If you’ve been collecting family recipes for years, creating your own custom cookbook template in Microsoft Word is one of the most practical ways to preserve them. I’ve been slowly building mine for a long time, and over the years I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t.

In this updated guide, I’m sharing my current process for creating a family cookbook template in Microsoft Word — including my new favorite 2-column, no-image template that has made a big difference as my cookbook has grown.

Cookbook Series

In case you missed it, I have published a series of blog posts over the past year or so that explore all aspects of creating a cookbook from cover to back:

• The 4 Affordable Binding Options for Your Cookbook
• Three FREE Recipe Book Covers Covers
• Printer Settings to Print Cookbook as a Booklet
• Categories for Cookbooks
• Updates to the Table of Contents with Fields
• Creating a Cookbook Index
• Adding Images to Your Cookbook Template
• FREE Cookbook Category Divider Pages & Cover

Why a Personal Cookbook

I come from a LONG line of recipe collectors. Through the years, my family has unashamedly asked for recipes from friends, family members, and random strangers in line at the grocery sore (I kid – sort of). Because of this, we’ve amassed tons of favorite recipes from all over the place.

Growing up, I watched my mom type recipe books up on the library typewriter and created her own cookbook for the whole family. Each recipe book was her labor of love to us. Her cookbooks also included funny stories of life on the farm. I’m sure family and friends were thankful for those cookbooks.

As I got older, I started helping her compile recipes into digital cookbooks for printing. In total, I’ve worked on 7 different cookbooks for family and our church. I’ve learned a trick or two about the best way to work in MS Word to create a cohesive cookbook with a table of contents and index that is neatly organized.

The Drawback to Professional Cookbooks

Before I show you how to make your own, let me address that there are cookbook publishing companies that will do all the styling for you. But handing over the reins to a professional has 3 major downsides.

1. The number one downside is cost. While a publisher will produce a beautiful cookbook, you will still need to compile, format, and input your recipes. Cookbook companies often charge per recipe and revision. That said the price/cookbook is significantly higher depending on the number of cookbooks you order.
2. Loss of control of the creative process. You can only choose from templates they offer. They have different options, but still there are limitations.
3. One shot and it’s done. Once you submit the cookbook to be printed, that’s it. I’m always changing recipes and adding new ones so a professional cookbook company feels too final to me.

There are obvious benefits with professional cookbooks such as pre-formatted design templates (if you just want easy options), layouts, covers, kitchen helps and tips pages, and dividers. But I have some solutions to DIY these sections posted in the series list at the beginning of this post.

Tips for Cookbook Design

Here are some of my biggest tips to designing a cookbook:

1. Photos: If you choose to include photos within your recipe, you’ll want to use high-quality pictures that showcase the end result. Your photo should be clear, bright, and appetizing. (WARNING: if you incorporate photos – it will increase your file size and may cause lag as you edit.)
2. Use color wisely: You can use color to highlight important sections of the book but I tend to avoid color to reduce printing costs.
3. Keep it simple: Avoid using too many different fonts and try to use simple fonts for the recipe portion. Simple is better. I like to search the term: “font pairing” with the main font I’m using for my recipe titles to see ideas for recipe text. Overall, I’ve started limiting my cookbooks to no more than 3 fonts.
4. Make it personal: Include a note section after the title to jot down details about the recipe. If Dad really loved to make a recipe while camping, share that as a memory for others to enjoy
5. Decide the final cookbook print size. Most common print sizes are letter (full sheet of standard printer paper) or half-sheet size (booklet printing so each page will be 5.5″ X 8.5″) For my video below, I demonstrate the half-sheet size – BUT definitely check out my updated post about printing as a booklet – lots of new info there that may conflict with the video.

Why I Updated My Microsoft Word Template

My original template (using fonts; Bodoni 72 Small Caps, Catandra Script, and Century Gothic) fit my needs for quite some time. SIDE NOTE: If you do not have those fonts, it’s not a game-changer. Just know that when you open the document, you must update your template to the fonts you wish to use.

Next I shared a document with tables to copy/paste into the template for recipe images. This is still a great option, but I noticed my computer had significant lag while editing the cookbook with the tables and images especially as my cookbook grew and grew).

The main issue with the original template is that there were tabbed ingredients, and that can make it more tedious to edit. So I started using a simpler, faster template I’d used previously on a couple cookbooks. This 2-column, single line ingredients, image-free template is so much quicker to edit, looks clean and classy and I think you’ll love it too. For fonts on this one, I used Catandra Script, Radley, and Montserrat)

Benefits of the New 2-Column No-Image Template

• Dramatically reduces document lag (even with 100+ recipes)
• Much easier to edit ingredients and instructions
• Cleaner layout when printed
• Faster overall workflow

WARNING: If you are switching between single column (for cookbook sections) and recipes (2-column) like I have in the download, it can get a bit tricky on the type of section breaks you have. I’ll see about providing details on that in the future. Let me know if you need help with that and I’ll move it higher on my priority list.

Page Setup & Margins (Very Important)

Before adding recipes, set up the margins. Booklet printing requires the most specificity for margins since there is shrinkage when you convert to a half sheet size. So first thing – decide if you’re going full sheet or half-sheet cookbooks.

Full Sheet Margins

For full sheet cookbooks, you’ll just need to pay attention to your left margin for your binding method. Select Custom Margins and set the left margin minimums as follows:

Comb or Wire Bound:

• Left Margin Minimum: 0.4″

3 Ring or Disc Bound:

• Left Margin Minimum: 0.5″

Half-Sheet (Booklet Printing) Margins:

For booklet printing – the margins are going to need some serious tweaking. I have a whole post about printing a cookbook as a booklet. Depending on your binding method, these are the exact margins (not minimum) you need to prevent excessive margins and prevent your text from shrinking. I promise, they WILL look different when you print your booklet.

Again, select Custom Margins and then select Mirror Margins.

Comb or WIRE BOUND:

• Inside Margin: 0.3″
• Outside Margin: 0.9″ or 1.0″
• Top Margin: 0.1″
• Bottom Margin: 0.1″

3-Ring or Disc BOUND:

• Inside Margin: 0.9″ or 1.0″
• Outside Margin: 0.9″ or 1.0″
• Top Margin: 0.1″
• Bottom Margin: 0.1″

IMPORTANT: Apply the margins to the whole document (this is especially important if you have sections like I do in the new cookbook template).

The tight top and bottom margins look ridiculous, but you’ll need them for when you convert the document to a booklet for printing, (see my updated printing post for details).

Using Styles – the Most Important Step

Even with the new template, using Styles is still the #1 key to a clean, consistent cookbook. Once set up, you can change fonts, spacing, or formatting across the entire document with just a couple clicks.

In the video below, I demonstrate how to create a cookbook template using styles with a table of contents.

I highly recommend you watch the video above where I demonstrate working with styles. (you can fast forward to 2:33 minutes if you want to skip my rambling).

Format Your Recipe for Readability

I cannot stress enough, the value of using the styles pane which will help you make sure your text, images, ingredients, etc. are all aligned and have the same font, size, and weight.

Style Your Recipe’s Elements

1. Style your Recipe Title under the Heading 1 style – use a different font or color for the title to make it stand out.
2. Continue through the rest of the recipe elements such as notes/author, ingredients/instructions header, ingredients list, directions, etc. For these elements of your recipe, you can name the style whatever you’d like.

Update Specific Styles

If you’d like to update a specific style of your cookbook element:

1. Go to the styles pane, click the triangle and select the specific style’s far-right triangle.
2. Click “Modify Style…” to make changes.
3. Another way to do this is to, select the styled text, and click “Update to Match Selection.”

Doing this, will change all the text marked under that style to the change you just made.

Cookbook Organization

Most cookbooks are organized by major categories/sections, (i.e. Bread, Breakfast, Appetizers, etc.). You may also want to include subcategories, (i.e. Yeast Bread, Quick Bread, etc.).

Table of Contents – Two Options

It may seem premature to talk about the table of contents for your cookbook, but I want to give you the two ways to consider how you want your cookbook to look and your table of contents to be structured

1. Easy Way – Use Only Styles

With this route, you’ll use styles Heading 1 (Main Categories), Heading 2, (Subcategories), and Heading 3 (Recipe Titles).

This is your best option if:

• You don’t have a lot of recipes
• You don’t want subcategories
• You still want subcategories but you don’t mind hiding text (by making it white)
• Creating section breaks and working in the hidden text view is challenging for you

2. Little More Effort – Marking Fields

Using fields is a way to tell Word behind the scenes what info you need to go into the Table of Contents. You’ll can still use styles Heading 1 (Main Categories) and Heading 3 (Recipe Titles) but you use fields to manually tell Word what your Categories and Subcategories will be for your Table of Contents.

This is your best option if:

• You have a large amount of recipes in each category and want to divide them into subcategories
• You don’t want to hide text by making it white
• You want more control over your Table of Contents
• You’re okay with working in the character view and comfortable with section breaks

I have a whole post about creating a Table of Contents that you can check out here.

When you create your recipe sections, you’ll start by creating a new style for your cookbook sections, or categories. If you’d like ideas for sectioning your cookbook, see this post. The style for your cookbook section

Headers & Footers – Page Numbers

To incorporate page numbers to your cookbook, place them in the Header or Footer.

1. Go to the “Insert” tab and select “Page Number”
2. Select the Position and Alignment and Format for your preference.

You may also customize your header and footer with other details such as the cookbook title, category, or subcategory. Truth be told, I haven’t figured out how to do this automatically yet and it’s just not a priority for me.

Creating a Cookbook Index

If you choose to create an index, you’ll do this once you have a good number of recipes input into you document. An index is generally found in the back of a cookbook for easy reference.

I’ll tell you, it’s a lot of work to make an index – but something I greatly value in my cookbooks. I go into depth on how to do this here and the post includes a video walkthrough of the process. Check it out if this is something you’d like to incorporate.

Final Thoughts

I’ve covered a lot of ground on this post and the linked posts as well. One thing I know for certain, if you’re a recipe collector creating your cookbook in Microsoft Word is an excellent way to preserve those recipes. If you’re compiling recipes for church or family, your labor of love will be treasured by anyone who is blessed with a copy.

I hope you find my series helpful and if there is anything you’re stuck on, please let me know in the comments.

Happy cookbook making!

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