The history of root beer & popular old brands: From healing tonic to a favorite soda
Who would’ve thought humble roots, herbs, and bark could spin such an effervescent tale? The history of root beer is both intriguing and surprising – take a look!
Vintage recipes
This Caribbean coconut chicken recipe from 1974 goes big on flavor
Serve your Caribbean coconut chicken with cornbread or French bread, pear-lettuce salad, and a full, dry white table wine.
Jell-O gazpacho jiggler: This wild ’70s side dish will still turn heads at your summer BBQ
This Jell-O Gazpacho Jiggler salad is a gelatin version of gazpacho. It’s also dished up cold, but has the veggies and Worcestershire sauce suspended in a bouncy lemon Jello base.
Best ever BBQ sauce with bold flavor straight from the ’70s
This best ever BBQ sauce from 1973 is bold, easy to make, and better than anything in a bottle. A backyard favorite for hot dogs, burgers and more.
This easy salt dough Easter bread basket project from 1976 is simple, sturdy & totally old-school
Bake an overnight bag for the Easter bunny, and something to put in it: An adorable retro-style salt dough Easter bread basket!
How to make retro ’70s daisy cakes with yellow, pink & white marshmallow flowers
See how decorating with frosting and cute little marshmallow flowers can turn angel food cakes into happiness you can eat!
This green pea salad recipe from 1970 is still ridiculously good today
When a friend of ours told us that she had concocted a green pea salad that her three children and her husband thoroughly approved, we begged for the recipe.
Weird retro ways to serve pineapple (and a few good ideas, too) from the 1940s-90s
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.
This old-fashioned New England beef stew recipe from 1974 will warm your soul
With warm, rich flavors and tender pieces of meat and vegetables, New England beef stew is the perfect choice for a cozy dinner on a cold winter evening!
The best classic rolled sugar cookie cutouts recipe
Try this tasty and easy recipe from the early 1960s for old-fashioned rolled sugar cookie cutouts, accompanied below by step-by-step photos!
Hot chocolate: 15 delicious vintage cocoa recipes
Raise your glass for some warm and wonderful classic hot chocolate recipes from across the years! Try cocoa mixtures with a variety of flavors and even some international flair.
Remember these? 60+ of your favorite vintage breakfast cereals from the 60s
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).
Famous Hershey’s cocoa fudge recipe from the 70s & 80s
This is the Hershey’s cocoa fudge recipe your grandmother used to make! The recipe first appeared on the Hershey’s Cocoa can label in the 1960s.
How to make a Christmas cookie house step-by-step (it’s like a gingerbread house, but without the gingerbread)
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!
The famous Bacardi rum cake recipe: Find out how to make the classic 1970s dessert, step-by-step with photos
This exceptional Bacardi rum cake is a pudding cake baked in a ring pan, and flavored with Bacardi dark dry rum. You may be surprised at how easy it is to get an elegant cake – perfect for the holidays!
Gingerbread man cookie recipes + how this tragic folklore hero became a happy Christmas tradition
How did a character whose brief life ended so tragically become a hero of the happiest holiday? We have some theories plus four different vintage gingerbread man cookie recipes!
Jell-O fruity cookie recipe, plus more retro 1970s ideas for using fruit gelatin powder
They have gelatin on the inside… and the outside. Try making this vintage 1970s Jell-O fruity cookie recipe, and see if you can capture a little bit of that retro vibe!
Get the delicious original Chex mix recipe from the 60s and 70s (plus 6 vintage variations)
Get seven sassy snack mix how-tos from yesteryear, including the granddaddy of them all: the original Chex mix recipe!
The ultimate guide for making perfect fudge like your grandma used to make PLUS 14 famous & delicious fudge recipes
You might remember some of these popular fudge recipes from your childhood. We encourage you to try at least one this year (or try them all)!
Libby’s pumpkin pie: This famous pumpkin pie recipe is the greatest of all time
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.
20 classic homemade cranberry sauce recipes
Cranberries have become traditional for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners — and these 20 homemade cranberry sauce recipes will help you deliciously add the ruby-red jewel to your feasts!
How to make a festive shrimp Christmas tree appetizer for your holiday party the retro way
A shrimp Christmas tree appetizer is a scene-stealer and a real buffet beauty, certain to cast a special charm over any holiday party – yet so easy to do! Here’s how.
These 200+ cute old-fashioned Christmas cookie decorating ideas make a case for simplicity
These 44 kid-friendly Christmas cookie decorating ideas evoke the cozy charm of vintage traditions. Baking fun for the entire family!
2 fall recipe classics: Libby’s pumpkin cheesecake & Southern delight pumpkin cheesecake
These two Libby’s pumpkin cheesecakes are rich with cheese and pumpkin and brown sugar, flavored with maple, topped with sour cream and cinnamon – truly delicious desserts.
Use leftover Halloween candy like cool mid century housewives did with delish recipes made from Mars Almond Bars (1960s)
The late-1960s brings us a couple of tasty mid-century dessert recipes perfect for repurposing any leftover Halloween candy bars you might have laying around!
Caramel apples & caramel popcorn: Easy recipes for those decadent Halloween treats you remember
Two ever-popular treats come to mind on Halloween: caramel apples and caramel corn. Find out how to make these classic Halloween recipes!
Check out these retro Cheez Whiz recipes from their creative Idea Book (1974)
Get some retro Cheez Whiz recipes for fondue, casserole and other cheezy dishes like ham & rice roll-ups, Mexican bean dip and more.
Try this easy prize-winning savory crescent chicken squares recipe from 1974
This recipe for savory crescent chicken squares was a winner at the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest in the ’70s because it was tasty and so easy to make.
Old-fashioned peanut butter cookies: Check out these 20+ delicious retro recipes
Peanut butter cookies are an American treat that have been a favorite for generations. Check out our huge collection of this classic recipe and its variations!
28 crazy vintage Christmas appetizers you don’t see much anymore
Having a retro party for the holidays? Here are lots of crazy kitschy vintage Christmas appetizers you may want to serve… at your own risk.
Classic 70s Christmas cookies: 20+ deliciously memorable recipes to try
Remember these classic 70s Christmas cookies? Here’s our collection of the best and most delicious old-fashioned treats of the decade!
Easy fondue recipe fun! Here’s how to party like it’s 1969
Although the popularity of the fondue recipe has waxed and waned over the years, it is still — and likely forever will be — enjoyed as a delicious communal meal that brings people together.
Classic peanut butter blossoms: Step-by-step cookie recipe, with photos
A plate of Christmas goodies just would not be complete without them: those delicious classic peanut butter blossoms cookies, featuring a big chocolate kiss right on top.
Cherry thumbprint Christmas cookies
These rich and tender cherry thumbprint Christmas cookies have bright and colorful button centers, made by placing pretty halved red or green candied cherries into the middle of each one.
30+ delicious old-fashioned stuffing recipes
Get ready for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the help of these old-fashioned stuffing recipe, made with simple ingredients and fresh foods.
No-bake cherry cheesecake recipe step-by-step: A pretty & easy homemade cream cheese pie from the 1970s
A no-bake cherry cheesecake is a dessert that knows how to steal the spotlight at any gathering! We’ve re-created this vintage recipe step-by-step, with photos!
Make this pineapple upside-down cupcake recipe in 5 easy steps
This adorable pineapple upside-down cupcake recipe is a mini classic! They’re probably easier than you think to make, too.
How to make a homemade graham cracker pie crust & other delicious crumb crusts like they did in the 50s, 60s & 70s
We found some great vintage graham cracker pie crust recipes, and ways to make other delicious crumb crusts. Get the basic how-to, and try some of these creative and classic combinations!
Hawaiian Punch: Remember the retro tropical fruit drink & its tasty variations over the years
Let’s reminisce for a minute about Hawaiian Punch, the iconic red beverage that has a history as rich as its flavor. The original product first hit the
Fried green tomatoes & more: 12 old-fashioned & delicious recipes for green tomatoes
What can you make with green tomatoes? Here’s an old-fashioned recipe for fried green tomatoes, plus 10 more ways to use them!
See vintage Kraft & Campfire marshmallows from the 1950s-1980s (plus a few easy retro marshmallow dessert recipes)
Let’s take a sweet journey through time when Kraft marshmallows and Campfire marshmallows held court in the pantries of America.
35 old-fashioned sandwich fillings that range from delicious to… inventive
Rediscover the most tantalizing, old-fashioned sandwich fillings that once graced the humble bread slices of yesteryear.
10 fruity summer sippers: The best non-alcoholic drinks from the 70s
Rewind to the summer of ’77 — an era of iconic fashion trends and memorable tunes — and rediscover some of the best non-alcoholic drinks from that time.
This classic & delicious zucchini nut bread recipe from 1976 is a year-round favorite
With its perfect combination of moist zucchini, crunchy nuts, and fragrant spices, your family is going to love this mouth-watering zucchini nut bread recipe.
Frozen pudding & graham cracker sandwich (with chocolate & peanut butter): Get the easy vintage 1970s recipe
The first time you surprise your kids with this creamy & cool graham cracker sandwich, they’ll probably ask why you didn’t do it sooner.
Remember these vintage Hamburger Helper flavors we thought were so delicious in the 70s, 80s & 90s?
Easy and efficient, there’s a reason Hamburger Helper became – and remained – so popular with home cooks. Here are some of the Hamburger Helper flavors we enjoyed in the 70s, 80s & 90s.
‘Unboxing Betty’ takes you on a fun retro cooking adventure with 1970s Betty Crocker recipes
Unboxing Betty, a fun YouTube channel featuring America’s [fictional] sweetheart, Betty Crocker, has all the ingredients you crave for a fascinating trip down memory lane.
This old-fashioned baking powder biscuit recipe from the 1950s turns out delicious every time
We rediscovered a wonderful baking powder biscuit recipe from the 1950s, along with some handy tips that will help you make a delicious, tender bread that you can enjoy any time of day.
Delicious old-fashioned monkey bread recipe from the 1960s, step-by-step with photos
This fantastic old-fashioned monkey bread recipe – essentially a cinnamon-pecan coffee cake – can be made with your favorite biscuit recipe, or you can also try using brown-and-serve rolls or refrigerated ready-to-bake biscuits.
Easy homemade candy recipes you don’t need a candy thermometer to make
Sometimes, you want to make some easy homemade candy with no fuss, a minimal amount of cooking (maybe even none) – but really delicious results. You’re going to love these retro recipes!
This 70s Jell-O Celery Nut Circle gelatin mold combined lime jello with sour cream, nuts & celery
Here’s a different way to serve a salad – made in a gelatin mold, with a combination of lime Jell-O on top of a layer of a sour cream/jello blend that’s studded with nuts and chopped celery.
Campbelled eggs: 5 recipes for scrambled eggs seasoned with soup
Here are 5 recipes from the 60s & 70s for Campbelled eggs – a breakfast dish created by the Campbell’s Soup company – including the how-to for Western-style Campbelled eggs.
Easy one-bowl applesauce cake recipe (1973)
Grandma’s one-bowl applesauce cake recipe. It’s especially versatile. It’s the perfect snack almost any time. Bake it as squares, a ring, a loaf or cupcakes. Glaze it or not. Offer it for special flavor at brunch, lunch, or nightcap breaks.
24 vintage recipe boxes: Before food blogs & recipe apps, these compact organizers were a kitchen essential
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!
How to make a vintage double-decker peach Jello salad like they did in the ’70s
Here’s a peachy keen vintage peach Jello salad recipe from 1979, which features apricot brandy, sliced peaches and gelatin. Get two bonus variations, too!
Golden Grahams Gold’n Nut Crunch snack mix recipe from the 70s
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.
35 classic gingerbread house ideas: Get inspired & find out how to make your own
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: Get a classic 1970s recipe
Rocky Road fudge — with its tried-and-true combination of chocolate, marshmallows and nuts — reaches new heights when made in fudge form.
Pan cookies & cookie bars recipes: 20 vintage versions of popular & super easy treats to make!
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.
Classic chocolate Bacardi rum cake recipe from the 1970s, remade for today with step-by-step photos
From the 70s, here’s a retro recipe for a frosted chocolate Bacardi rum cake – a chocolatey partner to the famous Bacardi rum cake. Get the recipe step-by-step here!
Butterscotch haystacks with peanut butter: Easy no-bake cookies from the 60s
Butterscotch haystacks are a simple vintage dessert made with butterscotch chips, peanut butter and chow mein noodles — a delicious treat that’s been popular since the 1960s.
Pecan fingers cookies: Delicious old-fashioned vanilla powdered sugar treats from the 1970s
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 these old Shake and Bake seasoned coating mixes that shook up our dinner options
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!
Make sensational sesame-herb chicken with this homemade shake and bake recipe from the 70s
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!
Chocolate chip cookies: Your ultimate guide to the best ever vintage recipes (1930s-2000)
We’ve collected some of the most well-known, classic versions of this vintage chocolate chip cookies. Which one will you bake today?
Chocolate crinkle cookies with powdered sugar
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.
Walnut chocolate chip cookies: Elevate a classic cookie with just one extra ingredient
Oh, the lovely, nutty things you can do with walnuts! Straight from 1978, here is a wonderful recipe to try for delicious walnut chocolate chip cookies.
Our 14 best vintage brownie recipes
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!
Jamaican pound cake with bananas & almonds (1972)
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.
Homemade scrapple recipe & about this meaty Pennsylvania treat
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.
6 collections of sweet & spicy gingerbread recipes – the ultimate Christmas treat!
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.
Retro party food: 12 fun & fabulous cheese ball recipes from the 70s
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.
Peanut sitting-pretties cookie recipe
Made with peanut m&ms chocolate candies, these adorable peanut sitting-pretties thumbprint cookies look like little birds’ nests!
Make a pinecone-shaped cheeseball with almonds the retro way – perfect for a holiday party!
Toast the season’s riches with this snappy pinecone-shaped cheeseball! Formed in a nutshell of crisp, crunchy almonds, its flavor is so scrumptious, your guests will go simply nutty.
Chocolate-covered Rice Krispies treats, aka Fudge Krispies
Here’s a tasty retro chocolate fudge recipe from 1984 for Fudge Krispies — essentially chocolate-covered Rice Krispies Treats! Get the easy how-to here.
Perfect turkey gravy: An easy classic recipe from the 70s
Want to know how to make the perfect turkey gravy? Here’s a great classic recipe, plus four delicious gravy variations – easy ways to increase your gravy’s wow factor!
No-cook peppermint patties
These colorful homemade no-cook peppermint patties are tasty and super easy to make. Best of all, you can color them for any occasion!
14 different delicious and creative pumpkin pie toppings to try: Creamy, crunchy, sweet & tangy
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!
How to make an easy olive cheese ball
What could be better to get a holiday party rolling than a creamy, festive olive cheese ball? This recipe comes from the 70s, which was pretty much the golden age of cheese spreads.
Rice Krispies crunchy chicken: Get the retro recipe from the 80s
Here’s the easy way to make deliciously moist ‘n crispy Rice Krispies crunchy chicken, with a crust so crisp, it crunches.
Make a turkey cheese ball appetizer (1972)
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.
What is the best pumpkin pie recipe? We have 30+ classics for you to choose from
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!
Country apple pie with streusel crumb topping (1973)
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!
Bisquick’s caramel rolls: The vintage make-ahead breakfast recipe
This vintage caramel roll recipe combines brown sugar and pecans to make a warm and wonderful breakfast treat. Bisquick calls this recipe their ‘Do-ahead caramel rolls’ because the dough can be made and chilled up to 24 hours.
Almond Legend cake recipe (1976)
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!
7 classic Hershey’s chocolate cake recipes from the 70s
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!
Easy classic pudding lemonade cake recipe from the 70s
For one of the most lemony lemon cakes you can make, try baking a pudding lemonade cake! This dessert delivers deliciously tart and sweet flavors by combining lemon cake mix, lemon pudding mix, and even lemonade drink mix or concentrate.
Raisin Bran cookies: A giant-size recipe from 1998, plus another tasty version from 1976
These Raisin Bran cookies are a delish (and wholesome) option for anyone looking to add some variety to their holiday cookie tray! Get the classic cookie recipe from Kellogg’s here – plus a similar recipe from the 70s.
Butterscotch oaties cookie recipe (1968)
Here’s a classic recipe for tiny and delicious butterscotch oaties cookies, just as published back in 1968.
Make fruity pastel marshmallows with this vintage Jello recipe
Make your own gelatin-based fruit-flavored treats with this vintage recipe for easy homemade pastel marshmallows from the 1970s!
These magical vintage Crock-Pot Slow Cookers from the 70s & 80s changed the game for working moms
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?!
Lime chiffon dessert: A tangy retro recipe made with marshmallows & gelatin
Here’s a deliciously light springtime treat that’s easy to make — a no-bake lime chiffon dessert with marshmallows.
Vintage chocolate milk brands we’ve loved over the years: Mixes & ready-to drink deliciousness
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.
Hot buttered tomato juice & hot buttered tomato soup: Would you try these retro recipes?
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.
The original Waldorf Salad recipe, plus a dozen vintage variations on this classic
The Waldorf salad – named for the hotel – became known around the world. Here’s how to make it along with suggestions for lots of different variations – and learn its history!
Apple pie dump cake recipe & vintage dump cake how-tos
Without a doubt, the humble dump cake has one of the worst names ever, but this sweet treat has still managed to stay popular since its introduction in the mid-sixties. See step-by-step photos for an apple pie dump cake recipe here!
Strawberry pretzel salad: This famous jello recipe from the 70s has never gone out of style
Whether you serve it before or after the main course, this old-fashioned strawberry pretzel salad is bright & colorful, sweet & salty, easy to make & delicious to eat!
Hummingbird cake recipe: Try this famous banana-pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting from 1978
One of Southern Living magazines’ most popular recipes, the Hummingbird cake is a classic Southern dessert sweet you won’t want to miss! It’s a delicious tropical-style dessert that improves with age.
