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The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook
Now readers can share Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic country cooking in a convenient new paperback edition of this lovely cookbook. Over 70 of Laura's original recipes, updated for modern kitchens, are enriched with anecdotes about the Wilders by noted historian William Anderson and enhanced by Leslie Kelly's full-color photos.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
465 books5,530 followersLaura Ingalls Wilder was an American author, journalist, and educator whose "Little House" series transformed the arduous reality of the American frontier into a foundational pillar of children's literature. Born in the "Big Woods" of Wisconsin to Charles and Caroline Ingalls, Laura’s childhood was a nomadic journey through the heart of a shifting nation. Her family moved across Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakota Territory—often staying just ahead of legal evictions or chasing the promise of fertile soil. These years were marked by extreme hardship, including the "Hard Winter" of 1880–81 in De Smet, South Dakota, where the family survived near-starvation. Despite the struggle, these experiences provided the raw material for her eight-volume record of pioneer life, a series that has since been translated into over forty languages.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 16, 2017
This book is different from The Little House Cookbook, compiled by Barbara M. Walker, which shares recipes mentioned in the Little House books. This book was the result of finding Laura’s “home-made cookbook, waterlogged and wrinkled” “among reams of the yellowed papers that are a witness to her writing life” (p. vi).
Her cookbook was in the form of a scrapbook, which I enjoyed since I did mine that way as well. But hers was literally made of scraps. It contains her owned penned recipes, “clippings from newspaper food columns or magazines,” meal ideas, “cooking advice from her mother…and daughter,” and even a tip about setting colors in cloth to avoid fading.
This cookbook doesn’t include the cooking advice or tips, but it does include several of Laura’s recipes, photos of Rocky Ridge farm, where Laura and Almanzo lived the bulk of their adult lives, by Leslie A. Kelly, and some commentary by Laura biographer William Anderson. I enjoyed seeing the photos of Laura’s home and learning a bit more about Almanzo.
The recipes are primarily good old American cooking – meat loaf, chicken pie, chicken and dumplings, various side dishes, breads, desserts and beverages – with a few “adventurous” foreign-influenced dishes. Some of the entrees are not what we would call heart-healthy today.
But I have a few marked that I want to try, as well as a few from the different sections. The recipe she shared when asked for a favorite was her gingerbread, which I’d like to try some time, as well as Lemon Spice Puffs, Lemon Sticks, Whole Wheat Bread, Scalloped Corn Kansas, Farmhouse Stew, Gingernuts, and Applesauce Cake. The only one I have made so far is the Apple Upside Down Cake in her honor for her birthday. I think I’ll leave the Liver Loaf, Chilled Meat Loaf, Glazed Beets, Dandelion Soup, and Lima Puree to others, though.
Reading her recipes while seeing photos of her home and hearing tidbits about her life was like a little visit with her. I think any Laura fan would like this book as well as anyone interested in vintage recipes.
Her cookbook was in the form of a scrapbook, which I enjoyed since I did mine that way as well. But hers was literally made of scraps. It contains her owned penned recipes, “clippings from newspaper food columns or magazines,” meal ideas, “cooking advice from her mother…and daughter,” and even a tip about setting colors in cloth to avoid fading.
This cookbook doesn’t include the cooking advice or tips, but it does include several of Laura’s recipes, photos of Rocky Ridge farm, where Laura and Almanzo lived the bulk of their adult lives, by Leslie A. Kelly, and some commentary by Laura biographer William Anderson. I enjoyed seeing the photos of Laura’s home and learning a bit more about Almanzo.
The recipes are primarily good old American cooking – meat loaf, chicken pie, chicken and dumplings, various side dishes, breads, desserts and beverages – with a few “adventurous” foreign-influenced dishes. Some of the entrees are not what we would call heart-healthy today.
But I have a few marked that I want to try, as well as a few from the different sections. The recipe she shared when asked for a favorite was her gingerbread, which I’d like to try some time, as well as Lemon Spice Puffs, Lemon Sticks, Whole Wheat Bread, Scalloped Corn Kansas, Farmhouse Stew, Gingernuts, and Applesauce Cake. The only one I have made so far is the Apple Upside Down Cake in her honor for her birthday. I think I’ll leave the Liver Loaf, Chilled Meat Loaf, Glazed Beets, Dandelion Soup, and Lima Puree to others, though.
Reading her recipes while seeing photos of her home and hearing tidbits about her life was like a little visit with her. I think any Laura fan would like this book as well as anyone interested in vintage recipes.
August 9, 2017
I never plan to make any of the recipes from this book, but I still adored it. It is packed with memories and photographs from Laura's adult life at Rocky Ridge. A must-read for Little House fans!
February 13, 2012
The pictures and little write ups (by William Anderson) are wonderful, and we've liked the recipes I've made. This is more a "Depression-era to the 1950s" cookbook than one of frontier recipes, which I think disappoints some readers. It's what Laura was cooking as an adult, not what she grew up on. Even the compiler finds some of the recipes a bit plain, suggesting the cook add seasoning to a couple, and anyone who collects cookbooks will have plenty of other (and possibly better) versions of a fair percentage of the recipes. OTOH, some of them have a unique twist -- I have a number of recipes for Chicken and Dumplings, but don't believe any of the rest of them use mace, for instance.
A worthy book for a Laura fan or a cook who likes recipes of that era. I'm both, so I loved it.
A worthy book for a Laura fan or a cook who likes recipes of that era. I'm both, so I loved it.
January 20, 2014
Hidden among this collection of recipes from the farm kitchen of Laura Ingalls Wilder are little poems and snippets that give readers a glimpse into her farming life at Ricky Ridge. The recipes are fun, too!
March 28, 2008
I love Laura Ingalls Wilder but does anyone really want to eat hardtack?
Give us the custard recipe from Farmer Boy Laura!
Give us the custard recipe from Farmer Boy Laura!
May 16, 2020
A wonderful book. I really enjoyed the color photos of Rocky Ridge Farm. The antidotes and personal stories on every other page make this such a joyful cookbook. There are also photos of Laura, Almanzo and Rose on the farm. I remember making the gingerbread as a child from a different, Laura Ingalls Wilder Cookbook. It was a real treat to find the Gingerbread recipe again on pg. 83. The cake was even more wonderful than I had remembered.
October 30, 2012
The best thing about this book (and why I gave it three stars) are the pictures of Laura's Ozark home, Rocky Ridge Farm, and a lot of history that goes along with it. The recipes are just okay. Nothing very unique and some are downright boring. The only interesting recipe is for Dandelion Soup, which uses dandelion leaves. There aren't a lot of recipes either, so it is a quick read.
August 11, 2013
I took a basic cooking class as a kid based on this cookbook (it was a kind of summer day camp that lasted around 2 weeks). We read bits from the Little House series and then made goodies like baked apples and cornbread. It was such fun and really helped connect us with the stories!
September 11, 2012
Some recipes looked really good, some I would never make, but the blurbs and pictures make this book worth flipping through even if you have no intention of cooking from it.
June 23, 2014
Bought this at the Mansfield home bookshop. Has pictures and info about the home, along with recipes. Going to try her signature Gingerbread recipe first.
Read
May 8, 2020Found some recipes I will try. 👍
May 26, 2020
We got this when we toured Laura and Almanzo's house in Misssouri. Lovely pictures of their farm, and fun recipes too!
October 15, 2022
Good information. Can't wait to try the recipes.
May 4, 2025
Particularly loved the extra stories we got about Laura and Almanzo as adults—the things we don’t read about in the “little house” books. I would have loved to meet her.
August 17, 2017
One of my favorite childhood authors was Laura Ingalls Wilder, and as an adult I enjoyed getting a peek into her life on Rocky Ridge Farm in Missouri through this book. The book contains her recipes found in a scrapbook after her death along with beautiful photos of the house and farm where she and her husband lived for decades.
The narratives include anecdotes about Laura and her love of cooking, farming, family and neighbors. A reader learns about her love of entertaining and her creativity when hostessing parties, teas, and dinners at the farm.
The recipes are downhome, simple fare with lots of recipes using apples because Rocky Ridge Farm had a huge apple orchard.
The information shared about Laura's start and success as an author is interesting. I find her to be an inspiring, creative, independent woman!
Highly recommended to fans of the 'Little House' books, history buffs and cooks who enjoy country cooking.
Borrowed from the local public library.
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The narratives include anecdotes about Laura and her love of cooking, farming, family and neighbors. A reader learns about her love of entertaining and her creativity when hostessing parties, teas, and dinners at the farm.
The recipes are downhome, simple fare with lots of recipes using apples because Rocky Ridge Farm had a huge apple orchard.
The information shared about Laura's start and success as an author is interesting. I find her to be an inspiring, creative, independent woman!
Highly recommended to fans of the 'Little House' books, history buffs and cooks who enjoy country cooking.
Borrowed from the local public library.
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December 1, 2020
I am cooking my way through this entire book! If you want our family’s reviews on the recipes go to adventureswithjulieann.com. We are having a blast! The Liver Loaf still hasn’t been made. But the chicken and dumplings and farmhouse stew is the BEST! Also some wonderful desserts like Charlotte de Pommes.
My kids are into it too (well sometimes). What I also like about this book is the excepts and pictures from her life. I’ve learned so much more about the real Laura and her family through this book. I love it!
My kids are into it too (well sometimes). What I also like about this book is the excepts and pictures from her life. I’ve learned so much more about the real Laura and her family through this book. I love it!
January 8, 2018
This was a fun and entertaining book to read. Laura included a lot of photos from her life on Rocky Ridge Farm, and growing up as a pioneer child, as well as delicious recipes that are simple and uncomplicated to make.
September 24, 2017
The book features a solid collection of recipes, along with some really interesting facts about the Wilder family. However, the facts weren't very cohesive the the recipes they were featured next to, so it felt a little random.
March 4, 2021
© 2003 This is a collection of dozens of recipes that Laura Ingalls Wilder collected and were published many years after her death. The oversized book includes many photo of her, her family, and her house and her property in Mansfield, Missouri.
January 20, 2014
See my review for an earlier edition.
August 24, 2011
Great pictures and stories of Laura's life. I am going to cook my way through this one. Even includes a section on drinks and snacks.
March 11, 2014
There are some really interesting recipes here. I even tried to cook some of them. Really helps you get an image of what they ate back in the pioneer days.
April 21, 2014
I used several recipes from this book and enjoyed learning how to cook "Laura" style. The background information and explanations were perfect for any Laura fan.
August 4, 2015
I want this book. I think I NEED this book. It's just basic cooking. Basic cooking in simple language. (with Laura pics & stories of course.) As soon as I can put a couple bucks aside I'm buying it.
April 27, 2020
I enjoyed the extra bits of info on the family but I would have enjoyed it more had they included the original recipe as well as the updated versions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
A lovely glimpse into the cooking Laura Ingalls Wilder enjoyed. Great photos and wonderful recipes.
A lovely glimpse into the cooking Laura Ingalls Wilder enjoyed. Great photos and wonderful recipes.
February 14, 2026
This one actually has a few recipes that I might try. I love the pictures throughout the entire book and the tidbits of history about Rocky Ridge Farm.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews