Our 10 Favorite Back-of-the-Box Recipes

My bookshelves are filled with mostly cookbooks, and I’m inundated with new recipes every day, but as much as I love trying new recipes, there are some classics out there that have been around as long as I have, and for good reason — they’re delicious.

A lot of these recipes are found in the most convenient of places: right on the back of the box or package! No need to copy the recipe down or try to remember where you saw it — just pick up the package and start cooking. Here are some of our favorite back-of-the-box recipes we hope never disappear from the packaging.

• Where to find it: Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

“I grew up on Nestlé chocolate chip cookies — the recipe from the back of the bag. At one point, my mom cut back the butter (an attempt to make them slightly healthier? Who knows!), and I actually prefer them that way!”
– Recipe Editor Emma Christensen

• Where to find it: Hershey’s Cocoa

Multiple nominations for this one! Joy Manning said, “Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake! My mom always made it.” Andrea Lynn agreed: “Such fond memories of my mom making it too, and it’s so moist.”

• Where to find it: Quaker Oats

“Even though I usually make a few tweaks, my go-to oatmeal cookie recipe is the one on the back of the Quaker Oats container. Those cookies are consistently soft and delicious.” – Assistant Editor Kelli Dunn

• Where to find it: Fleischmann’s or Canada Cornstarch

Kitchn contributor Michelle Peters-Jones loves these so much, she devoted an entire post on her blog about it. She says, “Every year, as a little nod to non-tradition, I love to mess around with one traditional recipe that every Canadian household seems to make: these absolutely gorgeous, melt-in-your-mouth Canada Cornstarch Shortbread Cookies.”

• Where to find it: Nestlé Toll House Butterscotch-Flavored Morsels

“I don’t mess with the Oatmeal Scotchies recipe on the back of the Nestlé butterscotch chips bag. I’ve tried to tweak it over the years, but it simply cannot be improved upon. Maybe that’s nostalgia speaking, but I think I’ll stand by it until I die.” – Maria Siriano

• Where to find it: French’s French Fried Onions

“Green bean casserole straight from the back of the fried onion container. It’s a holiday staple!” – Erika Tracy

• Where to find it: Mrs. Wages Pickling & Canning Salt

“I found our favorite pickle recipe here.” – Jessica Fisher

• Where to find it: Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix

“Christmas tradition, or rather just a holiday-related snacking tradition in my husband’s family: Lipton Onion Soup dip with cream — and trashy potato chips.” – Carrie Havrenek

• Where to find it: Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal

Recipe editor Emma Christensen says, “Classic Rice Krispie Treats are a perfect food. No improvements or substitutions, please. Just the back-of-the-box recipe for me.” Assistant Editor Kelli Dunn chimed in: “Ditto on the Rice Krispies Treats.”

• Where to find it: Jell-O Gelatin

“I loved this cake entirely unironically as a kid, and still crave it as a cherry-and-lime Christmastime treat now. The weird science of dripping Jell-O down into a baked cake and chilling is amazing! I like the lighter fruit flavors and the crazy texture too.” – Director of Sales and Marketing Chris Phillips

What are your favorite back-of-the-box recipes? We’d love to know in the comments!