Better Homes and Gardens: Vintage Cookbook Recipes
Last updated on May 6th, 2026
Table of contents
This Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (1976), is a beloved classic cookbook that guides home cooks with recipes from entrees, to sides, baked goods and more! This vintage I’ve included classic baking tips for making cakes and original recipe clips for loaf pound cake, yellow cake, and gingerbread. Be sure to check out the vintage frosting recipes too!
Vintage Inspired Recipes
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
This Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book (1941), is a beloved classic cookbook that guides home cooks with recipes from meal planning, food preservation, to baked goods and more! This vintage cookbook helps home cooks preserves culinary practices of the 1940s with simple, made from scratch food.
I’ve also included more original recipes here for cakes, cupcakes, and cookies.
Better Homes & Gardens Pies and Cakes (1966), cookbook published by Meredith Press, was created to teach home cooks how to make simple pies and cakes. The vintage cookbook covers a very wide range of recipes from fruit pies and chiffon pies, to simple butter cakes and intricate layer cakes. In true Better Homes & Gardens style, the recipes are simple to follow and often times include pictures. Here is an original recipe for Carrot-Pineapple Cake, which I’ve also included my modern remake.
This Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Cook Book (1959) is a beloved vintage cookbook that inspires home cooks with delightful recipes focused on holiday themes. From main dishes to simple desserts and beverages. this cookbook covers it all. Celebrate popular foods dedicated to American holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving to Christmas alongside special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Plus, timeless tips for hosting a nostalgic coffee, tea and punch party, something you don’t see in our modern days!
BH&G Holiday Cook Book (1959)
Valentine’s Day Recipes
Thanksgiving Recipes
Christmas Cookie Recipes
Springerle – a traditional German cookie, known for its anise flavor and stamped designs.
Cooky Tarts (Sandbakelser) – a traditional Scandinavian cookie with a small tart-like shape and hollow center that can be filled with jam, fruit preserves, or marzipan. They are commonly baked in special sandbakkel molds.
Rainbow Wreaths (Berliner kranser) – colorful cookies in a wreath shape decorated with vibrant icing in various colors to resemble a rainbow.
Bowknots (fattigmann) – are a traditional Norwegian cookie typically deep-fried and made from a rich dough flavored with spices. They are made in bow or knot shape, made by twisting the dough before frying.
Rosette Cookies – a delicate, deep-fried cookie that resembles lace patterns. They are made by dipping a special rosette iron into batter, frying it until golden brown and dusted with powdered sugar.
Spritz – a traditional Italian cookie known for their distinctive shape and buttery flavor. They are typically made using a cookie press to create various decorative shapes.
Krumkaka – a Norwegian and Scandinavian cookie made with a batter cooked on a griddle to give a thin, crisp texture. Once cooked, they are rolled around a cone-shaped mold to create a delicate spiral shape, dusted with powdered sugar and filled with whipped cream or other sweet fillings.
Swedish German Cookies (Pepparkakor) – are a Swedish gingerbread which translates to “pepper cookies.” They are a thin, crisp cookie with a deep, spiced flavor of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes cardamom that are shaped into hearts or stars and decorated.
Noel Fruit Cookies (Lebkuchen) – a traditional German spiced gingerbread cookie, typically made using a combination of honey, sugar, spices (such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg), and often candied fruits or nuts.
Gumdrop Cookies – are a classic American cookie, that feature colorful gumdrops (candied fruit pieces).
Sugar Cookies – are a classic American cookie, with a buttery, sweet flavor, soft yet crisp texture rolled out and cut into shapes or simply dropped by spoonfuls onto baking sheets.
Coconut Balls – a typically small, bite-sized treat made from coconut and sweetened condensed milk, rolled into balls and then coated with additional desiccated coconut.
Holly Hermits – a holiday cookie known for their rich, spiced flavor and often include dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices.
Christmas Candy Recipes
Christmas Cake & Bread Recipes
Related Recipes
Vintage Cake Recipes
1970’s Vintage Cookbooks
Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below!
ollow us on social
As an Amazon Associate, I may include affiliate links to recommend products I like to use or suggest and may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see my full disclosure for more details.
This post includes original cookbook images and text excerpts shared for educational and historical purposes. All rights belong to the original publisher. Any commentary, notes, or recipe adaptations are my own and reflect my professional baking experience in a commercial kitchen. I am not a licensed medical professional and do not provide medical advice.
All modern recipe adaptations and photography © 2025 Vintage Baked Modern LLC. Please do not copy or reproduce without permission.
