CreateMyCookbook is one of the most established names in custom cookbook printing. If you have 100 typed recipes from your favorite food blogs and you enjoy spending weekends adjusting web page templates and picking font styles, it is a capable print-on-demand platform.
However, when families inherit an old tin of 50 stained, handwritten index cards in fading cursive, many find that a DIY web platform turns an emotional family heritage project into a frustrating 20-hour data entry job. Here is how CreateMyCookbook compares to Recipe Restore.
Feature & Workflow Comparison Matrix
| Feature | CreateMyCookbook | Recipe Restore |
|---|---|---|
| Service Model | DIY Web Software & Print-on-Demand | Done-For-You Archival Preservation |
| Your Time Investment | 15 to 30 hours of typing, formatting, and layout tweaking | 10 minutes photographing cards on your kitchen table |
| Transcription of Cursive | You type it manually, or purchase extra "WeTypeIt" credits | 100% human transcribed and verified included in flat price |
| Handwriting Preservation | Small optional photo thumbnail inside typed layout | Dedicated two-page spread: full-resolution card on left, modern recipe on right |
| Vintage Measurement Help | None (you must research terms like "oleo" or "slow oven") | Measurements standardized and clarified for modern cooks |
| File Deliverable | Account access; PDF downloads require paid book packages | High-resolution vector PDF you own forever and can freely email to family |
| Cost for 50 Recipes | $30–$50 in WeTypeIt credits + $40–$65 per printed book | $79 flat fee (complete transcription, design, and PDF) |
1. The Reality of DIY Software vs. Done-For-You Archival Work
The biggest difference comes down to who does the heavy lifting:
- With CreateMyCookbook: You log into an online dashboard. You must type in each ingredient, measure amounts into individual form fields, paste instructions, choose layouts, and adjust page margins. If you choose their "WeTypeIt" option, you must purchase credit packs, wait for transcription, and still manually assemble the book pages.
- With Recipe Restore: You do zero data entry. You snap photos of your 50 favorite family cards on your kitchen counter and upload them to our intake portal. Our team transcribes the handwriting, fixes formatting inconsistencies, balances vintage measurements, and compiles your publication-grade book.
2. Authentic Handwriting vs. Generic Software Templates
When you preserve Grandma’s recipes, the most precious part is not just the list of ingredients—it is her unique penmanship, the pencil notes in the margins, and the authentic butter stains from holiday meals in 1962.
Recipe Restore was designed specifically around the hybrid two-page spread:
Want to see how an entire 50-recipe family cookbook looks? Explore the Killian Family sample cookbook reader →
3. Total Cost and Sharing with Family Members
Print-on-demand services make their margin on physical books. If you have three siblings and four grandchildren, ordering seven hardcover copies from a photo book service often totals $250 to $400.
Recipe Restore charges a flat $79. You receive a complete, publication-grade digital PDF cookbook that you can email to 50 family members at zero extra cost, save to cloud drives, or take to a local print shop for spiral-bound kitchen copies whenever you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do CreateMyCookbook WeTypeIt credits work?
Do I own the digital PDF with CreateMyCookbook?
Does CreateMyCookbook show original handwritten cards next to typed recipes?
How is Recipe Restore different from CreateMyCookbook?
Skip the 20 hours of typing. Preserve your family recipes today.
Leave the data entry to us. Send smartphone photos of up to 50 family recipes, and we will transcribe, standardize, and design a publication-ready heirloom PDF cookbook for $79 flat.
Start your family cookbook ($79) →