Table of contents
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





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This post includes original cookbook images and text excerpts from Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Cook Book (1959), shared for educational and historical purposes. All rights belong to the original publisher.
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