Vintage Cookbooks

My collection of vintage cookbooks published from the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s, now in the public domain, provided a rich resource for the old fashioned dessert recipes published on this site.

Also, many recipes were gleaned from recipe cards, handwritten recipe books, and scrapbooks stuffed with recipe clippings and dessert illustrations.

Vintage Cookbook Resources

The oldest recipe books referenced below are now out of print, yet most are still preserved in online libraries and digital archives, and some have been reprinted and are again available for purchase.

I'll share how you can find copies of the vintage cookbooks near the bottom of this page.

Mom's Recipe Scrapbooks

Mom loved to collect recipe clippings and food illustrations in her teen years and carefully pasted them in her scrapbooks throughout the 1920s. After marrying my father, she often traded proven dessert recipes with her sisters, friends, and neighbors.

She also collected vintage cookbooks that she found at church rummage sales and enjoyed listening to cooking shows on the radio. I can still remember her sitting at the kitchen table, pencil in hand, patiently copying down the recipes.

You'll find many of Mom's favorite dessert recipes on this site along with the notations she added to improve the dish.

Grandma McIlmoyle's Recipes

My Grandma McIlmoyle preserved recipes of her mother's and collected favorite recipes from friends and family. These she carefully transcribed into small handwritten booklets and on note papers.

She also had several vintage cookbooks in her collection, the oldest being "Miss Leslie's Seventy-Five Receipts," published in 1827.

You can download a gift copy of one of Grandma's handwritten recipe books from 1912 when you subscribe to my FREE newsletter.

Grandma Bell's Recipes

My Grannie Bell learned how to cook when she was a young girl in Scotland, in the 1890s. Annie was a marvelous cook but rarely followed recipes, mostly cooking from memory.

A few of her handwritten dessert recipes that have survived, however, and I've included them on this old time recipe site.

Vintage Cookbook Collection

365 Foreign Dishes (1908)

"365 Foreign Dishes" compiled by Charles S. Pratt, published by George W. Jacombs & Company, New York, in 1908.

Allied Cookery (1916)

"Allied Cookery" arranged by Grace Clergue Harrison and Gertrude Clergue, published by G.P. Putman's Sons, New York and London, in 1916.

The Art of Living in Australia (1893)

"The Art of Living in Australia" by Philip E. Muskett and Mrs. H. Wicken, published by Muskett, in 1893.

Aunt Babette's Cook Book (1889)

"Aunt Babette's Cook Book, Foreign and Domestic Receipts for the Household" by Aunt Babette, published by Bloch Publishing and Printing Company, Chicago, in 1889.

The Belgian Cook-Book (1915)

"The Belgian Cook-Book" edited by Mrs. Brian Luck, in 1915.

The Book of Household Management (1861)

"The Book of Household Management" by Mrs. Isabella Beeton, published by the author in 1861.

The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book (1896)

"The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book" by Fannie Merritt Farmer, Principal of the Boston Cooking School, published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston, in 1896. (Also, the 1916 edition and some later vintage cookbooks authored by Fannie Farmer.)

The Bread and Biscuit Baker's and Sugar-Boiler's Assistant (1890)

"The Bread and Biscuit Baker's and Sugar-Boiler's Assistant" by Robert Wells, published by Crosby Lockwood and Son, London, in 1890.

Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping (1877)

"Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping" published by Buckeye Publishing Company, Minneapolis, in 1877.

California Mexican-Spanish Cook Book (1914)

"California Mexican-Spanish Cook Book" by Bertha Haffner-Ginger, published by author in 1914.

The Calumet Cook Book (1916)

"The Calumet Cook Book" published by Calumet Baking Powder Co., Chicago, Illinois, in 1916.

The Canadian Farm Cookbook (c. 1912)

"The Canadian Farm Cookbook," circa 1912.

The Carbondale Cook Book of Tried and Tested Recipes (1924)

"The Carbondale Cook Book of Tried and Tested Recipes" by the Young Lady Workers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, published by the International Textbook Press, Scranton, PA, in 1924.

The Chinese Cook Book (1917)

"The Chinese Cook Book" by Shiu Wong Chan, published by Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York, in 1917.

Chinese Cookery in the Home (1911)

"Chinese Cookery in the Home" edited by Jessie Louise Nolton of The Chicago Inter-Ocean, published by the Chino-American Publishing Company, Detroit, Mich., in 1911.

Chinese-Japanese Cook Book (1914)

"Chinese-Japanese Cook Book" by Sara Bosse and Onoto Watanna, published by Rand McNally & Company, New York and Chicago, in 1914.

Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes (c. 1910)

"Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes by Miss Parloa and Home Made Candy Recipes by Mrs. Janet McKenzie Hill" published by the Walter Baker & Co., Ltd., circa 1910.

The Complete Confectioner, Pastry-Cook, and Baker (1864)

"The Complete Confectioner, Pastry-Cook, and Baker" by Eleanor Parkinson, published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, in 1864.

The Cook's Decameron (1905)

"The Cook's Decameron: A Study In Taste: Containing Over Two Hundred Recipes For Italian Dishes" by Mrs. W. G. Waters, publisher unknown, circa 1905.

Cookery (1895)

"Cookery" by Amy G. Richards, published by E. M. Renouf, Montreal, in 1895.

La Cuisine Francaise (1893)

"La Cuisine Francaise" by Francois Tanty, late Chef de Cuisine of the Emperor Napoleon III and of the Imperial Family of Russia, published by Baldwin, Ross & Co., Chicago, in 1893.

Dainty Desserts for Dainty People (1915)

"Dainty Desserts for Dainty People" published by Charles B. Knox Co., in 1915.

Dainty Dishes for All the Year-Round (1900)

"Dainty Dishes for All the Year-Round" by Mrs. Sarah T. Rorer, published by North Brothers Mfg. Co., Philadelphia, in 1900.

Dishes & Beverages of the Old South (1913)

"Dishes & Beverages of the Old South" by Martha McCulloch-Williams, published by McBride, Nast & Company, New York, in 1913.

The Dispenser's Formulary or Soda Water Guide (1915)

"The Dispenser's Formulary or Soda Water Guide" compiled by the editorial staff of The Soda Fountain, published by D. O. Haynes & Co., New York, in 1915.

The Dominion Home Cook-Book (1868)

"The Dominion Home Cook-Book" by A Thorough Housewife, published by Adam Miller, Toronto, in 1868.

Dr. Chase's Third, Last and Complete Receipt Book (1891)

"Dr. Chase's Third, Last and Complete Receipt Book, Memorial Edition" by Dr. Alvin Wood Chase, M.D., published by F. B. Dickerson Company, Detroit and Windsor, in 1891.

The Enterprising Housekeeper (1900)

"The Enterprising Housekeeper" by Helen Louise Johnson, published by The Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, in 1900.

The Eta Cook Book (1914)

"The Eta Cook Book" by the Boston Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Phi Fraternity, Brookline, Mass., in 1914.

Fancy Cookery (1890)

"Fancy Cookery: A Collection of Reliable and Useful Household Recipes" published by F. Jordan, Goderich, Ontario, circa 1890.

Frozen Dainties (1899)

"Frozen Dainties" by Mrs. D. A. Lincoln, author of "The Boston Cook Book," published by The White Mountain Freezer Co., Nashua, NH, in 1899

Fruit and Candies (c. 1920)

"Fruit and Candies" published by Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co., circa 1920.

German Cookery for the English Kitchen (1906)

"German Cookery for the English Kitchen" by Ella Oswald, published by A. Siegle, London, in 1906.

German National Cookery for American Kitchens (1904)

"German National Cookery for American Kitchens" by Henriette Davidis, published by C. N. Caspar Co. Book Emporium, Milwaukee, Wis., in 1904.

The Glasgow Cookery Book (1924)

"The Glasgow Cookery Book" issued by The Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestie Seienee (Incorporated). For use in the college. Printed by N. Adshead & Son, 34-36 Cadogan Street, Glasgow, in 1924.

The Great Western Cook Book (1857)

"The Great Western Cook Book, or Table Receipts Adapted to Western Housewifery" by Mrs. A. M. Collins, published by A. S. Barnes & Company, New York, in 1857.

Home Helps: A Pure Food Cook Book (1919)

"Home Helps: A Pure Food Cook Book" by Mrs. Mary J. Lincoln, Lida Ames Willis, Mrs. Sarah Tyson Rorer, Mrs. Helen Armstrong, and Marion Harland, published by The N. K. Fairbank Company, New York, in 1919.

The Hotel St Francis Cook Book (1919)

"The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book" by Victor Hirtzler (Former Chef of St. Francis, San Francisco), published by The Hotel Monthly Press, John Willy, Inc., Chicago, in 1919.

Ice Creams, Water Ices, Frozen Puddings (1913)

"Ice Creams, Water Ices, Frozen Puddings Together with Refreshments for All Social Affairs" by Mrs. S. T. Rorer, published by Arnold and Company, Philadelphia, in 1913.

The Inglenook Cook Book (1909)

"The Inglenook Cook Book: Choice Recipes Contributed by Sisters of the Brethren Church, Subscribers and Friends of the Inglenook Magazine" published by Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, Illinois, in 1909.

The International Jewish Cook Book (1919)

"The International Jewish Cook Book" by Florence Kreisler Greenbaum, published by Block Publishing Company, New York, in 1919.

Italian Cook Book (1919)

"The Italian Cook Book: The Art of Eating Well" compiled by Mrs. Maria Gentile, published by Italian Book Co., New York, in 1919.

Italian Cooking (1900)

"Italian Cooking" by Dorothy Daly, published by Spring Books, London, in 1900.

Key to the Pantry (1897)

"Key to the Pantry," published by the ladies of the Church of the Epiphany, Danville, Virginia, 1897.

Khaki Kook Book (1917)

"Khaki Kook Book" by Mary Kennedy Core, Bareilly, India; published by The Abingdon Press, in 1917.

Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes (1915)

"Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled During Her Visit Among the Pennsylvania Germans" by Edith M. Thomas, printed by John Hartenstine, Norristown, Pennsylvania, in 1915.

Miss Beecher's Housekeeper and Healthkeeper (1873)

"Miss Beecher's Housekeeper and Healthkeeper: Containing Five Hundred Recipes for Economical and Healthful Cooking..." by Catharine E. Beecher, published by Harper & Brothers, New York, in 1873.

Miss Leslie's Seventy-Five Receipts (1827)

"Miss Leslie's Seventy-Five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes and Sweetmeats, Twentieth Edition" by Miss Eliza Leslie, published by C. S. Francis and Company, New York and Boston, in 1827.

Miss Parloa's New Cook Book (1880)

"Miss Parloa's New Cook Book, A Guide to Marketing and Cooking by Miss Maria Parloa, Principle of The Boston School of Cooking," published by Estes & Lauriat, Boston, in 1880.

Miss Parloa's New Cook Book (1882)

"Miss Parloa's New Cook Book: A Guide to Marketing and Cooking" by Maria Parloa, published by C. T. Dillingham, New York, in 1882.

Mrs. Beeton's Every-Day Cookery (1912)

"Mrs. Beeton's Every-Day Cookery" by Mrs. Isabella Beeton, published by Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, in 1912. (And updated editions published after 1912.)

Mrs. Goodfellow's Cookery as It Should Be (1865)

"Mrs. Goodfellow's Cookery as It Should Be" by Mrs. Elizabeth Goodfellow, published by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, in 1865.

Mrs. Rorer's New Cook Book (1902)

"Mrs. Rorer's New Cook Book" by Sarah Tyson Rorer, published by Arnold and Company, Philadelphia, in 1902.

My Pet Recipes Tried and True (1900)

"My Pet Recipes Tried and True" contributed by the Ladies and Friends of St. Andrew's Church, Quebec, published by Daily Telegraph Printing House, Quebec, in 1900.

The Neighborhood Cook Book - Second Edition (1914)

"The Neighborhood Cook Book" second edition published by the Council of Jewish Women, Portland, in 1914.

One Hundred Picnic Suggestions (1915)

"One Hundred Picnic Suggestions" by Linda Hull Larned, published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, in 1915.

The Oriental Cook Book (1913)

"The Oriental Cook Book" by Ardashes H. Keoleian, formerly of Constantinople, published by Sully & Kaleinteich, New York, in 1913.

Pan-American Recipe Book (1899)

"Pan-American Recipe Book" published by the Ladies Aid Society of the Riverside Methodist Episcopal Church, Buffalo, in 1899.

The Perry Home Cook Book (1920)

"The Perry Home Cook Book" compiled by the Ladies of Perry, Kansas, and vicinity, published by The Independent Publishing Company, Oskaloosa, Kansas, in 1920.

Philadelphia Cook Book (1886)

"Philadelphia Cook Book" by Mrs. S. T. Rorer, Principal of Philadelphia Cooking School, published by Arnold and Company, Philadelphia, in 1886.

Practical Cooking and Dinner Getting (1876)

"Practical Cooking and Dinner Getting" by Mary F. Henderson, published by Harper & Brothers, New York, in 1876.

Practical Housewifery (1874)

"Practical Housewifery" by Marion Harland, published by Scribner, Armstrong & Co., New York, in 1874.

Recipes Tried and True (1894)

"Recipes Tried and True" compiled by the Ladies Aid Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Ohio, published by The Press of Kelly Mount, Marion, in 1894.

Rhymed Receipts for Any Occasion (1912)

"Rhymed Receipts for Any Occasion" by Imogen Clark, published by H. M. Caldwell Co., Boston & New York, in 1912.

Royal Cook Book (1922)

"Royal Cook Book," published by Royal Baking Powder Co., New York, in 1922.

Royal Baker Pastry Book (1887)

"Royal Baker Pastry Book" by Prof. G. Rudmani, published by Royal Baking Powder Company, New York, in 1887.

Ryzon Baking Book (1917)

"Ryzon Baking Book, a Practical Manual for the Preparation of Food Requiring Baking Powder" compiled and edited by Marion Harris Neil, published by General Chemical Company, Food Dept., New York, in 1917.

The Settlement Cook Book (1903)

"The Settlement Cook Book," compiled by Mrs. Simon Kander and Mrs. Henry Schoenfeld, published by The Milwaukee Settlement House, Milwaukee, Wis., in 1903.

Southern Recipes (1910)

"Southern Recipes" by anon. authors, published by The Montgomery Junior League, Alabama, circa 1910.

The Times Cook Book, No. 2 (1905)

"The Times Cook Book, No. 2: 957 Cooking and Other Recipes by California Women; Brought Out by the 1905 Series of Prize Recipe Contests in the Los Angeles Times" published by Times-Mirror Co., Los Angeles, in 1905.

The White House Cook Book (1913)

"The White House Cook Book" by Hugo Ziemann, Steward of the White House, and Mrs. F. L. Gillette, a celebrated 19th-century cookbook author, published by The Saalfield Publishing Company, New York, in 1913.

With a Saucepan Over the Sea (1902)

"With a Saucepan Over the Sea," Quaint and Delicious Recipes from the Kitchens of Foreign Countries, Selected and Compiled by Adelaide Keen, published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston, in 1902.

The Woman Suffrage Cook Book, Second Edition (1890)

"The Woman Suffrage Cook Book, Second Edition" published by Mrs. Hattie A. Burr, Boston, in 1890.

Renaissance Cookbook Resources

The Queen-like Cloſet or Rich Cabinet (1672)

"The Queen-like Cloſet or Rich Cabinet," Second Edition, by Hannah Wolley, published by Richard Lowndes, London, in 1672.

The Queens Closet Opened (1658)

"The Queens Closet Opened: Incomparable Secrets in Phyſick, Chyrurgery, Preſerving, Candying, and Cookery" by W. M., published by Nathaniel Brooks, London, at the Angel in Cornhill, in 1658.

Vintage Non Cookbook Resources

Art Recreations (1884)

"Art Recreations: Guide to Decorative Art" edited by Marion Kemble, published by J. E. Tilton and Company, Boston, in 1884.

The Book of Knowledge and Sure Guide to Rapid Wealth (1873)

"The Book of Knowledge and Sure Guide to Rapid Wealth" published by Hurst & Company, New York, in 1873.

The Girl's Own Annual (1891)

"The Girl's Own Annual" by Phyllis Browne et al, published by Pinn, London, in 1891.

The Household Cyclopedia of General Information (1881)

"The Household Cyclopedia of General Information" by Henry Hartshorne, M.D., published by Thomas Kelly, New York, in 1881.

Knight's American Mechanical Dictionary (1877)

"Knight's American Mechanical Dictionary" by Edward H. Knight, published by Hurd And Houghton, New York, in 1877.

Lee's Priceless Recipes (1895)

"Lee's Priceless Recipes: A Valuable Collection of Tried Formulas and Simple Methods, Etc." by Dr. N. T. Oliver, published by Laird & Lee, Chicago, circa 1895.

Milch Cows and Dairy Farming (1858)

"Milch Cows and Dairy Farming" by Charles L. Flint, published by A. O. Moore, New York, in 1858.

Popular Science Monthly (August 1921)

"Popular Science Monthly" Volume 98 - No. 8, published by the Modern Publishing Company, New York, in August 1921.

Scientific American (April 1885)

"Scientific American Supplement No. 483" published in New York, April 4, 1885.

Wright's Book of 3000 Practical Receipts (1869)

"Wright's Book of 3000 Practical Receipts" by A. S. Wright, published by Dick & Fitzgerald, New York, in 1869.

Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets (1861)

“Young’s Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets” by Daniel Young, published by Rowsell & Ellis, Toronto, in 1861.

Find Out of Print Vintage Cookbooks

It's still possible to find used, vintage cookbooks that have gone out of print — sometimes reprints, sometimes first editions — often at very low cost.

By knowing the secrets of Where to Find Out of Print Cookbooks, you can add wonderful vintage cookbooks by famous cookery authors to your collection.