1909 Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes by Miss Parloa

Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes by Miss Parloa
"Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes" by Miss Maria Parloa is a classic early 20th-century cookbook originally published in 1909 for the Walter Baker & Co. chocolate company. This collection is notable both for its historical culinary insight and for the promotion of chocolate and cocoa as everyday ingredients in American kitchens. The book was later republished with additional contributions by Mrs. Janet McKenzie Hill.

Key Features
Comprehensive Chocolate Cookbook:
Contains over 130 recipes, including cakes, cookies, candies, beverages, puddings, pies, ice creams, and various confections centered around chocolate and cocoa.

Accessible Instructions:
Recipes are written to be straightforward and practical, making them approachable for home bakers and cooks of varying skill levels.

Historical & Culinary Context:
The introduction discusses the origins of cocoa, its nutritional value, and its growing popularity from the Aztecs to the early 20th-century Western world. The book emphasizes the wholesome, nourishing nature of chocolate.

Victorian Flair:
Many recipes reflect the tastes and cooking techniques of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, blending traditional desserts and candies with then-modern updates.

Famous Recipes:
Features include chocolate layer cake, cocoa cake, hot chocolate drinks, chocolate éclairs, chocolate souffle, fudge, caramels, marshmallows, ice creams, and frostings. The book also contains advice for judging whether cakes are baked properly and offers simple, tasty cocoa-based frostings.

Sample Recipe List
Recipe Type Examples
Beverages Plain Hot Chocolate, Vienna Chocolate, Breakfast Cocoa
Cakes & Cookies Chocolate Layer Cake, Cocoa Cake, Chocolate Éclairs, Chocolate Cookies, Cocoa Doughnuts
Candies Fudge, Caramels, Bonbons, Chocolate Cream Candy
Desserts & Puddings Chocolate Mousse, Bavarian Cream, Blancmange, Custards
Ice Creams & Sauces Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Sauce
Vintage Tips Cake doneness, ingredient substitutions, preparation hints
Historical Significance
Enduring Legacy:
The book has stood the test of time and is still referenced by chocolate enthusiasts, home cooks, and culinary historians for its period recipes and practical kitchen wisdom.

Public Domain:
The full text is widely accessible and available for free online through public domain archives and digital libraries.

Publication Details
First Published: 1909

Publisher: Walter Baker & Co., Ltd., Dorchester, Massachusetts

Format: Booklet-style, often found as part of vintage recipe collections

Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes by Miss Parloa remains a delightful historical artifact—both a cookbook and a reflection of the era’s enthusiasm for chocolate in all its forms.

Related
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Explore the history of Walter Baker & Co. chocolate products
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Search for digital archives of Miss Parloa’s cookbooks