1950s vintage photo of a family cooking a turkey

Updated February 2023

I own a slew of vintage cookbooks from the 1940s-1960s of which I mostly open to just transport into another era (my cooking skills are poor). They are truly fantastic pieces of history and the recipes are quite fun and sometimes very interesting.

Today post is going to be a peak into vintage cookbooks from the 1940s-1960s with a few recipes that you can try out at home. Super for anyone looking to try something different for dinner tonight. AND if you love them that much, at the time of posting this blog the books were all for sale on Etsy.


Note: Make sure you check out my Etsy collection that I update once a month with vintage cookbooks from the 1900s to 1960s avail for sale on Etsy.


Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy daily!

Enjoy!

Cooking Class, 1935. Vintage Photo featuring a group of young woman learning to cook.

The Vintage Cookbooks

What Shall I Cook Today? Very good question friends, but thankfully ‘Spry – Pure Vegetable Shortening’ has 124 healthful recipes for us. Circa 1940s.

LOVE the eye catching cover.

What Shall I Cook Today - Vintage Spry Recipes - 1940s Cookbook - 1940s Recipes

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage cookbook recipes-How to make Bread

Source: Etsy

A vintage cookbook entitled Quick Dishes for the Woman in a Hurry — 332 Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less. Copyright 1955. Published by the Culinary Arts Institute. (Avail as of Oct 22nd, 2021 HERE)

A vintage cookbook entitled Quick Dishes for the Woman in a Hurry -- 332 Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less.

Copyright 1955. Published by the Culinary Arts Institute.
1950s cookbook featuring 1950s recipes for sauces for your vintage recipes.

Source: Etsy

Cooking also includes Baking! 1953 Cake Secrets Cookbook by General Foods. What a fun cover! (avail HERE as of Feb 24th, 2022).

Cooking also includes Baking! 1953 Cake Secrets Cookbook by General Foods. 1950s Vintage Cookbook

Who wants to make a Happy Day Cake? Looks delish and perfect for Easter (or anytime).

Happy Day Cake-A butter cake recipe for a 1950s vintage cookbook.

Swans Down Sponge Cake! I could eat this delish dessert all day long. YUM!

1950s sponge cake recipe as seen in a 1950s vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Food Fashion for 1957 by Canadian Brand (now gone), Silverwood Dairies.

The names on these book are making me laugh! Hey you have to get someones attention, somehow.

1950's Vintage Cookbook Silverwood Dairies

Source: Etsy

1950s Vintage Cook Book Recipe for Whipping Cream

Source: Etsy

“A Guide to Royal Success in Baking:” Royal Cream of Tarter Baking Powder circa 1940s.

Vintage 1940s Guide to Royal Success in Baking - Cream of Tartar Baking Powder Cookbook vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage Cookbook baking powder cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook from the National Live Stock and Meat Board.

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook from the National Live Stock and Meat Board

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage Metropolitan Life Insurance cookbook from September 1955. These handy booklets were originally given as premiums to their policyholders.

Vintage Metropolitan Life Cookbook 1955 Cook Book Insurance Premium Recipes vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage Metropolitan Life Cookbook 1955 Cook Book Insurance Premium Recipes

Source: Etsy

“Fun to Cook Book”. Adorable kids’ cookbook, put out by Carnation Company in 1955. By Margie Blake.

Adorable kids’ cookbook, put out by Carnation Company in 1955. By Margie Blake

Source: Etsy

Mmmm 5 Minute Fudge recipe and Meat Loaf (NOT my favorite dish). Have fun kids cooking!

1950s vintage recipes for fudge and for meat loaf from a vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950’s Paperback Brochure / Mini Cookbook.

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950's Paperback Brochure vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950's Paperback Brochure vintage cookbook recipes

Source: Etsy

1950s vegetarian cookbook titled “Florida’s Favorite Foods: Fruits and Vegetables in the Family Menu”. Copyright 1959 by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Tallahassee (Love the outfit on the cover)

Sample recipes:
* Scalloped Onions and Peanuts
* Persimmon Ice and MORE (See/ Purchase the cookbook HERE)

1950s vegetarian cookbook titled “Florida's Favorite Foods: Fruits and Vegetables in the Family Menu”. Copyright 1959 by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Tallahassee.

Salad anyone? Luncheon Salad ideas (Endive with Bacon Dressing, Vegetable Salad Combos).

vintage 1950 salad recipes as seen in a 1950s cookbook from Florida.

Source: Etsy

1950’s Cookbook titled The Greystone Everyday Cookbook by Agnes Murphy. (Avail as of Oct 22nd, 2021 HERE).

1950's Cookbook titled The Greystone Everyday Cookbook by Agnes Murphy

Source: Etsy

Stork Goes Continental From The Stork Cookery Service 1950s.

Stork Goes Continental From The Stork Cookery Service Vintage Cook Booklet 1950s

Source: Etsy

1950s vintage cookbook inside featuring the almond merangues and cream buns and other vintage desserts you can make.

Source: Etsy

Portal to Good Cooking – Women’s American ORT – 1950’s Cookbook.

Portal to Good Cooking - Women's American ORT - 1950's Cookbook - Favorite Recipes - Recipe Collection - Vintage Cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s Recipe for Crescents as seen in a 1950s vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

1950s ‘Definitely Different‘ The Daily Telegraph Recipe Book. The book was not super clear about what made it “definitely different” but it’s bright and cheerful cover caught my attention.

1950s 'Definitely Different' The Daily Telegraph Recipe Book vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

That’s it for this week friends! Happy cooking.

Question time: Do you own a vintage cookbook or 2? And if so, do you use it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

Liz

8 Comments on Let’s Get Cooking: Vintage Cookbooks 1940s & 1950s

  1. I don’t remember what the inside looked like. I know it was a dark shade of green with I think gold lettering. It was about an inch or inch and a quarter thick. My mom used it for everything. I would love to find one if possible. Thank You, Kat Wood ( kathleenlw462@gmail.com

    • Your looking for a certain cookbook? You could try searching Etsy, eBay and typing in your description, even google. I would try to help if I had more to go by.

      Good luck!

      Liz

  2. Found the Metropolitan Cookbook in my grandmother’s stash of cookbooks (along with a small recipe box stuffed with hundreds of clippings / handwritten recipes). I know she used to make the Sauerbraten recipe from t here – my uncle still raves about it. I agree that these are a window into another world – one slower-paced for sure.

    • Mmmmm Sauerbraten, I love that dish. My Omi used to make a very good one. What a great item to have from your grandmother. Cooking how she would of, is for sure a window into her time.

      thanks for commenting!

      Liz

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