for a Perfect Loaf Every Time. Step-By-Step Baking Guide with Simple, Healthy, Whole Grain, and Gluten-Free Options. by Stewart Brooks (Author) Brief Review: It was pleasantly surprising to see just how the content lived up to the hype. Product details – price subject to change Kindle List: $18.99 List Kindle Unlimited: Free Kindle File: 8.9mb Amazon ASIN: B0DL374XGJ Published: October 25, 2024 Language: English Paperback: 79 pages Amazon List: $18.99 ISBN-13: 979-8332320774 Item Weight: 9.3 ounces Dimensions: ? 8.5x 0.18×11 inches
DRAFT Review Outline: Pro: – Recipe Sizes for 1#, 1.5# & 2# – Recipe Ingredients: Most are readily available either thru Amazon or your local grocery store. – Instructions: although a bit basic, more than enough to answer maybe 80% of the average to adventurous beginner. (unlike so many that “assume” the reader has bread baking experience) Con: – Menu choice is not as obvious as might be needed by some, it is mentioned in the brief instructions – not as a “banner” as in the KBS guides.
