DIY Cookbook Stand with Free Woodworking Plans

Thank you to Kreg for this DIY cookbook stand project! All opinions are entirely my own. This post also contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.

I’ve got a news flash for you… Mother’s Day is less than one month away!! So now is the time to get started on your DIY gifts for mama.

Today we’re sharing an idea that is absolutely perfect for Mother’s Day (or really anytime you need a good gift for someone that loves to cook or cooks a lot)…..a DIY wooden cookbook stand!

The modern design incorporates a cute house shape that is unique. The build is very easy and perfect for beginners.

You will need to use a scroll saw to cut out the house shape – but alternatively, you could use a jigsaw instead (Learn more about the different types of saws here). Otherwise, it incorporates only a handful of beginning woodworking tools.

Kreg 720PRO Pocket Hole Jig

If you’ve been following Making Manzanita for a bit, you know that we are big fans of the Kreg pocket hole system. We built tons of projects using our original K5 Pocket Hole Jig, we even have a super detailed guide and video about how to use it that you can check out here.

In 2021, Kreg released brand new pocket hole systems that replaced the K4 and K5, and the upgrades are pretty freakin’ awesome.

The new 720PRO (which we were using for this DIY cookbook stand) and the 520PRO (which replaced the smaller K4 system) were improved a ton, the most noticeable change being that they are easier to set up and use – score.

Not sure which pocket hole jig is right for you? Check out this guide to determine which pocket hole jig to buy!

My favorite new feature of 720PRO and 520PRO is the clamp that you don’t have to adjust anymore. You should clamp it down and it automatically adjusts to match the thickness of your wood, so cool, right?

Pocket hole joinery is definitely one of the easiest ways to join wood in woodworking projects. It’s our favorite hidden weapon for beginning woodworkers!

Want to learn more about the 720? I wrote a super detailed guide & created a video all about how to set up your Kreg 720PRO Pocket Hole and use it, so be sure to check that out too!

We teamed up with our friends Kreg again for these cookbook stand woodworking plans and we are sharing them online for free, which are now available on KregTool.com!

Kreg’s website is chocked full of so many easy-to-follow FREE woodworking plans! I promise that you are going to find so much inspiration while you’re there! It is a goldmine!

Cookbook stand: video tutorial

If you love DIY videos, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel!

DIY cookbook stand: Step-by-step instructions

Step 1. Cut wood

• Use a miter saw to cut pieces from the poplar project board based on the visual cut list in the woodworking plans (which can be downloaded here).
• Utilize a table saw to rip down some pieces.
• Make angled cuts using a miter saw as needed.

Step 2. Cut house shape

• Make lines for the house shape and chimney (refer to woodworking plans for measurements).
• Cut along the lines with a scroll saw.
• Lightly sand everything with 80 grit and 150 grit sandpaper using an orbital sander.

Step 3. Drill pocket holes

• Drill micro pocket holes on the front lip as indicated in the woodworking plans.
• Use a Kreg 720Pro pocket hole jig with the micro pocket hole guide.

Step 4. Attach the front lip to the back piece

• Use 1” pan head screws to attach the front lip to the house shape.
• Ensure everything is flush before attaching by clamping.
• Consider using Kreg’s 90-degree corner clamp for ease.

Step 5. Fill pocket holes

• Attach micro-size pocket hole plugs to the pocket holes with wood glue.
• Once dry, sand smooth.
• Fill any holes or imperfections with wood filler and sand smooth.

Step 6. Stain

• Apply your chosen stain or paint to the cookbook holder.
• Optionally, you can add a gray-wash treatment over the stain by mixing paint and water at a 50/50 ratio. To this this, you brush watered-down paint over the cookbook stand and wipe it off with a dry paint rag within 30 seconds.

Step 7. Seal

• Once dry, seal the cookbook stand with a clear lacquer spray.
• Opt for a satin sheen or higher for durability and resistance to stains and moisture in the kitchen.

Step 8. Attach back stand

• Pre-drill holes into your stand and back piece to make screwing in easier due to the angle.
• Attach the hinge on the back to finish the cookbook stand.

Step 9. Attach pull to front lip

• Add the drawer pull to the front of the lip to help keep the pages of the cookbook open when using the stand.

Reveal

Didn’t the DIY cookbook holder turn out great? I love the finish that we ended up with – which is a gray wash. Learn how to get the gray wash wood look in this tutorial.

The cookbook stand holds cookbooks large and small! I was sure to make it large enough to hold my Magnolia Table cookbook, which is the largest size cookbook I’ve seen.

I just LOVE how the wooden cookbook stand turned out. The house shape is definitely my favorite part – it is so unique and unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Because I had to buy both a whole box of screws and plugs, the price of the cookbook holder ended up being more than I originally thought it was going to be.

However, if I were to make this again, I would only need to purchase the wood, hinge, and drawer pull…so the price to build the cookbook stand in the future would be closer to $36.50.

If you want to build this DIY cookbook stand, we’ve done all the hard work for you! All you need to do is hop over to Kreg’s website and check out the full detailed tutorial.

At the bottom of the tutorial, you’ll also see a link to download the woodworking plans (for free) to get all of the detailed measurements.

Who do you know that would love a DIY cookbook holder like this?

Let us know in the comments below!