I remember when I was young, I asked my grandmother where she learned to cook so incredibly well. Of course, she said her mother taught her. And who taught her mother? Her mother’s mother, of course! So one day, after a particularly delicious meal, I asked her if I could borrow one of her vintage cookbooks, and she gave me a few. Her vintage cookbooks included lots and lots of old handwritten recipes hidden among the pages of her collection. I was fascinated, to say the least! And so my journey into the world of old vintage cookbooks began.
In this article, I’m sharing some of my favorite public domain vintage cookbooks that you can download in pdf format that have awed me with their drool-inducing recipes. The oldest one dates all the way back to 1909! Not only are these old recipe books really interesting to look through, but they contain healthy family recipes that you can use for every occasion. There’s just something about a well-preserved, 1920s edition vintage cookbook—everything you make just tastes better!
- Things Mother Used To Make Vintage Cookbook
- The Pilgrim Cook Book
- The White House CookBook
- Good Housekeeping’s Casseroles & Curries Vintage Cookbook
- Good Housekeeping’s Book Of Recipes and Household Discoveries
- Betty Crocker’s Bisquick Cook Book
- Betty Crocker’s Cook Book For Boys & Girls
- Joys Of JellO Vintage Cookbook
- Chocolate And Cocoa Recipes By Miss Parloa
- Conclusion
Things Mother Used To Make Vintage Cookbook
A Collection Of Old Time Recipes, Some Nearly One Hundred Years Old And Never Published Before
Author: Lydia Maria Gurney
Published: 1922
Pages: 136
Things Mother Used To Make PDF Download
PDF File Size: 1.8MB
Things Mother Used to Make was written by Lydia Maria Gurney and it was first published in 1922. The vintage recipes in this old cookbook have been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation for almost 100 years. Lydia Gurney collected the recipes and tested them in her New England kitchen before they were published in her book. This old vintage cookbook includes over 200 recipes for breads, cakes, desserts, eggs, fish, meat dishes, pies, puddings, pickles, preserves, sauces, soups, and vegetables.
| BREADS | CAKES |
| Bannocks | Filled Cookies |
| Boston Brown Bread | Filling for Cookies |
| Brown Bread (Baked) iS | Sugar Cookies |
| Coffee Cakes | Cream Cake |
| Corn Meal Gems | Delicious Cake without Eggs |
| Cream of Tartar Biscuits | Feather Cake |
| Crullers | Old-Time Gingersnaps |
| Delicious Dip Toast | Gold Cake |
| Doughnuts | Hermits |
| Fried Bread | Jumbles |
| German Toast | Nut Cake |
| Soft Gingerbread | Oatmeal Cookies |
| Huckleberry Cake | One, Two, Three, Four Cake |
| Quick Graham Bread | Ribbon Cake |
| Graham Bread (Raised Over Night) | Roll Jelly Cake |
| Graham Muffins | Silver Cake |
| Sour Milk Griddle Cakes | Sponge Cake, No. 1 |
| Sweet Milk Griddle Cakes | Sponge Cake, No. 2 , Grandmother’s Rule |
| Jenny Lind Tea Cake | Some Old-Fashioned Candies |
| Real Johnny Cake | Chocolate Taffy |
| New England Bims | Molasses Candy |
| Nut Bread | Butter Scotch |
| Oatmeal Bread | Pop Com Balls (Very Old Recipe) |
| Parker House Rolls | |
| Popovers | EGGS |
| Rye Muffins | To Boil Eggs |
| Breakfast Sally Lunn | Eggs on Toast |
| Sour Milk Biscuits | Plain Omelette |
| Spider Calce | Ham Omelette |
| White Bread | New England Poached Eggs |
| DESSERTS | FISH |
| Apple Tarts | Clam Fritters |
| Baked Apples, No. 1 | Fish Balls |
| Baked Apples, No. 2 | To Boil a Lobster |
| Baked Sweet Apples | To Dress Lobsters Cold |
| Baked Apple Dumplings | Baked Mackerel |
| Fried Apples | Oysters on Toast |
| Bramberries | Baked Shad |
| Cream Puffs | |
| Floating Island | MISCELLANEOUS |
| Huckleberry Dumplings | Boston Baked Beans |
| Coffee Jelly | A Breakfast Dish |
| Lemon Jelly | Cracker Tea for Invalids |
| Strawberry Shortcake, No. 1 | Crust Coffee |
| Strawberry Shortcake, No. 2 | Grape Juice |
| Mince Meat | |
| MEAT DISHES | Home-Made Potato Yeast |
| A La Mode Beef | |
| Beefsteak Pie | PIES |
| Beef Stew with Dumplings | Rich Pie Crust |
| Dumplings | Pork Apple Pie |
| New England Boiled Dinner | Chocolate Custard Pie |
| Brunswick Stew | Cocoanut Pie |
| How to Com Beef | Cranberry Pie |
| Corned Beef Hash | Cream Pie |
| Breaded Pork Chops | Old-Time Custard Pie |
| Potted Beef | Frosted Lemon Pie |
| A Fine Way to Cook Veal | Mock Mince Pie |
| Veal Patties | Pumpkin Pie, No. 1 |
| Pumpkin Pie, No. 2 | |
| PICKLES | Rhubarb Pie |
| Pickled Cauliflower | Roley Polys |
| Green Chopped Pickle, No. 1 | Squash Pie |
| Green Chopped Pickle, No. 2 | Cream Washington Pies |
| Chili Sauce, No. 1 | Cream for Filling |
| Chili Sauce, No. 2 | |
| Chili Sauce, No. 3 | PUDDINGS |
| Chow Chow, No. 1 | Bread Pudding |
| Chow Chow, No. 2 | Steamed Chocolate Pudding |
| Cold Catsup | Graham Pudding |
| Com Relish | Hasty Pudding |
| Home-Made Cucumber Pickles | Baked Indian Pudding |
| Quickly Made Cucumber Pickle | Orange Pudding |
| Mixed Pickles | Plum Pudding |
| Piccalilli, No. 1 | Queen’s Pudding |
| Piccalilli, No. 2 | Poor Man’s Rice Pudding |
| Piccalilli, No. 3 | Suet Pudding |
| Tomato Catsup, No. 1 | Tapioca Cream |
| Tomato Catsup, No. 2 | |
| Pickled Watermelon Rind | SAUCES |
| Chocolate Sauce | |
| PRESERVES | Cold Sauce |
| Crab Apple Jelly | Cranberry Sauce |
| California Jam | Cream Mustard |
| Canned Cherries | Egg Sauce, for Chocolate Pudding |
| Cherry Conserve | Pudding Sauce |
| Preserved Citron | Salad Dressing |
| Currant Jelly | Sauce, for Graham Pudding |
| Spiced Currants | |
| Cranberry Jelly | SOUPS |
| Grape Conserve | Bean Porridge |
| Grape Marmalade | Connecticut Clam Chowder |
| Grape Preserve | Massachusetts Clam Chowder |
| Orange Marmalade | New England Pish Chowder |
| Peach Marmalade | Lamb Broth |
| To Can Peaches | A Good Oyster Stew |
| Pickled Peaches | Potato Soup .- |
| Ginger Pears | |
| Preserved Pears | VEGETABLES |
| Way to Pickle Pears | Green Corn Fritters |
| To Preserve Pineapple | Delicious Stuffed Baked Potatoes |
| Quince Jelly | Creamed Potatoes |
| Quince Marmalade | Scalloped Potatoes |
| Quince Sauce | Baked Tomatoes |
| Raspberry Jam, No. | Fried Tomatoes |
| Raspberry Jam, No. | |
| To Keep Rhubarb Through the Winter | |
| Rhubarb Marmalade | |
| Rhubarb Jam | |
| Spiced Fruit |
The Pilgrim Cook Book
Containing Nearly 700 Carefully Tested Recipes
Author: The Ladies’ Aid Society – Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church
Published: 1921
Pages: 168
The Pilgrim Cook Book PDF Download
PDF File Size: 9MB
The Pilgrim Cook Book was created by The Ladies Aid Society of the Chicago-based Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church. This old cookbook includes over 600 tried and tested recipes for everything from fish to pies to ice cream!
| Soups |
| Fish |
| Meats |
| “One Piece” Luncheons |
| Vegetables |
| Salads |
| Puddings And Deserts |
| Gelatine Desserts |
| Pies |
| Cheese And Eggs |
| Dumplings And Noodles |
| Fritters, Doughnuts, Pancakes |
| Baking Powder Breads And Coffee-Cakes |
| Yeast Breads |
| Cookies |
| Nut Cookies |
| Small Cakes |
| Icings And Fillings |
| Cakes |
| Chocolate Cakes |
| Torten |
| Ice Cream And Beverages |
| Jams |
| Canned Fruits And Vegetables |
| Catsups, Pickles, Etc |
| Candies |
| Miscellaneous |
The White House CookBook
A Comprehensive Cyclopedia Of Information For The Home
Author: Hugo Ziemann And Mrs. F. L. Gilletti
Published: 1913
Pages: 619
The White House Cook Book PDF Download
PDF File Size: 43.8MB
The White House Cook Book was published in 1913 and was dedicated to the wives of the Presidents. Each recipe was tried and carefully tested by the authors who were both renowned in their fields. This vintage cookbook also gives interesting information about The White House including State Dinner Menus and other special occasions along with hand-drawn illustrations and very interesting toiletry-type recipes under the Toilet Recipes section. It even includes an “Antidotes For Poisons” section… I suppose you can’t be too careful if you are the president!
| Articles Required For The Kitchen |
| Biscuits, Rolls, Muffins, Etc. |
| Bread |
| Butter And Cheese |
| Cakes |
| Canned Fruits |
| Carving |
| Catsups |
| Coffee, Tea And Beverages |
| Coloring For Fruit, Etc. |
| Confectionery |
| Custards, Creams And Desserts |
| Dinner Giving |
| Dumplings And Puddings |
| Dyeing Or Coloring |
| Eggs And Omelets |
| Facts Worth Knowing |
| Fillings For Layer Cakes |
| Fish |
| For The Sick |
| French Words In Cooking |
| Frosting Or Icing |
| Health Suggestions |
| Housekeepers’ Time-Table |
| Ice-Cream And Ices |
| Macaroni |
| Management Of State Dinner At White House |
| Measures And Weights In Ordinary Use |
| Meats |
| Menus |
| Miscellaneous |
| Miscellaneous Recipes |
| Modes Of Frying |
| Mutton And Lamb |
| Pastry, Pies And Tarts |
| Pickles |
| Pork |
| Poultry And Game |
| Preserves, Jellies, Etc. |
| Salads |
| Sandwiches |
| Sauces And Dressing |
| Sauces For, Pudding |
| Shell Fish |
| Small Points On Table Etiquette |
| Soups |
| Soups Without Meats |
| Special Menus |
| Toast |
| Toilet Recipes And Items |
| Varieties Of Seasonable Food |
| Vegetables |
Good Housekeeping’s Casseroles & Curries Vintage Cookbook
Delicious Savoury Dishes For Chilly Days
Author: Good Housekeeping
Published: 1957
Pages: 32
Good Housekeeping Casseroles & Curries PDF Download
PDF File Size: 3.7MB
Good Housekeeping has been around for decades with what feels like hundreds of cookbooks and recipes available. This amazing vintage cookbook from 1957 contains a collection of casserole and curry recipes that are perfect for families on a budget or those who simply love warm and delicious comfort foods! This old cookbook includes recipes for meat, fish, and vegetable casseroles, pot roasts, and hot pots as well as all the instructions you need to make the very best curries for your family and friends!
| Meat Casseroles |
| Pot Roasts and Hot-Pots |
| Sweetbreads, Kidneys, Ox-tails, etc. |
| Fish Casseroles |
| Poultry and Game |
| Beef Olives |
| Vegetable Dishes |
| Puddings From A Casserole |
| Curries |
| Dry Curries and Oriental Curries |
| Accompaniments For Curries |
| “Toppings” For Casseroles |
Good Housekeeping’s Book Of Recipes and Household Discoveries
Every Recipe Actually Tested And Approved
Author: Good Housekeeping
Published: 1920
Pages: 238
Good Housekeeping’s Book Of Recipes and Household Discoveries PDF Download
PDF File Size: 10.3MB
Good Housekeeping’s Book of Recipes and Household Discoveries is another old vintage cookbook that was first published in the 1920s. It is a comprehensive old cookbook that includes not only amazing recipes but also helpful info such as various household “discoveries” which include everyday household hacks. For example, here is a hack that stops your iron from sticking:
If, when making starch, you use soapy water as the foundation, you will have no further trouble with the iron sticking to the article you are laundering. Allow one tablespoonful of soap jelly to each quart of water, adding the desired amount of starch, depending upon the garments to be starched.
Don’t know about you but I don’t starch a darn thing 🙂
| Our Service to You |
| How to Use the Recipes |
| Measuring and Mixing |
| Equivalents of Capacity |
| Approximate Weights of Some Common Dry Commodities |
| Menus |
| Beverages |
| Breads |
| Cakes |
| Cheese Dishes |
| Cookies |
| Desserts, Cold |
| Desserts, Hot |
| Egg Dishes |
| Fish |
| Fruit Combinations |
| Frozen Dishes |
| Hors D ’Oeuvres |
| Jams, Jellies, and Marmalades |
| Meat |
| Pickles and Relishes |
| Pies |
| Salad Dressings |
| Sauces, Pish and Meat |
| Sauces, Pudding |
| Soups |
| Vegetables |
| About-the-House Discoveries |
| About-the-Laundry Discoveries |
| Bath-Room Discoveries |
| Bed-Room Discoveries |
| Cookery Discoveries |
| Discoveries Concerning Children |
| Kitchen Discoveries |
| Sewing-Room Discoveries |
| What Is Good Housekeeping Institute? |
Betty Crocker’s Bisquick Cook Book
157 Recipes And Ideas
Author: Betty Crocker / General Mills
Published: 1956
Pages: 98
Betty Crocker’s Bisquick Cook Book PDF Download
PDF File Size: 1.9MB
Betty Crocker is a fictional character that was originally created by the Washburn-Crosby Company in 1921. In 1954 General Mills created the logo of the red spoon with her signature that most of us know well. The Betty Crocker brand is incredibly well known and has become a bit of a cultural icon in America. This Betty Crocker vintage cookbook includes lots of different recipes including some great ones for outdoor cooking.
Basic Backings
Dinner
Company’s Coming
Lunch or Supper
Breakfast
Cooking for a Crowd
Outdoor Cooking
Includes:
Breads
Cakes
Cookies
Desserts
Main Dishes
Sauces and Gravies
Menus
Betty Crocker’s Cook Book For Boys & Girls
Easy Tried And Tested Recipes For Boys And Girls
Author: Betty Crocker / General Mills
Published: 1957
Pages: 194
Betty Crocker’s Cook Book For Boys And Girls PDF Download
PDF File Size: 8.6MB
Who says that kids can’t get in on the vintage cooking game! In 1957 Betty Crocker released this children’s vintage cookbook with quick and easy recipes that children will enjoy. Each recipe is laid out in an easy-to-understand way with lots of illustrations that guarantee recipe success!
EXTRA SPECIAL
Cakes
Icings
Cookies
Candies
Drinks
CAMPFIRE COOKING
Eggs
Potatoes
Hot Breads
Main Dishes
S’mores
BREAKFAST
Toast Spreads
Fruits
Cocoa
French Toast
Eggs
Pancakes
Cereals
Breads
LUNCH OR SUPPER
Table Setting
Main Dishes
Salads
Breads
Desserts
Cakes
Cookies
DINNER
Relishes
Main Dishes
Vegetables
Salads
Biscuits
Desserts
Cakes
RULES
Safety
Measuring Tools
How To Measure
Utensils
Cooking Terms
Kitchen Manners
Joys Of JellO Vintage Cookbook
First Edition Cookbook
Author: General Foods Corporation
Published: 1953
Pages: 100
Vintage Joys Of Jello PDF Download
PDF File Size: 7MB
Fun Fact! Jell-O Gelatin first came onto the market all the way back in 1897! Since then, it has been a household favorite for generations. Over time many incredible recipes were invented and they were collected in this vintage Joys Of Jello cookbook. Some old vintage recipes include the gorgeous Rainbow Cake, the delicious Pineapple Cheese Dessert and the Banana Fluff.
Deserts – For Parties, Picnics and Family Meals
Two-Way Recipes – To Serve as Desserts or Salads
Salads – To Serve with Meals or as Main Dishes
New Ways with Jello-O Gelatin
Tips and Tricks – For Molding, Flaking, and Cubing
Chocolate And Cocoa Recipes By Miss Parloa
And Home Made Candy Recipes By Mrs. Janet McKenzie Hill
Author: Walter Baker & Co LTD
Published: 1909
Pages: 80
Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes By Miss Parloa PDF Download
PDF File Size: 16.5MB
And now for all those vintage cookbook fans who have a sweet tooth! Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes By Miss Parloa is a collection of old vintage recipes specifically focused on using chocolate and cocoa as their main ingredient. And each recipe is over 100 years old! The recipes fall into different sections according to the authors and all in all, there are over 150 recipes.
| MISS PARLOA’S: | MRS. LINCOLN’S: |
| Plain Chocolate (For Drinking) | Chocolate Caramels |
| Chocolate, Vienna Style | |
| Breakfast Cocoa | MISS FARMER’S: |
| Chocolate Layer Cake | Chocolate Nougat Cake |
| Chocolate Cake | Chocolate Cream Candy |
| Chocolate Marble Cake | |
| Chocolate GlacĂ© Cake | MRS. ARMSTRONG’S: |
| Chocolate Glacé | Chocolate Pudding |
| Chocolate Biscuit | Chocolate Charlotte |
| Chocolate Wafers | Chocolate Jelly with Crystallized Green Gages |
| Cinderella Cakes | |
| Chocolate Éclairs | MRS. BEDFORD’S: |
| Chocolate Cookies | Chocolate Crullers |
| Chocolate Gingerbread | Hot Cocoa Sauce for Ice-cream |
| Vanilla Icing | Chocolate Macaroons |
| Chocolate Icing | |
| Chocolate Profiteroles | MRS. EWING’S: |
| Chocolate Ice-cream | Creamy Cocoa |
| Chocolate Cream Pies | Creamy Chocolate |
| Chocolate Mousse | |
| Chocolate Charlotte | MRS. HILL’S: |
| Chocolate Bavarian Cream | Cocoa Frappé |
| Chocolate Cream | Chocolate Puffs |
| Chocolate Blanc-mange | |
| Chocolate Cream Renversee | MRS. SALZBACHER’S: |
| Baked Chocolate Custard | Chocolate Hearts |
| Chocolate Soufflé | Cocoa Charlotte |
| Chocolate Pudding | Chocolate Fudge with Fruit |
| Chocolate Meringue Pudding | Chocolate Macaroons |
| Milton Pudding | Petits Four |
| Snow Pudding | Potato Cake |
| Chocolate Sauce | Spanish Chocolate Cake |
| Chocolate Candy | |
| Cream Chocolate Caramels | MRS. HILL’S CANDY RECIPES: |
| Sugar Chocolate Caramels | Peppermints, Chocolate Mints, etc. |
| Chocolate Creams, No. 1 | Chocolate Caramel Walnuts |
| Chocolate Creams No. 2 | “Dot” Chocolate Coatings |
| Chocolate Cones | Chocolate Dipped Peppermints |
| Genesee Bonbons | Ginger, Cherry, Apricot and Nut Chocolates |
| Chocolate Syrup | Chocolate Peanut Clusters |
| Refreshing Drinks for Summer | Chocolate Coated Almonds |
| Chocolate Dipped Parisian Sweets | |
| MISS BURR’S: | Stuffed Dates, Chocolate Dipped |
| Cracked Cocoa | Chocolate Oysterettes |
| For Three Gallons Breakfast Cocoa | Turkish Paste with French Fruit |
| Vanilla Chocolate with Whipped Cream | Chocolate Pecan Pralines |
| Chocolate Cream Pie | Vassar Fudge |
| Chocolate Filling | Smith College Fudge |
| Meringue | Wellesley Marshmallow Fudge |
| Cocoa Sticks | Double Fudge |
| Cocoa Frosting | Marbled Fudge |
| Cocoa Sauce | Fudge Hearts or Rounds |
| Cocoa Cake | Marshmallow Fudge |
| Cocoa Meringue Pudding | Chocolate Dipped Fruit Fudge |
| Chocolate Almonds | Chocolate Cocoanut Cakes |
| Hot Chocolate Sauce | Baker’s Chocolate “Divinity” |
| Cocoa Sponge Cake | Chocolate Nougatines |
| Chocolate Frosting | Plain Chocolate Caramels |
| Chocolate Cake; or, Devil’s Food | Chocolate Nut Caramels |
| Chocolate Ice-cream | Ribbon Caramels |
| Chocolate Whip | Fondant |
| Cocoa Marble Cake | Almond Chocolate Creams |
| Chocolate Marble Cake | Cherry Chocolate Creams |
| Chocolate Jelly | Chocolate Peppermints |
| Cottage Pudding | Fig and Nut Chocolates |
| Vanilla Sauce | Chocolate Marshmallows |
| Cocoanut Soufflé | Maple Fondant Acorns |
| Chocolate Sauce | Chocolate Almond Bars |
| Cocoa Biscuit | Almond Fondant Sticks |
| Cocoa Fudge | Almond Fondant Balls |
| Walnut Cream Chocolates | |
| MISS ROBINSON’S: | To Mold Candy for Dipping |
| Plain Chocolate 1 quart | Chocolate Butter Creams |
| Cocoa Sponge Cake | Fondant for Soft Chocolate Creams |
| Cocoa Marble Cake | Rose Chocolate Creams |
| Cocoa Doughnuts | Pistachio Chocolate Creams |
| Cocoa Buns | Surprise Chocolate Creams |
| Chocolate Peanut Brittle | |
| MRS. RORER’S: | Chocolate Pop Corn Balls |
| Chocolate Cake | Chocolate Molasses Kisses |
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our collection of wonderful vintage cookbooks. I’m sure you will find more than a couple of recipes here that will become family favorites! And the best part is that they are all free to download. We would love to hear from you! Have you found a particular recipe that you enjoy?
