diff --git a/doc/cookbook/examples/cb-button.c b/doc/cookbook/examples/cb-button.c
index 6f1f0b98a..2abbf7fc8 100644
--- a/doc/cookbook/examples/cb-button.c
+++ b/doc/cookbook/examples/cb-button.c
@@ -323,7 +323,8 @@ cb_button_init (CbButton *self)
   layout = clutter_bin_layout_new (CLUTTER_BIN_ALIGNMENT_CENTER,
                                    CLUTTER_BIN_ALIGNMENT_CENTER);
 
-  priv->child = clutter_box_new (layout);
+  priv->child = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_layout_manager (priv->child, layout);
 
   /* set the parent of the ClutterBox to this instance */
   clutter_actor_add_child (CLUTTER_ACTOR (self), priv->child);
@@ -400,7 +401,7 @@ cb_button_set_background_color (CbButton           *self,
 {
   g_return_if_fail (CB_IS_BUTTON (self));
 
-  clutter_box_set_color (CLUTTER_BOX (self->priv->child), color);
+  clutter_actor_set_background_color (self->priv->child, color);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/doc/cookbook/examples/effects-basic.c b/doc/cookbook/examples/effects-basic.c
index 875e4c8e5..151a24496 100644
--- a/doc/cookbook/examples/effects-basic.c
+++ b/doc/cookbook/examples/effects-basic.c
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ toggle_highlight (ClutterActor *actor,
 
   clutter_actor_meta_set_enabled (meta, !effect_enabled);
 
-  clutter_actor_queue_redraw (actor);
-
-  return TRUE;
+  return CLUTTER_EVENT_STOP;
 }
 
 int
@@ -59,7 +57,8 @@ main (int   argc,
   clutter_flow_layout_set_row_spacing (CLUTTER_FLOW_LAYOUT (layout_manager),
                                        10);
 
-  box = clutter_box_new (layout_manager);
+  box = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_layout_manager (box, layout_manager);
   width_constraint = clutter_bind_constraint_new (stage,
                                                   CLUTTER_BIND_WIDTH,
                                                   0.0);
diff --git a/doc/cookbook/examples/events-pointer-motion-crossing.c b/doc/cookbook/examples/events-pointer-motion-crossing.c
index 03852bb9a..946ff2b09 100644
--- a/doc/cookbook/examples/events-pointer-motion-crossing.c
+++ b/doc/cookbook/examples/events-pointer-motion-crossing.c
@@ -38,24 +38,25 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
     return 1;
 
   stage = clutter_stage_new ();
-  clutter_stage_set_color (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), &stage_color);
   clutter_stage_set_title (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), "btn");
+  clutter_actor_set_background_color (stage, &stage_color);
+  g_signal_connect (stage, "destroy", G_CALLBACK (clutter_main_quit), NULL);
 
   layout = clutter_bin_layout_new (CLUTTER_BIN_ALIGNMENT_FILL,
                                    CLUTTER_BIN_ALIGNMENT_FILL);
 
-  box = clutter_box_new (layout);
+  box = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_layout_manager (box, layout);
   clutter_actor_set_position (box, 25, 25);
   clutter_actor_set_reactive (box, TRUE);
   clutter_actor_set_size (box, 100, 30);
 
   /* background for the button */
   rect = clutter_rectangle_new_with_color (&yellow);
-  clutter_container_add_actor (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (box), rect);
+  clutter_actor_add_child (box, rect);
 
   /* text for the button */
   text = clutter_text_new_full ("Sans 10pt", "Hover me", &white);
-  clutter_text_set_line_alignment (CLUTTER_TEXT (text), PANGO_ALIGN_CENTER);
 
   /*
    * NB don't set the height, so the actor assumes the height of the text;
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
   clutter_actor_add_constraint (stage, clutter_bind_constraint_new (box, CLUTTER_BIND_HEIGHT, 50.0));
   clutter_actor_add_constraint (stage, clutter_bind_constraint_new (box, CLUTTER_BIND_WIDTH, 50.0));
 
-  clutter_container_add_actor (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (stage), box);
+  clutter_actor_add_child (stage, box);
 
   clutter_actor_show (stage);
 
diff --git a/doc/cookbook/examples/layouts-stacking.c b/doc/cookbook/examples/layouts-stacking.c
index 4fda817e0..9ee340b4c 100644
--- a/doc/cookbook/examples/layouts-stacking.c
+++ b/doc/cookbook/examples/layouts-stacking.c
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
   layout = clutter_bin_layout_new (CLUTTER_BIN_ALIGNMENT_CENTER,
                                    CLUTTER_BIN_ALIGNMENT_CENTER);
 
-  box = clutter_box_new (layout);
-  clutter_box_set_color (CLUTTER_BOX (box), &box_color);
+  box = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_layout_manager (box, layout);
+  clutter_actor_set_background_color (box, &box_color);
 
   texture = clutter_texture_new_from_file (filename, &error);
 
@@ -67,12 +68,11 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
                                                  (gfloat)(width * 0.5) - (STAGE_SIDE * 0.03125),
                                                  CLUTTER_GRAVITY_CENTER);
       clutter_actor_set_width (texture_copy, width);
-      clutter_container_add_actor (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (box), texture_copy);
+      clutter_actor_add_child (box, texture_copy);
     }
 
-  clutter_actor_add_constraint (box, clutter_align_constraint_new (stage, CLUTTER_ALIGN_X_AXIS, 0.5));
-  clutter_actor_add_constraint (box, clutter_align_constraint_new (stage, CLUTTER_ALIGN_Y_AXIS, 0.5));
-  clutter_container_add_actor (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (stage), box);
+  clutter_actor_add_constraint (box, clutter_align_constraint_new (stage, CLUTTER_ALIGN_BOTH, 0.5));
+  clutter_actor_add_child (stage, box);
 
   clutter_actor_show (stage);