Your Free Library for Mid Century Recipes

Explore a digital archive of vintage recipes from mid-century classics and retro desserts to nostalgic drinks and more, with free vintage recipe resources below.

Sources: Vintage cookbooks, recipe cards, or clippings from the Vintage by the Bite personal collection. Shared to document food history and support preservation and education.

VBTB Recipe Cards

Main dish header classic mid-century dinner recipes, vintage comfort meals, and hearty retro entrees.

Classic mid-century meal ideas

Vintage Casserole Recipes

Vintage Lunch Page

Vintage Restaurant and Motel Recipes

#EntertainingandPartyCulture

Vintage by the Bite original recipe chicken Al orange

fb-post0tuna-noodle-casserole-original-recipe-and-photo.jpg

Retro beverages header vintage drink recipes including cocktails, mocktails, punches, and nostalgic mid-century refreshments.

old timey float archive photo of a float

Vintage Punch Recipes

Vintage Cocktail Hub

Fizzy Drinks on the blog

Floats & Shakes

Timeless refreshments for entertaining

Appetizers header retro appetizers and starters, mid-century party snacks, and vintage hors d’oeuvres.

Retro Appetizers and Starters

Retro Fondue Recipes

Great Vintage Starters

sour cream dip/personal collection - archival content

vintage - your guide - cheese plate/archive

Vintage desserts header — sweet retro dessert recipes, classic cakes, pies, and nostalgic mid-century treats.

Old-fashioned Dessert Treats

More Vintage Dessert Ideas

Vintage Cake Recipes

Homemade Frosting

7up Fluffy Icing/Personal Collection -archival content

Crispy Crunch Bars/ Personal Collection -archival content

fun with coffee/1951/coffee cream puffs/personal collection - archival content

Kahlua Butterscotch Sauce/1986/ Kahlua Recipe Book/ Public - archival content

Salads and sides header vintage salad recipes, mid-century side dishes, and nostalgic comfort foods.

Vintage Salads and Side Dishes

Hot & Cold Sides on the Blog

heinz public recipe/surprise baked potato recipe/1950s recipe / archival content

Tomato Aspic Rings\Carnation\ Personal Collection - archival content

watergate salad/Vintage Recipe Collection personal/1970s recipes/transcribed - archival content

Brown Derby Original Cobb Salad Recipe/1945/personal collection - archival content

Breakfast

Old Fashioned Breakfast Recipes

Waffles & Pancakes

Breakfast on the Blog

crisco doughnut recipe/crisco/personal collection - archival content

Preserved from a vintage Bisquick advertisement, mid-century era. Public/ Bisquick “Chiffon” Waffles/Betty Crocker Advertisement

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2½ cups Bisquick
2 tbsp. sugar
¼ cup cooking (salad) oil or melted shortening

Instruction

Banana doughnuts/personal collection/1953 A Picture Treasury of Good Cooking - Taylor & Ziegfeld Vintage cookbook - archival content

betty crocker/toast toppers betty crocker personal collection - archival content

cinnamon coffee cake/public/1950s recipe / archival content - archival content

Retro Snacks

Old-Fashioned Snacks to Share

Popcorn - Cookies - Candy

Vintage Cookie Recipe Collection - Cookie of the Month & 30 Days of Christmas Cookies

vintage by the bite originals candy bar brownie

butter rum mints/old fashioned recipe/personal collection

1973/ public domain/ book: 200 ways to make candy/ caramel candy recipes

Rice crispy/rice crispy squares/1950's recipe/vintage advertisement recipe/ archival content

vintage candy/homemade / archival content

cheese snacks recipe/betty crocker/1950s recipe/mid century recipe/ personal collection

homemade maple fudge/public / archival content

✦ Disclaimer: The free recipes shared on this page are offered for educational, preservation, and personal enjoyment.

While we make every effort to ensure that the recipes shared are in the public domain or properly credited and dated, if you are the owner of a recipe or content featured here and wish for it to be removed, please contact us directly. Contact