Back when recipes were usually handwritten, vintage recipe boxes were a happy homemaker’s most valued possession. Take a peek at some retro recipe holders here!
This easy vintage no-bake dessert recipe makes a light and delicious whipped angel food pie that has a crumb crust and a fluffy lemon-flavored filling.
This easy 1990s recipe for Baker’s one-bowl brownies uses just 7 ingredients: chocolate, butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, eggs, and walnuts. They combine to make a fudgy homemade dessert that’s absolutely delicious.
Swap those vague vintage recipe baking instructions with modern day precision using this handy guide to oven temperature conversions.
Get the original Golden Grahams Gold’n Nut Crunch snack mix recipe so you can re-create classic combo of Golden Grahams cereal, nuts, Parmesan cheese, butter and spices for a savory treat.
This amazing peppermint fudge recipe from the 80s combines the flavor of peppermint with creamy white chocolate for a treat that practically tastes like Christmas. It’s a
Here’s a collection of gingerbread houses to inspire you this holiday: a fairy-tale cottage, half-timbered country house, marvelous Victorian mansion, and many more – along with details on how to make your own classic gingerbread house.
Rocky Road fudge — with its tried-and-true combination of chocolate, marshmallows and nuts — reaches new heights when made in fudge form.
People of all ages will love these cute vintage Christmas cookie houses, which can be made easily and inexpensively. See examples and get directions here!
If you’re a fan of yummy treats you can whip up in a flash, you’ll love this collection of delicious cookie bars made famous in the last century.
With a little thought and care – plus the inspiration of these lush holiday table settings of yore – you can create unforgettably nostalgic Christmas table settings that will be remembered for years to come.
These cookies — and other very similar ones — have many names! Besides pecan fingers, you might find them called German or Austrian vanilla crescent cookies (vanillekipferl), Viennese crescent cookies, sand tarts, pecan crescents, or powdered sugar cookies.
Remember when these popular brands of old granola bars were called natural and wholesome… and seemed they were too delicious to be healthy? Yeah, we were right. But still, so yummy!
Back in the mid-1960s, the newly-invented marvel of Shake’n Bake coating mixes was kind of a big deal – or at least the shake and bake concept was marketed that way!
This retro recipe for homemade shake and bake sesame-herb chicken from the 70s is an easy way to make a dinner the whole family will love!
We’ve collected some of the most well-known, classic versions of this vintage chocolate chip cookies. Which one will you bake today?
Trade cards, the granddaddy of today’s trading cards, were common in the 1800s, and often showed offbeat images that existed solely to build brand buzz. Here’s a strange set showing people as vegetables.
These big chocolate crinkle cookies are covered in powdered sugar before they’re baked, and come out of the oven with little cracks in the snowy sugar. This classic recipe comes from the 1980s, and uses unsweetened cocoa.
Ayds candy debuted in the 40s, and was basically a piece of caramel or fudge that contained an appetite suppressant. For years, the diet candy called Ayds was a big seller… and then came AIDS.
A box supper social — or simply box social — was an old-fashioned way to have a party, share a meal, and raise money for a good
Ready for some good old-fashioned chocolate treats? Here are more than a dozen of our best vintage brownie recipes — lots of fudgy deliciousness with a retro twist!
Here’s a retro 1970s recipe from Dole for a delicious Jamaican Pound Cake. It’s made extra delicious with bananas, almonds and rum – and made easy with boxed pound cake mix.
Skip buying expensive candy and make your own! These homemade chocolate truffles can be whipped at home in no time at all with this simple recipe from the 80s.
Now you can try the wedge-shaped cookies that won the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1957! Accordion Treats was the name of a creative cookie recipe that was the
This old-fashioned fruit cocktail eggnog pie was a holiday favorite in the 1950s! It’s easy to make, too – only the pie shell needs baking.
When working with vintage recipes, it’s not uncommon to come across unfamiliar terminology or cooking methods. This cooking terms glossary is designed to help you navigate those unfamiliar terms and successfully prepare your classic dishes!
What is scrapple, exactly – and how do you make it? Get a good old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch homemade scrapple recipe here, and find out about the history of this meaty mixture.
Here is the 1960s version of Jello’s popular Under-the-Sea salad – a combination of lime gelatin, cream cheese and canned pears – all molded and colorful!
If you are looking for a treat so Christmas-y that you can actually taste the festivity, it’s hard to beat the old-fashioned charm of gingerbread recipes.
In the 50s, special edition holiday gift decanters like these were incredibly popular Christmas presents. Check out a couple dozen of these glass bottles that are collector’s items now!
If you’re having a party, consider these 12 cheese ball recipes! These tidbits provide a good color, taste and texture contrast to other foods, and can be made ahead of time, too — even several days ahead to suit your convenience.
Get old-fashioned recipes to make your own flavored homemade vinegars with fruit and herbs – raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, onions, celery, tarragon and more!
By using baking mix and sweetened condensed milk, you don’t need sugar, egg, butter or flour… in fact, everything you need to make easy peanut blossoms cookies might be in your cupboard right now.
Serving canned cranberry sauce this year? Don’t be shy about getting out the jellied stuff, because it turns out you can do lots of cute and creative things with it, from making little turkey cutouts to eye-catching Christmas trees.
How long do you need to cook your turkey? While making a roasted turkey for Thanksgiving is about as vintage American as it gets, our turkey cooking times and tips offered here are based on the most up-to-date standards.
These wonderfully rich and indulgent caramel apple oat squares don’t take long to make, and these dessert bars are doubly delicious when served with ice cream on top.
This retro cranberry pumpkin bread recipe makes for a breakfast or dessert filled with warm flavor from just the right blend of fall spices, plus a little bit of a tart kick from the popular autumn fruit, cranberries.
As great an actor and director as Orson Welles was, it would be remiss of us if we did not touch on some of his later, slightly less epic works… like his classic ads for Paul Masson wines.
Here’s a tasty holiday menu you probably haven’t seen before: Truman Capote’s favorite Thanksgiving recipes! Find a collection of delicious vintage dishes here.
Once you have made your perfect pumpkin pie – using the classic Libby’s pie recipe or another version – you might want to accent your delicious dessert with one of these tasty pumpkin pie toppings!
Here’s the easy way to make deliciously moist ‘n crispy Rice Krispies crunchy chicken, with a crust so crisp, it crunches.
More than good, Libby’s pumpkin pie is smooth, gently spicy, and perfect! Get the classic pie you love – the original vintage recipe is right here, with our very own step-by-step photos to guide you.
As you prepare to dive into the busiest cookie-baking season of the year, make sure you’re prepared with the best quality cookie-baking supplies!
Use up your extra turkey in a new way – make this tasty turkey cheese ball! It’s a great appetizer for Thanksgiving, or you can use holiday leftovers to make a retro snack with this rich spread.
Take a look back at dozens of the most popular cereals from the 1980s, along with some really random varieties that didn’t last long.
If you think your quest for the best pumpkin pie recipe has only just begun, we have news for you: you’ve just found the vintage recipe motherlode. Which is the best pie? Try some and decide!
While chocolate milk will always be the rock star of milky mixed drinks, strawberry drink mix has a charm all its own. Here’s a look back at the debut of Nestle’s Strawberry Quik back in the sixties!
Chicken Marengo, one of the great French classics, was invented on the battlefield at Marengo for Napoleon by his master chef, Dunand. Here’s an easy version made with soup!
Here is a Hungarian-inspired chicken paprika recipe, simplified by using tomato soup for the base. Serve it with noodles and alongside a green salad.
This retro holiday spinach rice recipe makes 12 servings of a delicious and festive-looking side dish, which includes spinach, cheese and green onions – plus sliced almonds for crunch.
Look back at dozens of flavors of vintage Shasta sodas – including root beer, sparking lemonade, strawberry, cream soda, pineapple cola and more from the 60s, 70s and 80s!
Here, get two classic recipes that combine two sweet flavors in one treat: chocolate cherry brownies. Try them both ways and figure out which is your favorite!
Originally called Choco-Scotch clusters when they came out in the 60s, these easy no-bake chocolate-butterscotch rice krispies treats have delicious chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter flavors.
What made this tasty classic country apple pie recipe from the 70s so special? Well, there were two big differences to traditional apple pies. Find out what they were here!
Whether you’re looking for basic sweet potato recipes or need some ideas for Thanksgiving side dishes, these 41 classic sweet potato recipes cover the gamut, from main dishes to desserts!
The Life Savers candy brand has been around for more than a century! Here’s a look back at how the little sweets with a hole became so popular, and the many flavors they have made over the years.
Pecan pumpkin pie adds the rich flavor of pecans in a crunchy top layer. Corn syrup is combined with canned pumpkin and eggs for a fast, smooth custard filling.
This almond legend cake has one whole almond baked inside, and the lucky person who receives the slice with the hidden almond is said to enjoy good fortune all year! Here’s the classic recipe from the 1970s!
Queen Elizabeth’s drop scones recipe – a very British treat – was sent by Queen Elizabeth II to Dwight David Eisenhower, on January 24, 1960. Get the recipe here, and see the letter the Queen wrote along with it!
When small appliance manufacturers started selling vintage automatic coffeemakers, they were taking the popular (but cumbersome) drip method of coffee making and making t so much easier.
If you love the flavor of almonds and sherry, try them together in a fabulous cake! You make this almond sherry cake with cream sherry, sliced almonds and cake mix.
The history of Dr Pepper is surprisingly long – starting back in the 1800s, in fact. Here’s how the brand began and grew and grew to become one of the most popular soft drinks in the world.
Here’s how to make spectacular red, white and blue Jello desserts – the perfect bright and colorful retro treats for 4th of July, Memorial day or any other patriotic holiday!
The flavor of this easy (no cooking), fast (5 minutes), classic Hershey’s recipe can be adjusted up or down, based on the chocolate intensity level you prefer. Get the delicious details here!
Want to host a throwback celebration, with ideas straight out of the early 1900s? Here’s a menu describing each of the fourteen courses served at a formal dinner party, plus other hosting tips for an event with true Edwardian style.
How did people celebrate the spookiest holiday many generations ago? Look here for some very vintage – but hauntingly creative – old-school Halloween party table decor ideas & menus!
These fab retro 60s ice cream flavors may surprise you! You’re about to see a lot of vintage ice cream flavor (and color!) combinations you used to be able to get at the store, but don’t see much today. Take a look!
For many Americans, a big, sweet part of our past involves chocolate – *especially* chocolate in cake and cupcakes. Check out these 7 heavenly Hershey’s chocolate cake recipes from the 70s!
This retro pie recipe is a quickie – no oven needed! Just some easy-to-find ingredients combined in a saucepan and mixed in bowls, and you can have a fluffy and light lemon no-bake pie tonight.
The people now best known as the juice and jelly people used to make popular vintage Welch’s candies like Junior Mints, Nut Fudge, Cordialed Cherries and Sugar Daddies. See them here!
With seasonings like ginger, garlic and red pepper, this easy walnut chicken with broccoli recipe from the ’80s makes a delicious dinner with a little Asian flair.
Why stop the party to mix drinks, when you could have the perfect booze blend ready to go? That was the theory behind the retro ready-made canned cocktails and bottled mixes that were popular in the 60s and 70s.
The Tootsie Roll has a sweet legacy that started way back at the end of the 1800s, and continues to this day. From the early days, the unique chocolaty chewy candy was a huge favorite with kids. Find out more about them here!
This retro recipe for the catsup-based Imperial salad dressing is a little more complicated than making a basic vinaigrette, but the results earned it a spot in many recipe collections over the years. Here’s how to make this kicky classic!
Find out how to make the Hershey’s classic – easy chewy chocolate cookies made with powdered cocoa – in this retro recipe from the 80s!
Not only is pineapple amazing on its own, it also can be a delicious ingredient in lots of recipes — like this sunburst chicken stir fry recipe from the 80s.
In the ’60s, vintage breakfast cereals became really popular, gaining millions of fans – especially kids. What was your favorite? See all the best retro brands here (many of which are, sadly, long gone).
How can you make use of all those fresh summer berries? We looked to the experts of the past to find delicious old-fashioned ways to preserve raspberries so you can enjoy the fruit all year long.
The secret to these precious brownie oatmeal gems lies in the cookie’s perfect combination of rich, smooth Baker’s chocolate, quick oats, walnuts and brown sugar.
From meat glazes to unique salads and totally vintage-style jello molds, the most iconic tropical fruit can make itself useful in so many ways. Here are some weird – and some good – retro ways to serve pineapple.
Today, many of the great desserts of old are being rediscovered and enjoyed – luxurious offerings like the Victorian classic Charlotte Russe. Here are some recipes!
A traditional Memorial Day celebration is a mix of somber remembrance, family togetherness & fun. We’ve gathered some ideas to help you plan a perfect holiday
Here are two different retro recipes for easy peanut butter cookies — in fact, they’re so simple, neither recipe uses butter or eggs! How do they work?
Can you imagine life before bubble gum? Here’s a brief history of vintage gum brands in the US!
It’s a great idea to replace your vintage Corelle patterns like these with more modern and safer versions. We curated this great collection of modern-day Corelle dishware that has that retro style!
In the 70s, vintage Crock-Pot Slow Cookers became popular, because a meal could be cooked for pennies a serving, and cuts of meat could be easily tenderized. Who knew how famous the small appliances would become?!
We remember getting drinks in glass tumblers that looked a lot more interesting than many of the plain drinking glasses you see today. We found these fantastic vintage-style (but brand-new) glassware sets you can get now! Check them out here.
Baby Ruth candy bars – and even Baby Ruth gum – were among the most popular sweets back in the day. Right here, take a look at more than 50 years of the history of the brand.
Here’s a wonderful cake to make for a special occasion. This almond-raspberry cream roll has a whipped cream filling flavored with raspberry.
This retro lemon-orange rainbow poke cake recipe gets an extra boost of flavor from orange juice and lemon-flavored cake mix.
Chocolate milk has been loved by kids – and, yes, adults! – since at least the 1920s. Here’s a look back at some vintage chocolate milk brands that have hit supermarkets over the years – some of which you know, but many more than have been lost to time.
As you prepare for your Easter celebration, check out these vintage Easter egg decorating ideas! There are probably a few you remember… and maybe one or two you haven’t seen!
Make decorated Easter cookies a part of your holiday tradition with this cute Easter egg design. Why should Christmas have all the cookie fun?
Brach’s Easter candy from the ’60s included chocolate malt & chocolate creme eggs, marshmallow-filled chicks and rabbits, and tiny jelly bird eggs.
Chewy, moist pudding brownies. If you loved them as a kid, try this recipe. It’ll bring back the good old days. Here are two recipes from the 60s for you to try!
For decades after their introduction in 1963, Easy-Bake Ovens showed up on wish lists for Santa and for birthdays, and millions of them were sold. Take a look back!
Hot buttered tomato juice is a surprising ‘wow.’ Butter blends the subtlety of oregano and the zip of Worcestershire with the goodness of tomato juice.
For the many fans of minty vintage McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes, here you can see some old television commercials for the cold green stuff from the 1970s and 1980s! PS: They weren’t always mint-flavored.
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Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Now that you know, have fun looking around!
