If you are familiar with Amish cooking, then you already know that it is really something special that should be treasured. Amish cooking isn’t about blending a wide range of ingredients. Instead it focuses on utilizing a small number of ingredients and blending them with harmonious results. Add to that the fact that Amish cooking also focuses on using the freshest ingredients and the end result is something uniquely yummy.
Fall in Love with Amish Food
Many who experience real Amish cooking for the first time fall in love. In fact, this kind of cooking and preparation is so loved that there is a real demand for Amish cookbooks.
It is one thing to read about great tasting Amish food and quite another to make your own Amish delights. While there are many on the market, some are obviously going to be better than others. Let’s take a look at the 5 of today’s very best Amish cookbooks. In making our selections, we looked for Amish cookbooks that were not just authentic, but also feature recipes that are easy to make and understand. Plus, if you’re not living in an Amish community, it is important that the foods are practical to make. You probably don’t have all day to pick berries or wait for dough to rise.
The fusion of elegant simplicity and fresh, hearty ingredients combine to create a unique dining experience. Armed with an Amish cookbook of your own, you’ll be able to repeat these classics whenever you like.
#1 Gather Around the Amish Table: Treasured Recipes and Stories from Plain Communities by Lucy Leid
While “Around the Amish Table: Treasured Recipes and Stories from Plain Communities” by Lucy Leid may have the word “plain” in the title there is nothing plain about how these recipes taste. Quite to the contrary, the classic Amish recipes featured in “Around the Amish Table” are sure to brighten up any meal.
Whether you are looking for whoopie pie, pecan roll, cocoa cupcake recipes or a whole range of other food options you’ll want to check this impressive and diverse book out. The recipes in this book come from both Amish and Mennonite kitchens and experienced cooks. We also liked the helpful notes on the ingredients and terms that are being used in the recipes. If you don’t yet know what things like “occident flour” or “clear jell” are yet, this resource will lend you a helping hand.
Part of what makes this cookbook unique and something of a standout among Amish cookbooks is that it includes true stories as well as well as beautiful photos of Amish farms and foods, helping to make Around the Amish World feel like more than just another cookbook.
#2 -The Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes by Lovina Eicher
“The Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes” by Lovina Eicher stuffs a lot of goodness into its pages. Featuring over 300 recipes, this recipe book is about helping you create, craft and enjoy a surprisingly wide variety of very authentic Amish food. This book focuses on helping you create big and hearty meals, such as Corn Casserole and impressive desserts such as the mouth awakening Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls or the ridiculously tasty Maple Drop Cookies.
Part of what makes The Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes a true winner is that it the flavors the recipes produce is sure to wow friends and family alike. If you are looking for a cookbook that “pops” you’ll want to consider this strong entry into the Amish cookbook competition from Lovina Eicher. And if you like Eicher’s recipes, you’ll find she has several other great Amish cookbooks including “Amish Cooks Across America.”
#3-The Amish Canning Cookbook: Plain and Simple Living at Its Homemade Best by Georgia Varozza
“The Amish Canning Cookbook: Plain and Simple Living at Its Homemade Best” by Georgia Varozza is a must have Amish cookbook if you’re planning to do any canning in the near future. It’s perfect not only for beginners, but also for the seasoned canner. Georgia Varozza is well known in the Amish cookbook world having penned not just this selection, but also “The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook.”
“The Amish Canning Cookbook” offers something special for our list of the top 5 Amish cookbooks. In addition to being a wonderful cookbook, The Amish Canning Cookbook, dives into the increasingly lost art of canning. You will get a basic, easy to understand and follow exploration of canning and what is needed to get started on your own. She also goes over some of the health benefits of canning, which include avoiding BPA and avoiding preservatives. In addition to canning basics there are, not too surprisingly, many recipes for everything from soups and sauces to canned fruit and vegetables and more.
#4-The Amish Cook: Recollections and Recipes from an Old Order Amish Family by Elizabeth Coblentz and Kevin Williams
“The Amish Cook: Recollections and Recipes from an Old Order Amish Family” by Elizabeth Coblentz and Kevin Williams may not feature as many recipes as some of the other books on our 5 best Amish cookbooks list, but it is still a fascinating and worthwhile addition to our list due to its diversity. In addition to the 75 recipes in this book, there are also everything from gardening tips to Amish stories and tips and facts regarding Amish life. You will also enjoy this book’s beautiful and vibrant photos.
#5-Cooking from Quilt Country: Hearty Recipes from Amish and Mennonite Kitchens by Marcia Adams
“Cooking from Quilt Country: Hearty Recipes from Amish and Mennonite Kitchens” by Marcia Adams features a full 200 recipes. It was originally published in 1988, and it certainly holds up quite well today.
The recipes in this book are known for being easy to make, while offering a wide variety of types of foods. Simple ingredients, such as flour and butter, are used to create some pretty amazing and tasty creations. In short, this is one of the best books out there to learn more about Amish cooking and is a must for beginners.
Together these 5 Amish cookbooks represent a comprehensive look at Amish recipes and cultures. Any of these selections will help you discover some winning, easy to make recipes. Plus, you can do it from the comfort of your own home without having to travel to Lancaster or another region where Amish people are prevalent. You, your family and your friends will all enjoy what these well thought out books have to offer!
