Everyone has their own way of organizing their recipes. My favorite way is a recipe binder. I know that may seem counter-intuitive during these digital times, but I love being able to organize and flip through my recipes. Plus, my kids like it took and anything that helps them feel more confident in the kitchen is a win in my book.
In fact, I created a simple version a few years ago and I’ve used it ever since. Of course, I had to share all about it with my friends here, and I think you all must love recipe binders too. It’s one of the most popular posts here at Living Well Mom!
I figured it was time we all get an upgrade on our recipe binder so I had a brand new set of recipe binder graphics created for you and me!
What is a Recipe Binder?
A recipe binder is just what it sounds like—a binder filled with recipes! Rather than keeping a hundred printed recipes all over your kitchen, or stacks of dog-eared cookbooks, you can easily corral your favorite foods in one simple spot.
If you’re anything like me, you use printed recipes just about every day now and find more almost as often. A recipe binder is perfect because you easily add/remove recipes whenever you want. You can also change or move categories around too.
In short, this is the most convenient way to sort the recipes many of us print online.
And ya’ll, I can’t get enough of this one! It’s such a clean pretty design and it looks so fabulous in my kitchen!
How to Put Together a DIY Recipe Book
Have I convinced you that you need a recipe binder yet? If so, you’ll be thrilled to know that setting up a DIY recipe book of your own is super simple.
What You’ll Need for Your DIY Recipe Binder:
- 1-3″ white binder
with a clear pocket (I have a 2″) - heavyweight sheet protectors
- scissors
- Printable recipe binder sheets (grab them below)
with a clear pocket (I have a 2″)
Optional, but recommended supplies:
& 
Don’t let the hot glue gun scare you. This is NOT a major project. Trust me, I’m not crafty at all and this was super easy. If I can do this, so can you!
How to Set Up the Recipe Book Binder
First, you’ll need to get your Printable Recipe Binder pages.
You can get them for free here when you join my Living Well Mom email list. It’s my gift to you.
There are 7 sheets – the cover page, 3 category pages, 1 tabs page, and 2 simple design-only pages. These last two can be used for the side of the binder just to make it look pretty.
There are two ways to do this. You can download, print, and write in your category names by hand into each of the category pages and recipe tabs.
OR you can save the JPG files of the recipe tabs and category pages listed here, upload the full file sizes into an editing tool, like PicMonkey, and add text.
This is a great option if you want something nicer than your handwriting. Just make sure you save in full resolution to ensure you keep the quality.
You’ll need to print out multiple copies of pages 3, 4, and 5 (the category pages) depending on how many categories you choose to include. I highly recommend that you list out the categories you wish to include in your DIY recipe binder before you start.
I chose to add the text online so my recipe binder would be nice and pretty (I don’t have gorgeous handwriting like some of you.) In case you’re wondering, I used League Gothic as the font.
How to Make your DIY Recipe Binder:
Once your recipe binder pages are printed, you can start putting it all together. For the edge of the binder, choose your favorite graphics page and cut it to fit. Then carefully slide it in.
Next insert the cover page into the clear pocket of your binder.
I highly recommend laminating the cover and category pages as this gives it more protection and stability. Plus it will help your category pages stand out better compared to your regular recipe pages.
Once you laminate the pages, just trim the extra from around the edges and slide each category page into a sheet protector.
Then, cut out each of the recipe tabs that you’ll be using and fold them in half. Insert them into a laminating pouch folded, then laminate.
Cut each tab from the laminating sheet, leaving just a little around the edges. This extra step will help ensure your beautiful recipe binder will last for a long time!
Next, line up each tab according to how many category pages you have.
Carefully hot glue a small line at the very edge of each category page. (Your category pages must be inserted into a protector first.)
Now we’ll get to the really fun part – putting the category pages into your binder…
Now just add your recipes! You can slide them into the clear protective sheets (my recommendation) or simply use a 3-hole punch
to add the recipes directly to your binder.
It’s completely up to you. I prefer using the protective sheets because I tend to be pretty messy when I cook, but you may not need them.
And that’s how you make your very own DIY recipe binder!
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valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
This is a terrific idea! I have seen systems that aren’t as nice as this one being sold online and they’re a lot of money so this would be a good way to save by making it.
Erika says
That’s why I paid someone to make this for me. I wanted something really pretty for me AND my readers. 🙂 I’m glad you like it!
Heather Johnson says
I keep my recipes in a binder too. I print mine out and put them in plastic sleeves.
Erika says
I’ve found that quite a few people do this. That’s why this printable is so fun – you can spruce up what you already have!
Kristi says
That looks soooo much nicer than the random sheets of paper that are floating around my cupboard and drawer right now. My husband would sure love this too as he complains when he wants to find something to make.
Erika says
Thanks, Kristi! I love how easy this binder is to maintain too. 🙂
Shannon Bell says
The JPG links are not working for me. Is there anyway you could email the downloads to me? Or fix the links? Thanks, Shannon B.
Erika says
Hi Shannon! I’m sorry you’re having trouble with the links. The JPEGS are coming up for me. Can you describe what’s happening so I can help?
Donna says
Hi Erika! The Pic-Monkey link titled Recipe Tabs- keeps coming up as the Category Page 3 divider page.
Love these pages and cant wait to get started!
Thanks for your help!
Donna A
Erika says
It’s fixed! Thanks for letting me know, Donna. Have fun making your binder!
teddymom says
I’m not getting the tabs when I click on the tabs link, but rather another category page. Help!
John says
Now that printers are even more standard than in the past, it allows for people to really customize their cookbooks/recipe books much more. Having all the important recipes (especially seasonal ones that come around every year) in the same binder makes it much easier to quickly whip up a delicious meal for family and guests alike. Thanks for sharing!
Gilly says
Do you have a list of contents under each tab or do you just flip through? I’ve made many recipes from pinterest once and then forget about them. Not because they are forgettable but just because there are SO many. Thanks for these. I’m working on a whole home organization and this is one of them!
MessyScraper says
Thanks a lot!
Darcy says
Does the hot glue stick well to the page protector? It seems like they would peel off easily.
Erika says
Yes, it’s been great. I haven’t had any issues with it peeling off.
Patricia June says
If you dont want to print all those sheets of patterns you can buy shelf paper , & then hand print on plain paper lay it on top & glue it in place, cutting it out in a nice shape. Cheaper than in , for those on a budget
Martha Pulido says
This seems like a great idea. I’ve been able to follow all the steps except for the title page. Can you save that one individually? Or, perhaps email that 1 page as a pdf? When I download all of the pages, and try to print the title page, it does not print correctly.
Thanks so much!
Erika says
Hi Martha, I’m sorry you’re having issues with printing this. How is it not printing correctly? Saving a single PDF page isn’t likely to change how it prints vs the whole file.
Savannah Grow says
What categories do you have in your recipe book?
Kristen says
Any idea on what to do with newspaper or magazine clipped recipes? I want to save them — thought about flying several down to a page and inserting in a page protected — but what if it has a backside? Thoughts?
Erika says
Great question, Kristen!
I’ll often take a quick photo with my phone of a magazine recipe so I don’t have to keep the hard copy. (I’m all about simplifying that way!) Then I can print out the recipe photo later or look up the recipe on the magazine’s website, etc. and print and add to my recipe binder that way.
Kirsten Rawson says
Hi Erika, I love your recipe binder! Am I supposed to be seeing an option for the cover page and the two simple design-only pages? I only see the 3 category pages and recipe tabs. Thank you for sharing!
Dori says
This is awesome! It’s my weekend project 🙂 I have so many recipes just kept haphazardly so this is much needed. Only thing, what’s the trick to getting the decorative piece of paper down the spine of the binder? I cannot do it for the life of me lol
Kacie says
Thank you! I have been on the hunt for something to put all my recipes in…I’ve looked at Target, Ikea, etc., and haven’t found anything I’ve liked. I’m going to do this instead! 🙂
Johanna Eck says
Dear Erika,
thank you very much for these templates. I searched for a while for recipe cards, and your design is exact what I imagine!
Johanna
Deb Fett says
I have terrible handwriting so I was going to use your PicMonkey idea. I decided that I didn’t want to get into a “free trial” that I would have to remember to cancel. I bought AVERY Clear Address Labels 18660, printed my category sheets and tabs labels and stuck them on the print outs. Looks like they were printed right on the page. I love my newly organized binder. Thanks for sharing!
Jackie Houlberg says
Hi!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us!! I am in the process of making this recipe book and am excited to complete it!! I was wondering if you could provide an editable version of the cover page and of the blank pages for the side of the binder. Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!
Erika says
I don’t have an editable version of this, sorry, Jackie! Glad you love the design. 🙂
Brenda Abramson says
Hi, love this, but one question – is it possible to change the color of mint green to a baby pale pink?
Most of my stuff is grey and pink!
Thanks
Brenda A.
Erika says
Hi Brenda, unfortunately we don’t offer customized versions of this free printable binder. 🙂
Joyce says
I typed up a “category” in Word, for example “Main Dishes” (I made sure it was lined up in the right place) and fed a category page (printed from this site) into my printer. No need to pay for labels and printing up labels. I played around with the font size and placement till I got it right with a blank piece of paper first. My two daughters and I shared our recipes and I made 3 recipe binders! I used Avery 11293 tabs because they have pockets for loose recipes that I haven’t tried yet. They are also extra wide so that the tabs extend beyond the sheet protectors. Staples has beautiful binders in assorted colors, they are labeled as “Better” binders. Thank you so much for sharing the pages.
Erika says
Great idea, Joyce. I’m so glad you could make this your own. And you’re welcome! 🙂
Deirdre says
Hi Erika, thank you for these great ideas! I am trying to download the free prinable receipe binder. when I click on “here” it brings me back to this page again. Am I missing
Something? LOL? Can you send me a link to print them?
Thank you!
Deirdre
Erika says
There is a form in the post where you can sign up to receive the binder for free. Keep scrolling down in the post – let me know if you have any more issues. 🙂
Katherine A Strong says
I can’t wait to get this to make a recipe book for my future daughter in law for her bridal shower.