Donna Hay

"But mostly, I love the food that autumn brings; cosy soups, indulgent sweets and robust flavours"

Donna Hay is Australia’s favourite and most trusted home cook, and an international food-publishing phenomenon. Donna’s books have sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, been translated into 10 different languages, and her television cooking shows have brought her signature style to life for viewers in more than 14 countries.

Her books have dominated the bestseller charts, with Fresh and Light selling 202,000, The New Classics selling 160,000, Life in Balance selling 114,000 and Basics to Brilliance selling 106,000 copies to date. She is known for her simple yet fabulous recipes that anyone can follow and use to wow a crowd.

As well as publishing cookbooks, she has hosted her own cooking show, Fast, Fresh, Simple, and been a guest judge on MasterChef Australia numerous times. Not to mention, she has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, and was appointed on the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for her service to the food and hospitality industry.

Shop the latest book by Donna Hay, Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt.

Meet Donna Hay

Donna Hay was born in Sydney in 1970, and started cooking and baking at a young age. At 19, she started work as a food stylist, and became the food editor of Marie Claire at just 25. It wasn’t long before she became the food editor of Marie Claire Lifestyle and started authoring her own cookbooks.

She launched Donna Hay Magazine in 2001, and saw her readership rise to more than half a million readers for every issue. In 2009, she added a general store to her repertoire, selling cookware, homewares, and gift ideas online.

In 2007, she was named one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ cookbook authors at the international Gourmand Awards, and in 2011, she was appointed by Tourism Australia as the creative director for Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Welcome to Sydney’ party.

On top of all that, she is also the working mum of two beautiful boys, who arguably have a real point when they tell people that their mum is the best cook in the country.

What type of cookbooks does Donna Hay write and what is her cooking style?

Donna Hay writes modern, accessible cookbooks focused on fresh, simple, and visually appealing recipes. Her work emphasizes easy-to-follow techniques, seasonal ingredients, everyday meals, basics and modern baking.

Which Donna Hay books are best to start with?

For fundamentals, start with Basics to Brilliance. For everyday, fast meals try Fast, Fresh, Simple or The New Easy. For baking, choose Modern Baking. For coastal, family-style recipes try Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt.

Are Donna Hay's books part of a series or is there a recommended reading order?

Her books are standalone cookbooks organized by theme or technique rather than a narrative series. Pick titles by the topic you want to learn - basics, baking, quick weeknight meals or seasonal/coastal cooking.

What notable awards and recognitions has Donna Hay received?

She has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and was recognized in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for service to the food and hospitality industry. She was named one of the 'Magnificent Seven' cookbook authors at the 2007 Gourmand Awards and has had widespread international success.

How widely read and distributed are her books?

Donna Hay's books have sold over 8 million copies worldwide, been translated into multiple languages, and her television shows have aired in more than a dozen countries.