15 Tried-And-True Recipes from Vintage Cookbooks
From crowd-pleasing casseroles to classic cakes.
MyHotSouthernMess
Here at Allrecipes, we love a good tried-and-true recipe passed down through the generations. And what better place to find good, old-fashioned recipes than in a retro cookbook? From church and junior league treasures to classics tucked away on grandma's bookshelf, we've compiled 15 of the very best recipes that community members found in vintage cookbooks.
Kim's Buttermilk Spice Cake
"This spice cake was inspired by a recipe from one of my mom's old cookbooks. It was my great-grandpa's favorite cake, and I used to make it for him all the time. It's a simple cake that's not too sweet, and has a rather strong spice flavor. Err on the side of underbaking the cake rather than overbaking, or it'll be dry." —Kim
Ham with Honey and Brown Sugar Glaze
"I modified this recipe from a very old cookbook (dated 1890)." —MIKAZUKI
Vanilla Wafer Cookies That Are Better Than Storebought
"This recipe comes from my favorite cookbook from a church. It is simple, easy, inexpensive and delicious! Not to mention it tastes better than the vanilla wafers you can buy at the store!" —usmcwifey
Sugar Cream Pie
Teri
"Quick and easy pie adapted from my church's cookbook." —Teri
Swiss Steak
"An old family favorite salvaged from our 30-plus-year-old cookbook. We like this served over egg noodles. I like to increase the tomatoes to a 15 ½-ounce can, and I use a full green pepper and add a teaspoon of paprika." —Chuck Schmahl
Christmas Molasses and Ginger Cookies
"I got this recipe out of one of my mother's cookbooks and tried it one Christmas Eve with her. They were amazing! My brother even loved them, and he is the pickiest person I know." —puzzleperson
Prune Cake
Windfola
"This was the cake I asked my mother to bake me for my birthday each year. Most people would turn up their noses at any food with prunes in it, but oh are they wrong! This cake is wonderful. When my mother had to go to the nursing home, I found her recipe written in the back of an old cookbook. I was so excited and have been baking it ever since." —GA Hole In 1 GAL
Cornflake Chicken Casserole
"This is a a quick casserole, especially if you have leftover chicken on hand. I found this in a church cookbook my grandmother gave to me. With a few modifications, I found this easy and delicious!" —Susanne
Mama's Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
"These chewy oatmeal cookies are delicious. I recreated this recipe by memory from my childhood. They are so good—everyone who tries them gets hooked! They have a place in every woman's cookbook in my family." —rocksoutforcheese
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY
"This double chocolate chip cookie recipe is an altered version of a recipe from an old cookbook that took 10 years for me to perfect! I have been told to sell these cookies, they are very, very, very, very good!" —ORBAMINK
River Road Spinach Madeline
"First published in 1959 in River Road Recipes, the Junior League of Baton Rouge's community cookbook, spinach Madeline remains a favorite side dish in Southern Louisiana. Thick and creamy with a hint of jalapeño heat, it's most at home on holidays next to turkey, cornbread dressing, and green bean casserole." —Mary Claire Lagroue
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
MyHotSouthernMess
"This recipe was the 'birthday dinner' recipe that my husband requested from his mom when he was young. After she passed away, he thought the recipe was lost forever... Until I found it tucked away in one of her old cookbooks and made it for a surprise birthday present last year!" —Nicole
Crisp Pickled Green Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
"These pickled green beans turn out very crisp with a wonderful dill flavor, and the red pepper flakes provide a nice punch. This recipe is from my grandmother's cookbook that she passed on to all her grandchildren. It's much better than those that call for cooking the beans first." —Jani Whitsett
Beau Monde Seasoning
Nicole Russell
"I had never heard of beau monde seasoning, but it was called for in dozens of recipes in an old cookbook I found. It originated from a popular spice brand and turns out, it is still a thing. I fell in love. It's great in soup or any savory dish and also as a rub for meat. Because I could only get it online, I decided to make my own." —Nicole Russell
Latin-Inspired Spicy Cream Chicken Stew
"My old roommate, who was Latino, gave me this recipe about 8 years ago. Recently I was cleaning out a cookbook and found the recipe tucked away. This is extremely delicious." —MSHELLZ2U
More Inspiration
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