Ellena Hocevar’s Family Dessert Cookbook Preserves More Than Just Recipes

How one holiday gift turned handwritten notes into a timeless family keepsake

For Ellena Hocevar, the holidays are filled with the kind of memories that linger long after the last slice of pie is gone—recipes passed down on paper scraps, desserts that define generations, and the joy of making something together. This year, she found the perfect way to turn those handwritten traditions into something lasting.

“I was inspired to create this gift because we had a plethora of family recipes lying around on loose sheets of paper,” Ellena shared. “I thought it would be a great idea to combine all of our handcrafted recipes into a cookbook that we can treasure forever.”

What started as a way to organize decades of desserts quickly became a creative tribute to her family’s culinary legacy—and a heartfelt gift just in time for the holidays.

A Handmade Look, Designed Digitally

To bring the project to life, Ellena leaned into nostalgia. She wanted her book to feel as tactile and homemade as the recipes inside.

“I used nostalgic old photos and clip art that helped give the book a natural, handmade feel, and bring the recipes to life visually,” she said. “I used handwritten fonts, paper, and post-its clip art to make the sheets look as realistic as possible.”

Mixbook Studio™ made the Vision Come Together

Creating a cookbook from scratch can feel overwhelming, but Ellena found that Mixbook made the process simple and inspiring.

“Mixbook made it so easy to create my gift and provided me with simple access to all the tools I needed to bring my vision to life,” she said. “It was a heartwarming experience to have a platform that would bring creativity to reality.”

A Tribute to the Sweetest Traditions

Ellena handpicked the recipes based on one delicious standard: family favorites.

“All of the recipes I chose to use in my book I personally selected as either our top favorites and/or most iconic family desserts!”

But for Ellena, the cookbook is about more than desserts—it’s a reflection of the values she lives by.

“One of my most important mottos that I live by is to be creative and to always be thoughtful,” she said. “I believe that helping others feel seen and special is the most thoughtful and treasured gift you can give. Mixbook helped me live up to this goal this holiday season!”

Want to Create Your Own Family Recipe Book? Start Here:

If you’re looking to preserve generations of recipes—or just start a new tradition—creating a personalized recipe book is easier than you think. Here are a few tips to get started:

1. Gather the originals

Collect recipes from grandparents, parents, cousins, or old handwritten notes. Include the stains, handwriting, and quirky notes—they add character.

2. Organize by theme or occasion

Sort recipes into sections: holiday desserts, birthday favorites, weeknight classics, or “Grandma’s Greatest Hits.”

3. Add personal touches

Use old family photos, scanned recipe cards, and captions like “Mom’s favorite” or “Uncle Joe’s go-to pie.” Handwritten-style fonts and scrapbook-style clip art add a homemade feel.

4. Make one for everyone

A family cookbook is the perfect holiday gift for siblings, cousins, or grandkids—and Mixbook offers bulk order discounts so you can easily gift copies to your entire circle.

5. Think beyond the holidays

Recipe books make great gifts for weddings, baby showers, milestone birthdays, and memorial tributes. Every family has a story—and food is often the most flavorful way to tell it.

Looking to preserve your family’s most-loved recipes?

Start your own cookbook project today with Mixbook’s easy-to-use design tools, and turn kitchen memories into a beautiful, lasting gift.