How to Make a Holiday Cookbook

Remember to add festive photos.

Would you like to make a gift for your family that is truly special? A gift that captures the holidays you’ve spent together? Then why not make a holiday cookbook? A cookbook is a wonderful way to capture those special moments into a treasured keepsake. Best of all, this is a gift that’s not only affordable, but very easy to make as well.

Things You'll Need

• Binder or journal
• Camera

Instructions

1. Collect recipes. Almost every family member has a special recipe they make at the holidays. Take time to ask for these special recipes so that they can be included in your holiday cookbook. Everyone will love having Aunt Mildred’s Coconut Cake in the same cookbook as Uncle Fred’s Cola Baked Ham. When you combine an entire family’s recipes into one holiday cookbook, you truly end up with a special keepsake that everyone will treasure.

2. Choose the book type. You can make your holiday cookbook using a binder or even a journal. If you want to type and then print the recipes, a binder is the best choice. On the other hand, a journal makes a wonderful holiday cookbook if you plan on writing each recipe by hand.

3. Create sections. You can make a simply Christmas cookbook that features typical sections, such as appetizers and desserts or you can take things one step further by including several different holidays. If you choose this route, make sure to keep each holiday together and break it into smaller sections.

4. Take pictures. When you add photos to your holiday cookbook, you make the recipes even more appetizing. If you like, you can ask each family member to create the recipe and take a picture of them with the final product. If you use a binder, you can incorporate the picture into the recipe page before printing. When using a journal, you will want to use double sided tape to attach the photo next to the recipe.

5. Make it special. A holiday cookbook should be something special. It should be more than just recipes. You should also include stories and a dedication. It’s also important to include recipes from family members that have passed on. If a family member has recently passed on, you may want to include an “In Memory” page.

Tips & Warnings

• To make the holiday cookbook even more special, have cooks write their recipe in each book.

• A festive photo at the beginning of each holiday section will make your holiday cookbook even more special.

• Stories on how the cooks came up with their recipes would make a wonderful addition.

• Start this project early in the year.