4-H taught us to perfect the basics—like bread, sugar cookies and apple pie. The best projects even won ribbons at the County Fair! The recipes here will take you back to your 4-H days.
40 Recipes We Learned as 4-H Kids
Updated on Sep. 18, 2024
1/40
Muenster Bread
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
Many years ago my sister and I won blue ribbons in 4-H with this bread. The recipe makes a beautiful golden loaf with cheese peeking out of every slice. —Melanie Mero, Ida, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 273 calories, 16g fat (9g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 399mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 11g protein.
2/40
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Dotted with cranberries, orange zest and vanilla chips, these cookies are so colorful and fun to eat. They look lovely on a dessert tray and would be a great addition to your Christmas cookie lineup.
—Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 89 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 50mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
3/40
Chicken Potpie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2 potpies (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best chicken potpie recipe! Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 475 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 768mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 15g protein.
4/40
Cherry Danish
Total Time
1 hour 45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These rolls with their cherry-filled centers melt in your mouth and store well unfrosted in the freezer. —Leann Sauder, Tremont, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 pastry: 218 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 188mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
5/40
Pizza Roll-Ups
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Since getting this recipe from our 4-H club, it's been a regular after-school snack. We like to dunk these bite-sized pizza treats, made with refrigerated crescent rolls, in spaghetti sauce. —Donna Klettke, Wheatland, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 roll-up: 94 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 206mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
6/40
Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested that maybe a slice of hot apple pie would make me feel better. She was right. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 467 calories, 25g fat (15g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 331mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
7/40
Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they'll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 60 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 28mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
8/40
Chicken and Dumplings
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Perfect for fall nights, my simple version of comforting chicken and dumplings is speedy, low in fat and a delicious one-dish meal. —Nancy Tuck, Elk Falls, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 260 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 964mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein.
9/40
Gingersnap Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A classic New England cookie, gingersnaps are now universal. My grandma kept two cookie jars in her pantry. One always had these crisp and chewy gingersnaps in it. They’re still my favorite cookie. My daughter, Becky, won a blue ribbon for this recipe at a 4-H fair. —Deb Handy, Pomona, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 92 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 106mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
10/40
Cornbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend gave me this homemade cornbread recipe several years ago, and it's my favorite of all I've tried. I love to serve the melt-in-your-mouth side hot from the oven with butter and syrup. It gets rave reviews on holidays and at potluck dinners. —Nicole Callen, Auburn, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 262 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 395mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
11/40
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
It is amazing how much flavor is in these simple 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies without brown sugar. I make them very often because I always have the ingredients on hand. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 99 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 48mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
12/40
Canning Spaghetti Sauce
Total Time
2 hours 10 min
Servings
9 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
Canning spaghetti sauce recipes are a tomato grower's dream come true! Use up your garden bounty and enjoy it later in the year. —Tonya Branham, Mt. Olive, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 118 calories, 5g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 614mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat.
13/40
Apple Crisp
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 426 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 127mg sodium, 79g carbohydrate (58g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein.
14/40
Potato Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This homemade potato salad recipe doesn't have many ingredients, so it isn't as colorful as many that you find nowadays. But Mama made it the way her mother did, and that's the way I still make it today. Try it and see if it isn't one of the best-tasting potato salads you have ever eaten! —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 231 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 113mg cholesterol, 323mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
15/40
Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As someone who grew up in the country, I love getting out into nature whenever I can. I also love home-style recipes, including these yummy brownies. —Carol Prewett, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Nutrition Facts:
1 brownie: 159 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 73mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
16/40
Golden Honey Pan Rolls
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A cousin in North Carolina gave me the recipe for these delicious honey-glazed rolls. Using my bread machine to make the dough saves me about 2 hours compared to the traditional method. The rich buttery taste of these rolls is so popular with family and friends that I usually make two batches so I have enough! —Sara Wing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 roll: 139 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 168mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
17/40
Best Lasagna
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can't go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 519 calories, 27g fat (13g saturated fat), 109mg cholesterol, 1013mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 35g protein.
18/40
Homemade Bread Recipe
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 loaves (16 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
If you'd like to learn how to bake bread, here's a wonderful place to start. This easy white bread bakes up deliciously golden brown. There's nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through my kitchen as it bakes. —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 102 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 222mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
19/40
Apple Butter
Total Time
11 hours 20 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I make several batches of this simple and delicious homemade apple butter recipe to freeze in jars. Depending on the sweetness of the apples used, you can adjust the sugar to taste. —Betty Ruenholl, Syracuse, Nebraska
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 68 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 9mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
20/40
Rice Pudding
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made. After she passed away, I took it upon myself to try and find the secret to her rice pudding. It took quite a bit of experimentation, but I finally got it right! And I'm glad to share this easy recipe here. —Margaret DeChant, Newberry, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 197 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 52mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.
21/40
Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Although my coffee cake makes a large pan, it never lasts very long! It's great for a Sunday brunch after church and nice to bring to family reunions, too. —Dorothy Morehouse, Massena, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 328 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 285mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
22/40
Chili for a Crowd
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
24 servings (6 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This chili for a crowd was handed down to me by my aunt, who said she got it from a "grizzled Montana mountain man." I added some zesty ingredients to come up with the final version. Hot food is something that my husband's family isn't accustomed to, so I adjust the spices for them. In fact, with a few simple alterations to the "heat" index, I can serve this chili to anyone. —Lisa Humphreys, Wasilla, Alaska
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 207 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 422mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 15g protein.
23/40
Banana Walnut Bread
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
1 loaf
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 207 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 124mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
24/40
Warren's Oatmeal Jam Squares
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 squares
From the Recipe Creator:
At 102, I still love to bake. I make these bars in my toaster oven for my fellow residents at our assisted living home. —Warren Patrick, Townshend, Vermont
Nutrition Facts:
1 square: 220 calories, 9g fat (6g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 161mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
25/40
Aunt Betty's Blueberry Muffins
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My Aunt Betty is quite a baker, but I look forward to these mouthwatering blueberry muffin recipe the most. She gives me enough so that I can freeze and enjoy them for weeks. —Sheila Raleigh, Kechi, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 208 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 172mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
26/40
Buttermilk Biscuits
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 biscuits
From the Recipe Creator:
The recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 biscuit: 222 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 508mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
27/40
Classic Egg Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Egg salad is a refreshing, tasty change from lunchmeat or peanut butter sandwiches. The touch of mustard and lemon juice gives it extra zip. —Annemarie Pietila, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 open-faced sandwich: 332 calories, 24g fat (5g saturated fat), 281mg cholesterol, 530mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 12g protein.
28/40
Mild Salsa Recipe for Canning
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this salsa recipe from my sister, and my children and I have been making batches of it ever since. We pair pint jars with packages of tortilla chips for zesty Christmas gifts. When the kids give this present to their teachers, they can truthfully say they helped make it. —Pamela Lundstrum, Bird Island, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 14 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 182mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
29/40
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen doughnuts plus doughnut holes
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 335 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 338mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
30/40
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was a girl, Mama used Texas longhorn cheese in this recipe. After it melted all over the macaroni, I loved to dig in and see how many strings of cheese would follow my spoonful. —Imogene Hutton, Brownwood, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 388 calories, 22g fat (15g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 542mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 16g protein.
31/40
Dill Vegetable Dip
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend gave me this zesty dip recipe many years ago, and now I serve it at our annual holiday open house. To make it mobile, spoon a serving of the dip in the bottom of a small cup, then garnish with fresh veggies. —Karen Gardiner, Eutaw, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 107 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 187mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
32/40
Over-the-Rainbow Minestrone
Total Time
6 hours 40 min
Servings
10 servings (3-3/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This vegetarian soup features a rainbow of vegetables. You can use any multicolored pasta in place of the spirals. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 231 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 1015mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 6g fiber), 9g protein.
33/40
Sausage, Egg and Cheddar Farmers Breakfast
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This hearty combination of sausage, hash browns and eggs is just right for any breakfast. &mdash:Bonnie Roberts, Newaygo, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 330 calories, 24g fat (11g saturated fat), 364mg cholesterol, 612mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein.
34/40
Overnight Fruit Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I first tasted this rich, old-fashioned fruit salad at my wedding reception many years ago. The ladies who did the cooking wouldn't share the recipe at the time, but eventually I got it. I've made it for many meals, and our daughters copied the recipe when they married. —Eileen Duffeck, Lena, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 244 calories, 16g fat (8g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
35/40
Meatballs
Total Time
35 min
Servings
48 meatballs
From the Recipe Creator:
Keep a batch of these meatballs in your freezer for an easy weeknight meal. This simple meatball recipe can be used for pizzas, sub sandwiches, in soups and more. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
3 meatballs: 276 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 122mg cholesterol, 533mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 24g protein.
36/40
Beef Enchiladas
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Beef enchiladas are typically prepared with corn tortillas, but my husband, Jeff, and I prefer flour tortillas. I use them in this saucy casserole that has irresistible home-cooked flavor and a subtle kick. —Jennifer Standridge, Dallas, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
2 enchiladas: 766 calories, 42g fat (24g saturated fat), 129mg cholesterol, 2643mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 37g protein.
37/40
Puffy Apple Omelet
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With all the eggs our chickens produce, I could make this omelet every day! It's a pretty, festive-looking dish, but you could fix it anytime—including for a light supper. —Melissa Davenport, Campbell, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 253 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 188mg cholesterol, 142mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 2g fiber), 9g protein.
38/40
Pigs in a Blanket
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These baked hot dog sandwiches appeal to kids of all ages. Even my husband, Allan, admits to enjoying every bite! We like to dip them in ketchup and mustard. —Linda Young, Longmont, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
2 sandwiches: 516 calories, 39g fat (12g saturated fat), 97mg cholesterol, 1365mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 16g protein.
39/40
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Saucy chicken, melty mozzarella and crisp-tender broccoli—all in one pan. What could be better? —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 504 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 147mg cholesterol, 1151mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 8g fiber), 52g protein.
40/40
Honey Blueberry Cobbler Jam
Total Time
20 min
Servings
5 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I work at a farmers market, and honey blueberry jam is my top seller. You've gotta taste it with fresh goat cheese and toasted candied pecans. —Krystal Wertman, Humble, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 39 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 13mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch.
