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Confession: When my husband and I married we didn’t get a Betty Crocker cookbook, but shortly afterwards we ended up getting one. Last year, before my grandmother passed, she gave me her books.

Here is my list of Betty Crocker Cookbooks:
1. First Edition Betty Crocker Cookie Book, Copyright 1963
2. My Betty Crocker Notebook – exact copyright date is unknown, but the page has the 1955 Betty Crocker photo
3. Betty Crocker Cookbook, Copyright 1971
4. Betty Crocker Basics, 2005

I keep the first three with me at work to help out with Recipe Requests. Though, they’ve been so loved so I am thinking about taking back home.
Betty has been kind enough to donate some books my way. This photo below at my work desk. Often I find my co-workers asking if they can browse through one or make a copy of a recipe.

I don’t think I can say which one is my favorite because they are all unique in their own way. Seeing my grandmother’s fingerprints throughout her books tug at my heartstrings each time I see them. You can tell she flipped through the books often. I wish she had written more notes with in her books. The notes she did write were so funny.
So it gave me an idea!
This past year, I gave a Betty Crocker cookbook to my sister and asked her to take notes in the book. Write reviews! This Christmas, it will go to my mom. She will be asked to do the same. We have three cookbooks like this rotating. I thought this would be fun to pass down to generations to come.

I realize though that I need to cook from my Betty Crocker cookbooks even more. Often, I cook my Betty recipes from the site or from the iPhone app. Writing this post has motivated me to make something this weekend. I’ll share my results next week. Sincerely, Cate

Hi Cate,

Wow, what memories ! My Betty Crocker New Dinner for Two was a gift at a bridal shower in 1964. The first time I ever made Snickerdoodles was from that cookbook. My husband was in the Air Force, I was going to school and we had a very  tight budget. That book helped me plan a weekly food menu that allowed us to eat healthy food and stay within our budget.

My other favorite is the Betty Crocker's Cookbook 1976. To this day everyone asks how I cook corn on the cob because my corn is always delicious. Page 424 under corn. I'm sure everyone has their own method that works but this has been my "go to " along with all the amazing ideas of what to do with vegetables to dress them up just a little and make them special for family and company.

I have other BC books but these are my favorite, I have worn them out but all the fingerprints and notes make them special to me.

jmo23

I've got one book up in my book case that is called Betty Crocker's  Best of Baking with the copyright of 1997.   There are at least 2-3 more still packed away in a box of books I have never unpacked.  But we've had the book since the 1950's.  It has no hard book cover from the different moves we made,  that's how old it is.  It was used over and over again by my mom and my aunt, and I'm pretty sure they brought  the book from Chicago when we moved to Los Angeles in 1953.  If I remember correctly it was just titled Betty Crocker cookbook. 

I really love reading everyone's responses! We asked this question to our Facebook Fans and had plenty of fun responses: http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=10081584315&share_id=111444138902003&comments=1#s111444138902003

So, I ended up opening my 1971 BettyCrocker Cookbook and making this for Sunday morning brunch. I made the Blueberry Buckle version and it was a huge hit with my husband and extended family. My DH said he loved the topping. I ended up only tweaking the flour alittle. I used 1/2 cup of whole wheat and 1 cup of all purpose. Also, for the topping I used whole wheat. Finally, I ended up cooking it in a 8x8 so it was alittle thicker than your average coffee cake. My cookbook just has few versions of this great recipe but Linda in Customer Service gave them all to me to post here. Hmm... I may try the pineapple version next time! :)  Sincerely, Cate

 Favorite Coffee Cake

 
1 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour*
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
Topping (below)
 
Heat oven to 375°.  Grease round pan, 9x1 1/2 inches, or square pan, 8x8x2 or 9x9x2 inches.  Mix all ingredients except Topping in large bowl with fork; beat vigorously 30 seconds.  Pour into pan.  Sprinkle with Topping.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Topping:  Mix 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 3 tablespoons firm margarine or butter until crumbly.
 
Note:  Unbleached flour can be used in this recipe.
 
*If using self-rising flour, omit baking powder and salt.

High Altitude Directions (3500 to 6500 feet):  For Favorite Coffee Cake, heat oven to 400°.  Use 9-inch square pan.  Decrease baking powder to 2 teaspoons. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Streusel-filled Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except omit Topping; spread half the batter in round layer pan, 9x1 1/2 inches.  Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed), 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts and 2 tablespoons butter, melted; sprinkle half of mixture over batter in pan.  Top with remaining batter and mixture.

Cherry-Raisin Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except reduce sugar to 1/4 cup, omit Topping and spread batter in 8- or 9-inch square pan.  Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed), 1/2 cup raisins or sliced natural almonds and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; sprinkle over batter. Spoon 2/3 cup cherry or apricot jam or orange marmalade over brown sugar mixture.  While warm, spread with Powdered Sugar Icing:  Blend 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and about 1 tablespoon water.

Blueberry Buckle:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except increase flour to 2 cups; carefully stir 2 cups well-drained blueberries into batter and omit Topping.  Sprinkle top with Crumb Mixture:  Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup Gold Medal flour, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup soft butter.  Bake 45 to 50 minutes.

Quick Apple Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)--except omit Topping.  Mix 1/2 cup raisins into batter.  Arrange thinly sliced apples in fancy design on top of batter, pressing them slightly into batter.  Sprinkle top with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon mixed with 2 tablespoons sugar.  For Christmas, sprinkle with red cinnamon candies.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except omit Topping; sprinkle top with mixture of 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed) and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
 
Holiday Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except omit Topping; sprinkle top with mixture of 1/3 cup moist cut-up candied fruit, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sugar.

Orange Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except omit Topping.  Substitute orange juice for half the milk and add 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel.  Sprinkle top with Crumb Mixture (above), adding 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel.

Pineapple Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except omit Topping.  Spread top with mixture of 2 tablespoons soft butter, 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 cup well-drained crushed pineapple.

Apricot-Streusel Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)--except omit Topping.  Spread only half of batter in pan.  Spread with 1/2 cup strained stewed apricots.  Add remaining batter.  Sprinkle with Streusel Mixture:  Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed), 1 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon butter, melted, and 1/4 cup chopped nuts.

Nut Crunch Coffee Cake:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except omit Topping.  Spread only half of batter in pan.  Spread half of Nut Crunch Mixture (below) over batter.  Add remaining batter and sprinkle remaining Nut Crunch Mixture over top.

Nut Crunch Mixture:  Mix 1 egg, 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed), 2 tablespoons flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts. Note:  Blueberry Buckle can be frozen no longer than 3 months.  If desired, drizzle Powdered Sugar Glaze (below) over warm coffee cake before freezing.  Cool thoroughly.  Wrap, label and freeze.  To serve, heat uncovered in 350° oven until warm, about 45 minutes.

Powdered Sugar Glaze:  Mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Stir in 1/3 to 1/2 cup water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until glaze is spreading consistency.

Individual Coffee Cakes:  Follow recipe for Favorite Coffee Cake (above)-- except pour into four 1 1/3-cup mini-turban pans.  Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans.  Cut each coffee cake into halves.  8 servings.
 
®Reg. T.M. of General Mills, Inc.

Hey, Kate,

I have to say my favorite year, or, at least go to again and again, is Betty Crocker 50th Anniversary cookbook, copywrite 1969.  I got it for a shower gift, way back when I married my first husband.  Well, the marriage didn't last, but the cookbook sure did and I've been happily married to my 3rd husband for 27 yrs.  I love the equivalents on the inside front cover - it keeps me from wasting vegetables, cutting stuff up for dinner.  The recipes are still the best and I think I've had all the other Betty Crockers' cookbooks offered.  I have my mother's Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook from the 1950's (?).  I also have the 40th and 75th Anniversary editions.  Couldn't love them all more.  Thanks for keeping us cooks up-to-date and receiving many wonderful compliments.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Back

********************

I have 5 Betty Crocker cookbooks so far, I love cookbooks and am still collecting!  Mine are:

Betty Crocker's Cookbook   1991

Betty Crocker's Slow Cooker Cookbook   1999  (this is my favorite, although I love the others too!)

BC Chocolate Cookbook   1985

BC New Christmas Cookbook  1993

BC Best Christmas Cookbook   1999

Love them all and use them all!  Thanks for all of the wonderful recipes!

Lucille

Hi Cate,

I have several BC cookbooks in my collection including:  two 1986 editions; 40th Anniversary, 1991; New Choices, 1993; Quick & Easy, 2002; Cake & Frosting Mix, 1966; Cookbook for Boys & Girls, 1984; New Boys & Girls, 1990; Boys & Girls Microwave, 1992; Bisquick magazines, #86, #98, #225 and Racing Family 43.

I have a large cookbook collection, but I always return to my first cookbook (1986). It's pages are smudged and worn with my cooking explorations. I'm sure I consult it the most because it was the first cookbook I purchased as a wife. The Bisquick magazines have seen a lot of use, too.

I keep a binder of our favorite recipes (in page protectors) for convenience. We add to it occassionally. It's turning into our family cookbook, so I guess I'm creating a personal cookbook. Eventually I will share copies as the kids move out. Maybe I'll even get the time to make it in a scrapbook format!

Andi

For years I just had the regular Betty Crocker paperback cookbooks.  They became so worn & tattered because I used them so much, I bought a hardback book in 1985, that I still use.  I also have a best loved recipes book  I got in 1998.   Growing up, my mom had a basic Betty Crocker how-to cookbook that I used all the time.  It was very helpful on how to make standard recipes such as waffles, pancakes, cakes, cookies, frosting,  meatloaf, roast, how to cook eggs, etc.  My mom said she bought it when she first left home.  She was so used to asking her mother how to boil an egg, how long to cook rice, that she needed a handy reference book  as a young woman. 

I have 2. The first original 1950 edition, which is my favorite of all cookbooks and one later,  sometime in the 1990's. The 1950's edition is much more complete including appropriate table service. The later edition has repeated some of the older recipes, but I rarely even look at it. Too many of the  recipes, in my opinion, are just mediocre. After one has been cooking for over 60 years, one can almost look at a recipe and know if it might be a "keeper".

HI CateC!

I have the reprint of the 1950 Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook and the reprint of the 1963 Betty Crocker Cooky Book.  I have a multitude of other cookbooks but these are both favorites for me.  I use the Cooky Book the most.  Have a great day!

Betty Crocker 1950 Picture Cookbook..love that cookbook.

Mommy_Moo