Table of contents
Discover my personal collection of vintage cookbooks, spanning the 1940s through the early 2000s. Each book offers a glimpse into how people baked and celebrated across the decades — from wartime pies to 1970s cookie bars. As a bakery owner passionate about old-fashioned flavor, I use these cookbooks to inspire modern, all-natural recipes that honor the originals.
Browse by decade to see cookbook covers, notes on baking trends, and links to vintage recipes I’ve reimagined for today’s kitchen.
1940’s Cookbooks
Culinary Arts Institute 250 Superb Pies and Pastries (1949) 
Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook (1941) 
The Great Martha Washington Book (1940, 2005)
The American Woman’s Cook Book (1942) – Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies
Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook (1941) – Lord Baltimore Cake, Lady Baltimore Cake, Washington Cake
CIA 250 Superb Pies and Pastries (1949) – Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
The Martha Washington Cook Book (1940, 2005) – Martha Washington Cake
1950’s Cookbooks
Cooking With Grains (1951) 
250 Classic Cake Recipes (1952) 
Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book (1950, 1998) 
BH&G Holiday Cook Book (1959)
Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Cook Book (1959)
Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book (1950,1998) – Coconut Macaroon Cookies, Lincoln Favorite’s Cake
CIA 250 Classic Cake Recipes (1952) – Lady Baltimore Cake, Lord Baltimore Cake, Vintage Silver (White) Cake
Cooking with Wholegrains (1951) – Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
Natural Food Cookery (1955) – Sourdough Pumpernickel Bread
1960’s Cookbooks
Ball Blue Book (1969) 
Freezing & Canning Cookbook by Farm Journal (1963) 
Sunset Cook Book of Breads (1966) 
The Fannie Farmer Cookbook (1896, 1965) 
Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book (1963) 
Farm Journal’s Complete Pie Cookbook (1965) 
Decorating Cakes & Party Foods (1969) 
Betty Crocker’s Cookbook (1969) 
America Cooks (The General Federation of Women’s Clubs Cookbook (1967)
America Cooks Cookbook (1967) – banana nut muffins, Irish soda bread with currants
Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Cookbook (1961) – blueberry lemon scones
Ball Blue Book (1969)
Betty Crocker’s Cake & Frosting Mix Cookbook (1966) – Homemade Cake Mix
Betty Crocker’s Cookbook (1969) – old fashioned lemon squares, old fashioned strawberry shortcake
Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book (1963) – Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ginger Cream Cookies, patriotic cut out sugar cookies
Better Homes & Gardens Pies and Cakes (1966) – Christmas Cut-Out Sugar Cookies, carrot cake with pineapple
The Complete Holiday Cookbook (1969)
Decorating Cakes & Party Foods (1969) – Easter Lamb Cake
Farm Journal’s Complete Pie Cookbook (1965) – old fashioned lemon meringue pie
The Fannie Farmer Cookbook (1896, 1965) – old fashioned banana cake
Freezing & Canning Cookbook by Farm Journal (1963) – oatmeal apricot cookies
Sunset Cookbook of Breads (1966) – sourdough starter with milk, sourdough french bread
Yankee Hill Country Cooking (1963) – homemade apple pie spice, apple cruble muffins
1970’s Cookbooks
Favorite Recipes (1978) Shults-Lewis Child & Family Services 
The Holiday Cookbook by Southern Living(1971) 
Clear & Simple Crockery Cooking (1975) 
Home Canning Preserving-Freezing-Drying (1975) 
The Deaf Smith Country Cookbook (1973) 
Nitty Gritty Foodbook (1975) 
Make-A-Mix Cookery-LG (1978) 
Make-A-Mix Cookery (1978) 
Better Homes & Gardens Homemade Bread Cook Book (1973) 
Hershey’s Cocoa Cookbook (1979) 
The Forgotten Arts Growing, Gardening & Cooking with Herbs (1972) 
Home Gardener’s Cookbook (1974) 
Stocking Up (1977) 
James Beard’s American Cookery (1972) 
Sourthern Living Party Cookbook (1972) 
Ladies Home Journal Handbook of Holiday Cuisine (1970) 
Beard on Bread (1973) 
Farm Journal Homemade Cookies (1971)
Beard on Bread (1973) – Home-Style Bread Loaf: A 1970’s remake
Better Homes and Gardens Homemade Bread Cook Book (1973)
Clear & Simple Crockery Cooking (1975)
The Deaf Smith Country Cookbook (1973)
Favorite Recipes (1978) Shults-Lewis Child & Family Services – Scottish Shortbread
The Forgotten Arts Growing, Gardening & Cooking with Herbs (1972)
Hershey’s Cocoa Cookbook (1979) – Classic Brownies
Home Canning (1975)
Home Gardener’s Cookbook (1974)
Home Gardener’s Month-By-Month Cookbook (1974)
James Beard’s American Cookery (1972)
Ladies Home Journal Handbook of Holiday Cuisine (1970)
Make-A-Mix Cookery (1978)
Make-A-Mix Cookery-LG (1978)
Nitty Gritty Foodbook (1975)
Nordic Ware Bundt Brand Fluted Tube Pans (1973, 1990)
Rand McNally Canning & Preserving (1976)
Southern Living “The Holiday Cookbook” (1972)
Southern Living Party Cookbook (1972)
1980’s Cookbooks
Gifts from a Country Kitchen (1984) 
Cooking on a Shoestring (1983) 
Farm Journal’s Best-Ever Pies (1981) 
Whole Foods for the Whole Family – La Leche League Intl. (1981) 
Holiday Parties (1985) 
The Great Pumpkin Cookbook (1984) 
Turkey, The Bird For All Seasons (1984) 
Libby’s Favorite Pumpkin Recipes (1984)
Cooking on a Shoestring (1983)
Farm Journal’s Best-Ever Pies (1981) – Peach Slab Pie, Apple Cranberry Pie
Gifts from a Country Kitchen (1984)
The Great Pumpkin Cookbook (1984)
Holiday Parties (1985)
Libby’s Favorite Pumpkin Recipes (1984)
The New James Beard (1981)
Turkey, The Bird For All Seasons (1984) – Thanksgiving Recipes: Dessert & Pies
Whole Foods for the Whole Family – La Leche League Intl. (1981)
1990’s Cookbooks
James Beard’s Theory and Practice of Good Cooking (1977, 1990) 
Beard on Bread (1973, 1995) 
Holiday Food Fun (1993) 
The Perfect Pumpkin (1997)
Beard on Bread (1973, 1995 edition)
Blue Ribbon Winner’s State Fair Recipes (1993)
Holiday Food Fun (1993)
James Beard’s Theory and Practice of Good Cooking (1977, 1990 edition)
The Perfect Pumpkin (1997) – 90’s Pumpkin Recipes
The Pumpkin Cookbook (1998) – 90’s Pumpkin Recipes
Williams-Sonoma Holiday Baking (1995)
2000’s Cookbooks
Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (2011) 
Ball Blue Book (2020) 
Southern Living Incredible Cookies (2000) 
Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving (2001) 
The Thanksgiving Table (2001)
Ball Blue Book (2020)
Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (2011)
The Thanksgiving Table (2001) – Thanksgiving Recipes: Dessert & Pies
Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving (2001) – Thanksgiving Recipes: Dessert & Pies
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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.
