Create Cookbooks: The Secret Sauce of Recipe Writing

August 1, 2022

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With the development of new technologies and new designs, cooking recipes are now just a click away! But we’re not going to lie to each other, there’s nothing better than being able to leaf through a book of original recipes with a pretty layout. And then, writing a cookbook is also a great way to pass on family recipes to your grandchildren.

The right recipe for the successful creation of your cookbook is a clever mix of knowledge, a bit of history and lots of love. You are passionate about cooking and you dream of one day writing your own recipe book? Do you have a cooking blog and want to publish your recipes in a book? Here are some steps to follow to guide you in your cookbook writing project.

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Choose the theme of your cookbook

To start, you need to have a clear idea of the type of book you want to write. You will be able to select your recipes and organize them according to the theme you have chosen. There are hundreds of themes, more or less specific, so you have the embarrassment of choice. But you surely have more affinity with some of them.

Light recipes
Appetizer or main course
Salty or sweet
Daily cooking or special occasions
World or regional cuisine
Diet recipes
Vegetarian or vegan recipes
And hundreds of more …

Have your cooking recipes tested

One of the essential points is of course to test your recipes. It is also the most pleasant stage. Your family will certainly be delighted to taste your preparations. You will be able to adjust your recipes if necessary and update your notes carefully in a notebook.

Be clear and precise

Your readers don’t want to read approximate things like “add a glass of milk”, rather specify the quantities in grams or centilitres. Avoid using words that are too complicated for novices in the kitchen, or else make a small glossary at the end of your work. You will be able to explain certain terms used in your cookbook.

Also, remember to have your book re-read by those around you! Beyond possible corrections of spelling errors, they may be able to tell you if something needs to be clarified.

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Write original content with illustrations

Try to offer amazing recipes, that’s the secret to selling your work well afterwards. No one wants to buy a recipe book for pasta with butter or a ham/cheese sandwich! Another important point, beyond the interest of your recipes, is the illustrations. An illustrated recipe book will give your readers much more desire to start making small dishes.

Of course, you have to offer attractive photos to your readers. Without necessarily being a great photographer, you will succeed in this task by choosing accessories and tableware that will enhance your dishes. Also, think about tweaking the dressing. Spend as much time as you need there, even if you have to repeat yourself several times.

Create the right layout of the cookbook

Make your layout so that your photos fit well with your recipes. Choose your font carefully; it must be very readable because we are often in a hurry when starting a new recipe. Select your cover well, one or more attractive photos will make you want to leaf through your book.

And why not opt for TextProz Recipe Writing Service? With TextProz.com, you can create your cookbook easy and sell it online and in bookstores!

The text of your cookbook

Once you’ve done all of this work, you’re well on your way to your cookbook writing project. Writing the texts is the most important step.

Here are a few basic steps of writing a cookbook.

The introduction

It is important to have a text of one or more pages that introduces your recipes. Introduce yourself to your readers: who are you and how long have you been cooking? Why did you set out to create a cookbook?

This is important to create a connection with your reader and make him want to read more. You can also pay homage to the cooks who inspired you to write your cookbook. Do not hesitate to explain the content of your book: how it is organized into chapters, and what important areas readers should notice.

The recipes

If you’ve done the job of preparing your recipes well, writing them down should be a breeze. Use writing software like Word or Office and a nice, clear font.

Take your draft and write down your recipes as precisely as possible, not omitting any details. Start by finding a title for each recipe: it must be clear so that we immediately understand what the dish will look like, but it must also be attractive.

Look for an enticing title!

For the actual writing of the recipes, take inspiration from what already exists. You absolutely must describe:

The ingredients for your recipe
Preparation time
The different steps of your recipes are well detailed.
Cooking: time, temperature…

Be careful not to make mistakes: cooking is science and nobody likes to mess up a recipe. You risk losing readers if they no longer trust your instructions. Hence, the importance of thoroughly testing all your recipes before putting them down on paper.

The illustrations in your cookbook

How to make an enjoyable cookbook to read? With beautiful illustrations! Your cookbook shouldn’t just help people cook, it should inspire them. To do this, pay particular attention to the aesthetics of your work.

Photos

Photos are almost indispensable in a cookbook these days. You don’t have to have one to illustrate each recipe, but try to include photos at least one per double page. Try to take good photos with a good quality camera and not a smartphone.

The photos of your dishes will mark the difference between a very successful book and a moderately successful book.

Experiment with different angles and different light levels to showcase your dish. Pay attention to the background: it must be plain and sober so as not to steal the spotlight from the food. If you are not confident in your photography skills, seek help from a loved one or hire a professional.

The aesthetics

Pay attention to the general aesthetics of your cookbook. For example, it is good to choose a certain range of colours and stick to it. Of course, adapt to the audience your book targets with colours:

Print your cookbook

Once your cookbook is written, all you have to do is realize your dream and turn it into a real work. Take the pint of the final draft.

The cookbook layout & printing

Now you need to look at the final details:

The cover

The choice of cover is essential: it is what will attract your readers in the first place. Of course, the best thing to do is to use the photo of one of your recipes. You can also make a montage of several photos.

Also read: What is “Good Content” and How It Attracts Customers To Your Business

The 4th cover

The back cover is also very important. It gives useful information to the reader, such as a summary of the cookbook, and a quick biography of the author. It is what encourages the reader to leaf through the book and take a closer look at it.

The paper

For the paper, you can opt for a standard 80 grams. If you’re looking for an older look, like for family cookbook writing, choose beige over white. If you have a lot of photos and want to showcase them, a 90 grams smooth/satin paper will look great.

Binding

For the binding of your cookbook, it’s up to you. If you opt for a “traditional book” look, choose a glued square back (novel) or rolled edge (comic book type) binding. For a family cookbook, you can also take a spiral binding.

Join over 35,000 customers worldwide and contact TextProz writers to create an amazing cookbook. We’d love to hear from you. Let’s chat

Jim Frost

Jim Frost is an experienced content writer with a decade-long experience in helping businesses grow. He has written multiple articles on topics such as business, finance, technology, marketing, and more.