Learn how to make a family cookbook filled with treasured recipes and memories to pass down for generations. This simple project also makes a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day, bridal showers, and newlyweds.
Looking for more meaningful gift ideas? Visit my What to Cook for Mother’s Day guide for recipes, desserts, and gifts moms will love.
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This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated with new photos, additional tips, and fresh ideas to help you create a family cookbook filled with treasured recipes and memories.
Here's What's Included:
Family cookbook inspiration: Ideas for creating a personalized cookbook filled with treasured recipes and memories.
Meaningful gift ideas: Perfect for bridal showers, Mother’s Day, holidays, or newlyweds.
Recipe preservation tips: Creative ways to save family favorite recipes for future generations.
Personal photo examples: Real pages and memories from the cookbook I created for my daughter.
Printable organization ideas: Helpful tools for organizing recipe cards, meal plans, and keepsake recipes.
How I Created a Family Cookbook with Shutterfly
I gave my daughter a meaningful gift for her bridal shower...a personalized family cookbook filled with her favorite recipes, family memories, and photos from her childhood.
Creating the cookbook was much easier than I expected, especially since many of our favorite family recipes were already published here on my blog. I used Shutterfly to organize the pages, add personal stories, and include special photos of Olivia growing up through the years.
Even better, I completed the entire project in just a few days before her bridal shower. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts come together at the last minute!
Here’s the cover of the family cookbook I created for Olivia’s bridal shower; a collection of treasured recipes shared from mother to daughter.
The first page included a special note to Olivia along with a few favorite photos of the two of us together through the years. I especially love the photo from her third birthday party.
What Recipes to Include in a Family Cookbook?
Include recipes that hold special memories for your family, from favorite soups and holiday desserts to the meals your children requested growing up. Adding personal photos and stories alongside the recipes makes the cookbook even more meaningful.
One of Olivia’s favorite recipes included in the cookbook is my Loaded Potato Soup Recipe.
Our whole family also loves Chicken Cutlet Italian Style and Chicken Cutlet Parmesan, so of course those recipes had to be included too.
I also added the Crescent Roll Fruit Tart recipe I’ve been making for Olivia’s birthday for years. Alongside the recipe are photos from her fifth birthday and her twentieth birthday.
Another favorite included in the cookbook is my Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe made with three different chocolate candies.
The Perfect Bridal Shower Gift
And finally, here’s a photo of Olivia and me together at her bridal shower. Putting this cookbook together was such a special project, and I know it’s something she’ll treasure for years to come.
Printable Recipe Binder and Family Cookbook Pages
If you’d rather create your own cookbook at home, my Printable Recipe Binder is another easy way to organize treasured family recipes and preserve favorite meals for future generations.
This printable set includes:
- Meal category pages
- Full-size recipe pages
- Holiday recipe sections
- Family history pages
- Grocery lists
- Meal planners
- Kitchen conversion charts
- Printable kitchen art
The binder works beautifully for bridal showers, weddings, Mother’s Day gifts, or as an ongoing family recipe project.
Susan says
I really like your layout on the potato soup recipe, but I can't find it in Shutterfly. Can you tell me how you did that? Thank you!
Lois says
I made this 8 years ago for our daughter. I'm not sure how it works any longer on Shutterfly. I wish I could be more help to you!
Debbie says
This is a wonderful idea. I would love to make one for my daughter, but I never write recipes down seems like I just do them. Maybe I should start because my daughter has her own family now and she is constantly asking me to make some of her favorite dishes that she grew up eating. Maybe I should learn to write recipes just not sure where to start to learn to write them. I am getting older now and she would love one of these books I have hand written a lot of things down for her but never put anything together for her to keep as a keepsake someday.
Lois says
I hope you take advantage of this idea and get your recipes together as a keepsake for your daughter!!! What a nice gift it would make for her...one she would treasure forever! Thanks for visiting.
Maria Asay says
What a great idea! Your cookbook looks amazing.
Cheryl says
I have used shutterfly for so many books but never thought of a cook book. I am working on one now for my daughter since she will be leaving home soon so I will check this out, thank you!!
Vee says
What a great project!