In November, millions of people search for Thanksgiving recipes, and many of them save what they find to boards and folders for later. A clean, tall recipe graphic is one of the best ways to be saved and shared. This Recipe Pin Template puts a food photo, the recipe name, a short ingredient list, and numbered steps on one image, sized for Pinterest and perfect for other platforms too.
Why a Recipe Pin Gets Saved
A good recipe graphic does three things. It shows the finished dish so people know what they are making, it promises that the recipe is achievable, and it gives enough information that people trust the full recipe is worth clicking for. This template is built around exactly those three jobs:
- a large photo at the top;
- a bold title with a short promise (10-MINUTE);
- a summary of ingredients and steps that is quick to scan.
The Pin Layout
The pin is 1000 x 1500 pixels, the 2:3 portrait ratio Pinterest recommends. The top third is a full-width photo slot for your finished dish. Overlapping the bottom of the photo is a deep cranberry banner with rounded corners, carrying 10-MINUTE in small, spaced pink capitals and the recipe name, Cranberry Orange Sauce, in large white Playfair Display.
Below the banner, the warm off-white body splits into two columns. On the left, INGREDIENTS heads a list of six items with small orange bullet dots. On the right, METHOD heads four steps, each with a cranberry circle holding its number. At the bottom, an orange pill button reads SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR THANKSGIVING. A cluster of red berries sits in the lower right corner, and the brand mark is centred at the foot.
The Sample Recipe
The template comes with a real, simple recipe that suits the colour scheme:
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup water
- Zest of 1 orange
- A pinch of cinnamon
Method
- Simmer the sugar, juice, and water until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the cranberries and cook for about 10 minutes, until they pop.
- Stir in the zest and cinnamon.
- Cool. The sauce thickens as it sets.
Replace it with your own recipe, or keep it as a quick, crowd-pleasing post.
Adding Your Food Photo
Click the photo area and choose Replace Image. The slot spans the full width of the pin and about a third of its height, so a landscape photo or an overhead shot fits naturally. The cranberry banner sits over the bottom edge of the photo, so keep the dish in the upper middle of the frame. Bright, natural light makes food look most appetising; a white or wooden surface and a few props, such as an orange half or a sprig of rosemary, finish the shot.
Writing a Recipe That Fits the Pin
Space is limited, so this is a summary, not the full recipe. Tips for fitting:
- Keep ingredients to six or seven lines, with quantities.
- Keep steps to four short sentences.
- Put the full recipe, with notes and variations, on your website or blog.
- Use a strong promise in the small line above the title: 10-MINUTE, 3-INGREDIENT, MAKE-AHEAD, NO-BAKE.
Thanksgiving Recipes That Suit the Format
| Recipe | Promise line | Banner colour idea |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry orange sauce | 10-MINUTE | Cranberry red |
| Garlic mashed potatoes | MAKE-AHEAD | Warm brown |
| Maple roasted carrots | 5-INGREDIENT | Burnt orange |
| Pumpkin pie bars | CROWD-PLEASING | Pumpkin orange |
| Green bean casserole | FROM SCRATCH | Olive green |
Customising Colours
The cranberry banner, step circles and section headings share one colour, which you can change to suit each recipe. The orange bullets and save button share a second colour. Keeping two accent colours per pin makes a series of recipes look like a matching collection on your profile. The berries are editable vector art; replace them with a pumpkin or a leaf for other dishes.
Publishing the Pin
Download the pin as a PNG and upload it to Pinterest with a keyword-rich title and description, linking to the full recipe on your site. Post the same image to Instagram (it displays well in the feed), to Facebook, and in your email newsletter. Publish Thanksgiving recipes from late October; people start planning their menus early.
Writing the Pin Title and Description
Pinterest is a search engine as much as a social network, so the words around your pin matter. Give the pin a title that includes the dish and the occasion, such as Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce for Thanksgiving. In the description, mention the time it takes, the key ingredients, and who it suits, for example, a make-ahead side for a busy holiday. Add the link to the full recipe so people who save the pin can find it again in November.
Building a Thanksgiving Recipe Board
One pin is good; a full board is better. Create a series of pins with this template for every dish on your Thanksgiving menu, from the turkey to the pie, using the same layout and two accent colours. Group them on a board called something like Our Thanksgiving Menu. Followers can save the whole board, and your recipes look like a planned collection rather than random posts, which encourages people to come back for the next dish.
Photographing the Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce photographs beautifully in a clear glass bowl or a small jar, where its deep red colour glows. Shoot near a window, add an orange half and a few whole berries beside the bowl, and take the photo from slightly above. The rich red ties in perfectly with the cranberry banner on the pin.
Recipe Pin Questions
Can I fit more steps?
Reduce the step font size slightly and copy a step line, or put the extra detail on your website.
Does the size work on Instagram?
Instagram shows 2:3 images cropped to 4:5 in the grid, so keep important text away from the very top and bottom edges.
Can restaurants use it?
Yes. Share a signature dish, or turn it into a “how we make it” post for your holiday menu.
A well-designed recipe pin can keep working for years, resurfacing every November. Add your best photo and your favourite recipe, and give people something worth saving.
