Vanilla Cookbook

Self-Hosted

Open-source self-hosted recipe manager for privacy-focused home cooks

Overview

Vanilla Cookbook is a lightweight, open-source recipe management tool built for self-hosting. It lets you organize recipes with tags/categories, import from popular recipe sites via URL, plan weekly meals, and generate shopping lists. Deploy easily using Docker (single compose file) or manual setup on PHP/MySQL servers. Keep your recipe collection private—no cloud dependencies. Features include photo attachments, ingredient search, and customizable views, ideal for users who want control over their culinary data.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  vanilla_cookbook:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: vanilla-cookbook
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Import recipes from URLs (supports major sites)
Weekly meal planning & shopping list generation
Tag-based organization & ingredient search

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Vanilla Cookbook hard to install?

No—Docker deployment uses a simple compose file to set up all services (app, database) in one command. Manual installation is also feasible if you have basic PHP/MySQL experience.

? Is it a good alternative to Paprika Recipe Manager?

Yes—for privacy-focused users. It offers core features like recipe import and meal planning, but without subscription fees or cloud storage of your data.

? Is Vanilla Cookbook completely free?

Yes—it’s open-source under the MIT License, so it’s free to use, modify, and self-host with no hidden costs or subscription requirements.

Top Alternatives

Paprika Recipe Manager Search Google

Mealime (proprietary meal planner) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Recipe Management

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted, no cloud data sharing)
⊕ Easy Docker deployment with minimal setup

Cons

⊖ Requires a server/VPS for self-hosting
⊖ Web-only interface (no native mobile apps)