Looking for a fun and creative holiday project that’s a little different? Check out these crafty and cute vintage Christmas decorations, based on ideas popular back in the sixties.
Vintage Christmas
Step into a vintage Christmas wonderland, exploring the old-fashioned traditions, classic decorations, and timeless recipes that rekindle the kind of holiday magic you remember!
Food: Christmas recipes | Christmas dessert recipes | Holiday cookie recipes
More: Holiday crafts | Christmas trees | Ornaments | Decor
Christmas by decade: 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s
🎅 100 vintage Christmas scenes so sweet, you’ll want a time machine
🥘 24 strange vintage Christmas appetizers you don’t see much anymore
🎀 Bad vintage Christmas ads: Retro holiday sales pitches you’d never see today
Beautiful, festive Christmas plates and dinnerware – like these vintage sets from Lenox and Spode – are still popular. Here’s a look at some of the patterns and pieces you could get in the past!
What kind of sweets did they enjoy more than 100 years ago — especially when ready-made candies were few and far between? People back in
Old-fashioned orange pomander balls made with cloves first became popular around the 17th century, and have been in use ever since. Here’s how to make your own fragrant decoration!
Find out how to make these colorful Christmas decorations: Translucent Tissue paper stained glass art panels to make your rooms blaze with jewel-toned light.
It’s a joy for the whole family to get in on the planning and making of holiday cookies days and even weeks before Christmas day arrives. Here’s a classic cookie collection from the ’50s.
Here are three old-fashioned plum pudding recipes – classic Christmas desserts full of fruit, booze, and other good things that there is little room for the dough.
Try these Triple Treat holiday bars: A vintage bar cookie recipe from 1973! They’re easy to make. Take one pan, bake one base, then top 3 different delicious ways.
Here is a group of irresistible cookies of every kind which you’ll enjoy making as much as giving. From Woman’s Day magazine (December 1962) Cookies
Here’s a cute little vintage Christmas tree craft from 1950. You can cut the tree and decorations out of paper, then and you can use it as a table centerpiece or a mantel decoration, hang it up, or just play with it.
If you’re looking to recreate that special vintage Christmas cookie recipe that your grandmother used to make, or want to discover old-fashioned cookies to make new again, here’s a big tasty collection of treats for you!
If you’re looking for tips on doing something just like they did it 100 or more years ago, you’re in the right place! Here are
If you love the rich taste of maple syrup, we’d like to tempt you into giving a sweet twist to your holiday baking: these vintage-style snow-topped thumbprint cookies with a hint of maple!
Take a look back at some sweet vintage Christmas dresses for little girls from the 60s and 70s – but forget the fashion trends those decades were known for. These holiday frocks were all about tradition.
Two Christmas traditions (eggnog and Kringla) rolled into one soft, cakelike cookie. Here’s how to make classic eggnog kringla cookies with this recipe from 1990.
Here are a few ideas for antique-style Christmas embroidery you can use to create small gifts. We have also included some bonus patterns, also from the early 1900s.
Want some retro-style holiday decor? Find out how to make some vintage Christmas crafts from the ’60s: a burlap wreath, tabletop Christmas trees, a starburst decoration, papier mache ornaments and more.
This holiday chocolate nut squares recipe makes a delicious vintage cookie bar – filled with chocolate, pecans or walnuts, plus coconut on a sweet cookie dough base!
You can make these super easy wax & tissue paper flowers for Christmas or any time of year! This vintage craft uses basic supplies, but creates a surprisingly beautiful result!
Take a look back at some of the most popular vintage Black & Decker electronics and small appliances from the late ’80s, including everything from Dustbusters to irons, and food processors to toaster ovens.
Whether they’re right out of the box or in your favorite recipe, here is is an easy way to tempt the vanilla wafer lovers in your family: Make a nilla wafer cranberry cheesecake!
This peppermint marble angel cake gets an extra festive touch from peppermint extract and bonus bits of crushed peppermint candy. Here’s a vintage recipe from 1990!
Here’s a vintage Johnny Appleseed Pie recipe from the Log Cabin kitchens for an apple pie that Johnny Appleseed himself would have been proud of, with extra flavor from maple syrup.
Here are three different recipes for vintage pumpkin meringue pies – one with a homemade pie and meringue topping, a second with a ginger-infused meringue, and the last using a pre-made pumpkin pie with a nutty meringue on top.
Make a double batch of these chicken meatballs with cranberry glaze – serve what you need, and freeze the rest for a spur-of-the-moment party.
Here are 12 amazing classic apple pie recipes, collected from newspapers published across the US throughout the ’60s!
Here’s a recipe that will turn pumpkin into a pie faster than Cinderella’s fairy godmother turned the fall fruit into a coach: Pumpkin Dream Pie – and all without any cooking or baking.
These delicious classic pumpkin cookie bars are sort of like a denser pumpkin bread, and pair perfectly with a tasty orange-y cream cheese frosting. Get the retro recipe from the 80s here!
Iced Nesselrode Pudding, a chestnut-based chilled sweet, was considered to be very expensive, very fancy, very tasty — and was, consequently, very popular during the Victorian era.
These easy German sweet chocolate brownies are deliciously indulgent, and have a coconut-nut topping! Get the ’90s retro recipe right here.
Go a little retro this year! Make delicious holiday butter cookies and lots of different pressed Christmas cookie designs – including spritz – from these easy vintage recipes.
Depending on your preference, this retro creamy chocolate mint pie recipe from the 80s uses either Creme de Menthe liqueur, or you can use a little peppermint extract.
These old ‘insert dime’ holiday greeting cards filled with coins were very popular – and a super fun way for friends and family to give a kid a dollar!
This deliciously festive pear-cranberry cobbler recipe from the ’90s is filled with seasonal fruit and a crumbly topping.
You’ll love this old-fashioned clove cake that’s really different from any other spice cake you ever tasted.
Take a look back at the latest and greatest toys from 1986 in these pages from the vintage Toys R Us catalogs called the 80s Out of this World Toy Book.
What’s the history of Necco Wafers? Here’s a look back at how a company made the candy such a big hit that it would be on shelves for the next 100 years.
Take a look back at dozens of vintage gift sets for women from the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s, filled with fancy fragrances, makeup, skincare products & more!
From the 1981 C&H private collection comes fresh look at one of your favorite Christmas cookies: Golden thumbprints, the classic sweet-topped cookies.
Swedish rosettes, a light Scandinavian cookie, uses a rosette iron to create its distinctive shape. The result is as delicious as it is beautiful.
Fudge ribbon pie combines peppermint ice cream and a creamy fudge sauce, frozen and then topped with a peppermint meringue.
Except for the silvery cones atop the towers, this fantasy ice castle cake is completely edible, built with rich cake, paved with icing and rock candy.
From the C&H private collection comes a recipe for these Christmas cookies. Viennese sugar twists are shaped like a pretzel, but are a whole lot sweeter.
Get classic recipes for old-fashioned popcorn balls, along with peanut brittle, molasses, caramel sugared and confetti popcorn versions – plus tips for the best way to pop corn.
Glowing with cheer, try this fresh-made delight – Kahlua Christmas cake, made with ground almonds instead of flour, and covered with a mocha frosting.
Try one of these vintage 7-Up cake recipes with lemon-lime soda! ‘Never before have you had a cake so light, so airy, so high, and with such a delightful new flavor.’
Get some great retro recipes for some classic molasses cut-out cookie recipes: Swedish crisps, gingerbread men & Christmas tree cut-out cookies!
Take a step back into the beauty of yesteryear, and see some pretty vintage & antique Christmas decorations that were both charming and affordable.
Joyous in the holiday season, homemade candy & fudge are gifts happily remembered: golden taffy nuggets sweetly flavored with molasses, white velvet creams, chocolate cream fudge and more deliciousness.
Screen legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire sang and danced their way into America’s hearts in one of the most timeless holiday classics of all time, Holiday Inn, which introduced the classic hit song, White Christmas.
In 1957, accordion player/band leader/TV show host Lawrence Welk was the most popular musician in US history, and made millions doing what he did best.
This Baker’s Chocolate Decadence cake from the ’80s is made doubly rich with chunks of chocolate plus raisins, dates, and almonds. It’ll put everyone in the holiday spirit.
Holiday punch takes on a whole new dimension when you spark up the brew with deliciously fizzy drinks like ginger ale, 7-Up and Sprite!
Coca Cola’s images of Santa Claus molded our national concept of the jolly old man, and it’s lasted through changing tastes and electronic times.
Come see what kinds of retro Christmas cards people sent each other to celebrate the holidays back in the fifties and sixties!
Have a look at 126 of the most popular toys from the ’40s that millions of kids found under their Christmas trees back in 1948, courtesy of Santa… or from mom and dad.
This invisible floating Christmas tree decoration from the ’60s – made with shiny and colorful ball ornaments – is so simple, but an absolute showstopper. See how to make your own here!
This cute Jell-O Jingle Jells recipe features bells cut out of Jello (with a cookie cutter) and served with flaked or riced Jello and whipped cream.
Love those classic cocktails? Get the recipes here for some of the finest from the 40s: Gin Rickey, Creme de Menthe Frappe, Hot Toddy, Side Car, Pink Lady, Stinger, Champagne Cocktail, Manhattan, Daiquiri & more!
Try this Borden holiday eggnog pie, made with a filling of vanilla pudding, eggnog, spice, and whipped topping mix. The result is festive, delicious and easy.
Once upon a time, fruitcake took days to prepare. Weeks even. But not anymore! Here’s the famous 9-minute ‘can’t fail’ holiday fruitcake.
Christmas goes to the dogs! Here are 8 adorable antique Christmas postcards with dogs, plus a tale of how some boys got together and gave their pups their own holiday party.
Who’s got time to fix dinner during the holiday rush? Colonel Sanders! In the ’60s, the hot tip was to have Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas.
Want to serve something for the holidays that is deliciously vintage? Get recipes for three different fancy and festively decorated Christmas cookie recipes from the ’50s!
Here’s how to make that classic m&m cookie recipe loved by generations — and just as tasty today as ever.
If you can spare no money, and have no time to make pretty and inexpensive things, give pleasant words and wishes, and rediscover the truest joy of Christmas giving
Make an easy layer pumpkin pie! 2 vintage recipes that double (or triple!) the holiday deliciousness
Here are two great no-bake pumpkin pie recipes – a double layer pumpkin pie that uses instant pudding, while the second recipe has a base with plain gelatin.
With these retro Christmas Jello recipes, don’t serve cranberries the same old way, try a star of a salad. Make a wreath with a wiggle. And a rum dessert that’ll make you see an old favorite in a new light
Although L’eggs doesn’t make their egg packing anymore, you can still make adorable egg-shaped ornaments with the help of these vintage craft instructions!
Frosty, the famous snowguy turned into a jolly, happy soul, starred in the vintage animated Christmas special, Frosty the Snowman, narrated by Jimmy Durante.
Use an old milk or juice carton, wax and ice to make a fancy-looking DIY milk carton candle! It’s inexpensive, and the directions are easy enough for a kid to follow.
‘Tis the season for vintage Christmas Rice Krispies Treats, so find out how to make clown pops, surprise balls, crispy snowmen, toy animals and puddin’ tart shells and more!
Here are seven different ways to make an old-fashioned Christmas wreath craft, for a little festive DIY holiday decor, retro-style!
Aren’t they fabulous – these tissue paper poufs from the 1960s to cover your presents? They said, ‘We’ve never seen a more exciting gift wrap idea, or a more impressive one.’
Here are 20 classic mincemeat recipes (used to make the holiday favorite, mince pie) – as remembered through the decades by chefs, cookbook authors, in newspapers and family cookbooks.
Here are just a few of the toys you could find at a Woolworth’s store in the ’50s – the old discount retailer that seemed to sell just about everything!
Here’s a look back at some popular vintage Christmas lights, along with several old-fashioned examples from the ’40s, ’50s & ’60s of this kind of warm and wonderful holiday decor.
Get some creative retro recipes for coconut Christmas cakes, with various festive holiday designs and themes from the 1940s through the 1980s!
When Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! originally aired in December 1966 no one expected the cartoon to become a part of American pop culture legend.
Old-fashioned eggnog recipes come in many varieties, so here are more than a dozen – though definitely take a look at the traditional Southern egg nog how-to, which will apparently allow the spirit of Christmas to descend upon you.
Every home has room for a Christmas tree, even if it’s only the tabletop variety. See the festive joy a small tree Christmas tree can bring to your home!
What can you serve in the punch bowl? Some society ladies of Southern Mississippi offered these 21 fruity vintage punch recipes in the summer of 1969!
If you’d like to celebrate an proper Edwardian-style Christmas, here are lots of ideas for you! Get inspired by these recipes, decor tips, vintage images and lots more.
How did our great-great grandparents send holiday greetings? Probably with antique Christmas cards just like these! Take a fond look back to the yuletide season from more than a century ago.
From 1950: New adventure with pineapple: Classic pineapple pie! (Plus a tasty vintage variation to try) Try your hand… please your man with homemade pie
If you’ve never thought of putting luscious, ruby-red cranberries into a pie, hurry and find out how royally delicious this Ann Pillsbury creation really is!
Try these delicious vintage holiday recipes for a Devil’s Food, Cherry-go-round, Holiday star, candlelight, gingerbread, White Christmas cake and other festive classic treats!
Create a holiday sensation with Duncan Hines & a bowl full of cherries: a vintage cherry Christmas tree cake!
What were desserts like back in the ’30s? Here’s one that you can make to get a vintage taste! It’s a This mocha-frosted chocolate loaf cake is just as delicious as any recipe today.
Pumpkin is so versatile that it is a natural for our rich heritage of regional cooking. The varieties of pumpkin pie are seemingly endless. The following recipes are a sampling of some of these American favorites.
If you have been looking for the perfect authentic old-fashioned fruitcake, this is for you! Get 20 traditional Southern fruitcake recipes – from Plantation Fruit Cake and beyond – right here.
Those who entertain often or very little face the same dilemma: What to serve as appetizers that are different? Here are some suggestions mushroom appetizer recipes to vary the packaged onion dip-and-potato chip routine!
Get retro recipes for three delicious pies – each with a twist and starring some of America’s favorite flavors: apple, pumpkin and lemon.
Gifts shining as though made by Santa’s own elves, all the more pleasing since you made them yourself with these vintage holiday recipes with Kahlua.
Even a white Christmas should have a rainbow, so here’s how to make a vintage holiday dessert: classic Christmas Rainbow Poke Cake!
What were these cheesy cheese spread recipes all about? They were appetizers and snacks that creatively-shaped — into a wreath, a chicken (with a tail made out of Fritos corn chips) and a Christmas tree.
When the outside of you is cold, the inside of you likes something that makes you warm. And winter rum drinks are some of the very beverages that warm you when you are cold, just as rum can cool you when you are warm.
This three-layered Christmas-colored lime-strawberry surprise recipe features two flavors of jello, and a creamy layer in the middle made with cream cheese, mayonnaise and nuts.
