⛏️ Episode 2 · Beginner · Recipes

Craft Something New
Episode 2: Your First Recipe

A recipe is one JSON file that tells Minecraft what items combine into what. In this episode you write your first recipe and craft it in-game.

👶 Ages 10+ ⏱️ ~45 mins ⛏️ Minecraft ✓ Free workshop
📜 Recipe JSON 🧩 pattern & key 🎁 result 🧪 Craft it
🧪 Start Step 1 ← All Episodes
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Build it in our Datapack Studio too: lay out the crafting recipe, write your function and pack files, then export a real datapack zip in the browser with no install. Open the Minecraft Mod Studio →
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Ember says: a recipe is a small JSON file. Three parts: the type, the shape, and the result. Learn those three and you can make anything craftable.
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The Recipe File
Where recipes live
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Goal for this step

Put a recipe file in the right place.

  • 1Recipes go in data/<namespace>/recipe/ (singular recipe in 1.21 and newer).
  • 2The namespace is a name you choose for your pack, lowercase like mypack.
  • 3Each recipe is one .json file.
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Fill in the Blanks
+15 XP
In 1.21+, recipes go in data/<namespace>// (singular).
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Knowledge Check
+15 XP
In 1.21 and newer, what is the recipe folder called?
Arecipe (singular)
Brecipes (plural)
Ccrafting
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Shape and Key
The pattern of a recipe
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Goal for this step

Write a shaped recipe.

  • 1pattern is the shape on the 3x3 grid, one string per row.
  • 2key says what each letter means.
  • 3A space in the pattern means an empty slot.
{
  "type": "minecraft:crafting_shaped",
  "pattern": ["PPP", " S ", " S "],
  "key": {
    "P": { "item": "minecraft:oak_planks" },
    "S": { "item": "minecraft:stick" }
  },
  "result": { "item": "minecraft:wooden_sword", "count": 1 }
}
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Fill in the Blanks
+15 XP
The shows the shape, and the key says what each letter means.
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Knowledge Check
+15 XP
What does a space in the pattern mean?
AAn empty slot
BA diamond
CA random item
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The Result
What comes out
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Goal for this step

Set what the recipe makes.

  • 1result is the item you get, using the full id like minecraft:torch.
  • 2You can set a count for how many come out.
  • 3Item ids must match the game exactly, including the minecraft: part.
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Fill in the Blanks
+15 XP
An item id needs its full name, like :diamond.
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Knowledge Check
+15 XP
What is a valid item id?
Aminecraft:diamond
Bdiamond
CDiamondItem
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Craft It
See it in the table
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Goal for this step

Load your recipe and craft it.

  • 1Type /reload, then open a crafting table.
  • 2Lay out the ingredients exactly like your pattern.
  • 3Your recipe should appear. If not, check the folder name and the JSON commas.
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Fill in the Blanks
+15 XP
After adding a recipe, type / to load it.
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Knowledge Check
+15 XP
Your recipe does not appear. First thing to check?
AThe folder path and the JSON commas
BThe weather
CYour inventory
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You Made a Recipe!
You can make Minecraft craftable things. Next you learn how the data folder and namespaces keep everything tidy.
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Next: Episode 3: The data Folder →