Masterclass: How to write the perfect recipe
Writing your own recipe provides a unique perspective on cooking, meal planning, and healthy eating. The rules for recipe writing are pretty intuitive and straightforward. Try these steps for recipes worthy of the next “best-selling” cookbook.
Recipes can also be adapted from other recipes written by your favourite chef, food blogger or magazine. While the ingredients are not copyrighted, the method is. Cook the recipe and rewrite it in your own words of how you made it. Include how long it took you to prepare the ingredients and cook them. You will most likely find you’ll add your own variations to the original recipe anyway.
Recipe title
Adding a descriptive title will help entice the reader. For example, if the recipe title reads “panna cotta” instead add something more descriptive like “crème fraîche panna cotta with poached pears and praline”, to make the recipe stand out, and be more inviting to read.
The story behind your recipe
It gives readers a personal connection to how the recipe came about. Was it passed down from previous generations? Or maybe let the reader know how you developed the recipe from scratch and if so, the inspiration behind it?
Prep, cook & serves
Providing a timeline is invaluable to the reader as it gives them the information they need before embarking on the recipe, especially for the first time. They can then better organise their time as to how long it will take to prepare, cook, and also how many it will serve or make.
List ingredients
The rule of thumb is to list all ingredients in the order they are used in the recipe.
Sometimes ingredients can be sub-divided. As an example, the first part might be for the “custard mixture”, followed by the second part for the “cake mixture”.
Imperial, metric, cups and spoons
Choose either imperial or metric measurements, not both, with the exception of spoon and cup measurements, this can be added to both. It is better to spell out the words of the measurement rather than abbreviations. For example, instead of “tbspn”, write “tablespoon”.
We recommend adding fractions and oven measurements as symbols. Click here to read article on how to add symbols to your recipes in your recipe library.
Instructions
Write the recipe as you would make it. Explain what to do as simply as possible and write like you’re on a cooking show telling the audience each step. Beginners need clarity, so don’t be vague. Write “preheat oven" and the temperature at the start of the method if an oven is needed.
If the ingredients are sub-divided (as mentioned in ‘list ingredients’ above) then do the same in the instructions.
Think about including…
Utensils you need to make the recipe
Cookware and the size used
Mention if you have tested it and if so, how many times?
Mention how difficult or easy the recipe is to make
Add the nutritional value of the ingredients
Add if the recipe is allergy-friendly or a dietary food
Add tips and suggestions (eg: leftovers can be frozen?)
Feature a photo
People eat with their eyes. Featuring a food image gives the reader a visual of how the recipe looks when finished. Smartphones take great quality photos these days. You can also search from Create Cookbooks’ extensive professional food library. Can’t find an image to match your recipe, ask one of our team members who will go hunting for one on your behalf.
Images from the internet are most likely low print quality or copyrighted. Click here to read article about where to source good quality images with no copyright issues.
Testing the recipe
If you intend to sell your cookbook online or in a bookstore, then testing recipes is paramount. Test each recipe at least twice before publishing it.
A great idea is to get family and friends to do a taste test after you’ve made it to receive some constructive feedback.
Keep a journal
When creating recipes, do your homework and gather ideas from food bloggers, cookbooks and even social media. This will help you work out the basics like the ratio of each ingredient and a summary of how you made it.
A great idea is to keep track of “accidental creations”. This way at the time of making it if you jot down a quick summary of the ingredients, quantity and how you put it together, this will help when it comes to making it again so you can tweak it and write the perfect recipe.