Your Library for Vintage Recipes
Explore curated everyday vintage recipes from mid-century classics and sweet retro desserts to nostalgic drinks.
Scroll Down For: Appetizers, Beverages, Salads & Sides, Main Dish, Desserts, Breakfast, Retro Snacks, Kitchen Know-How, 10 Mid-Century Cooking Tricks Every Retro Homemaker Knew, Disclaimer
Vintage ration & depression era recipes that prove creativity never goes out of style
Bessie R Murphy / Irish Potato Raisin Bread/ Irish Potatoes/ 1920
Bessie R Murphy/Creamed Irish Potatoes/ Baked Irish Potatoes/French Mash Irish Potatoes/ 1920
Bessie R Murphy/Baked Irish Potato Puff/Irish Potatoes AU Gratin/Peas Nest/1920
Janet M Hill/Corn bread/1918
Depression Dinner/ Doris Barkley/ Sauces/ Bertha Nettleton/ 1918
Depression Cake/Public Recipe
Timeless refreshments for entertaining
Cocktails and mixed drinks 1967
Shirley Temple Mocktail/public recipe
Arnold Palmer mocktail/ personal recipe
Thanksgiving dirty soda/blog recipe
Party drinks/Mid-Century Recipes/cocktails/Fleishman's/public/Manhattan/Old-fashioned/Whiskeys Sour
Kahlua White Russian Cocktail/Kahula Recipe Book 1986/public recipe
State Fair Ham Loaf/ Public Recipe/ Mixed with Vintage World's Fair Advertisement Made In 1963
Sweet & Sour Meatballs/Carnation/1950s/Public Recipe
Brown Derby Spaghetti/1945/personal collection
hormel/recipe/hampastry/personal/VintageFoodOddities
Spice island recipe /baked ham/1950's recipe/1950/public
Good housekeeping personal collections
Batter Franks Recipe Card/1971/Betty Crocker/ personal collection
betty crocker/ fondue/ instructions/ batter franks
Kahlua Butterscotch Sauce/1986/ Kahlua Recipe Book/ Public
peach cake/ newspaper/ public domain
Crisco Caramel Chip Pie/ this style of tagline was big in Crisco’s advertising campaigns in the 1950s–1960s.
Betty Crocker/brownie pie/public recipe/get the transcribed recipe below
del monte/ vintage autumn gold cake recipe/late 60s/public recipe
fudge rice krispies public recipe/ricr krispies/fudge
apple filled oatmeal cookie recipe/fall cookies/public
orange cookies/cookie recipe/public/fall cookie recipe
Baby Ruth Candy Bar Cookie recipe/clipping/public/vintage cookie recipe/public
sugar cookie recipe/church recipe book recipe/public
sugar molasses cookie recipe/vintage cookie recipe/public
hoot owl cookie recipe/1950's recipe/fall cookies
peanut butter cookie recipe/clipping
cry babies cookie recipe
butter cookie recipe
hot puffs/card/1975/personal collection
sour cream dip/personal collection
fried artichoke/western cookbook/1930s recipes/public
idaho nachos personal collections
better homes soup recipes/1953/personal collection
retro luau- chedder spread from personal collection/hawaiian food
kraft dips 1955/public recipe/1950srecipes
Hawaiian Fondue-1971/personal collection/card
Kraft Summer Meal Ideas/Public Recipe
watergate salad/Vintage Recipe Collection personal/1970s recipes/transcribed
Old fashioned mac and cheese/public
strawberry pretzel salad/public domain recipe
corn bread/personal/better homes and garden/cornbread recipe/1950s recipe
Brown Derby Cobb salad/1945/personal collection
Bacon Mac and cheese better homes and gardens/personal collection/
heinz public recipe/surprise baked potato recipe/1950s recipe
Bisquick Velvet Crumb Cake/Public Domain/transcribed recipe
crisco doughnut recipe/crisco/personal collection
baked star corn beef hash recipe
Banana doughnuts/personal collection/1953 A Picture Treasury of Good Cooking - Taylor & Ziegfeld Vintage cookbook
betty crocker/toast toppers betty crocker personal collection
cinnamon coffee cake/public/1950s recipe
carnation eggs recipes/scrambed/welsh rabbit/curied eggs/egg and cheese
grape nuts
Retro Snacks
Old-fashioned snacks to share
peanut butter apple cookies/public/clipping
Rice crispy/rice crispy squares/1950's recipe/vintage advertisement recipe
cheese snacks recipe/betty crocker/1950s recipe/mid century recipe
butter rum mints/old fashioned recipe/personal collection
homemade maple fudge/public
vintage candy/homemade
Candy recipes/1930s/candy recipe
chocolate balls/canada starch co./1930's recipe
Pull up a chair and dust off your apron
How many of these tried-and-true kitchen techniques and definitions do you remember from Mom’s old recipe box?
Kitchen Know-How
1. Non-fat dry milk" (also called nonfat dry milk solids or just dry milk in vintage recipes) refers to dehydrated skim milk—milk from which nearly all the fat and water have been removed, leaving behind a dry powder. It was used to extend fresh milk, add nutrition, and improve texture in baking and cooking.
Essential Mid-Century Cooking Techniques
Canning and Preserving
Safely storing fruits, vegetables, and jams in jars for year-round use requiring precision and patience.
Blanching
A quick boil followed by an ice bath to lock in color and texture essential for freezing garden veggies.
Roasting
Mastering tender, flavorful meats like pot roast or whole chicken, often with careful basting.
Frying
Perfecting crispy fried chicken, donuts, or hash browns maintaining oil temperature was key!
Broiling
Cooking under intense heat for quick-seared meats or seafood without overcooking.
Pressure Cooking
A wartime and post war favorite for speeding up tough cuts of meat or beans tricky but efficient.
Gelatin Setting
Balancing flavors and textures in Jell-O salads or aspics, often with decorative molds.
Casserole Layering
Building hearty, balanced dishes using canned goods, noodles, and creativity.
Whipping
Achieving stiff peaks with cream or egg whites by hand or with an early stand mixer.
Sauteing
Quick cooking in a skillet timing was everything for tender veggies or meats.
Folding
A delicate technique to keep whipped ingredients light and airy in cakes or mousses.
Poaching
Gently cooking eggs or fish in simmering water without breaking or overcooking.
Freezing
Using emerging freezer technology to preserve foods or craft homemade ice cream.
Marinating
Tenderizing tougher cuts of meat with flavorful soaks essential for stretching wartime rations.
Mold Shaping
Creating eye-catching presentations with meatloaf, icebox cakes, or gelatin mold.
✨ 10 Mid-Century Cooking Tricks Every Retro Homemaker Knew
Stock on Ice – Freeze leftover chicken stock in ice cube trays. Pop one out whenever your soup or gravy needs a little extra oomph.
Celery Revival – Got limp celery? Soak it in cold water with a pinch of starch to bring back that fresh, garden crisp snap.
Bread Never Goes to Waste – Yesterday’s loaf becomes today’s crunchy croutons perfect for soups or a fancy dinner salad.
Ketchup Bottle Magic – Don’t toss that empty ketchup bottle! Wash it out and fill it with your homemade salad dressing for an easy pour retro dispenser.
Coffee Freshens More Than You Think – Keep used coffee grounds in a dish in your fridge to chase away stale odors.
Sandwich Fun for the Kids – Use cookie cutters to turn plain sandwiches into star, heart, or flower shapes. Lunchtime smiles guaranteed!
Grease with Ease – Save butter wrappers and use them to grease baking pans. A thrifty trick straight from Grandma’s kitchen.
Quick Dessert Delight – Mix canned fruit cocktail with a cup of Cool Whip. Simple, sweet, and oh-so-1950s.
Citrus Sparkle – Drop a slice of lemon or orange peel into sugar to keep it fresh and add a hint of zesty aroma. (Bonus: that sugar makes a dreamy rim for cocktails!)
A Secret Ingredient for Cakes – Slip a spoonful of mayonnaise into your cake batter for the most tender, moist slices. (Don’t tell the neighbors it’s your secret!)
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