17 Retro Desserts from Your Mom's Old Recipe Cards

There’s something special about desserts that feel like they came straight from an old family recipe box. These cakes, pies, cookies, and cobblers bring back the familiar flavors that showed up at Sunday dinners and family gatherings. Sometimes the recipes that have been around the longest are still the ones everyone wants another serving of.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie

Homemade chocolate pudding fills this classic pie with rich, creamy flavor. It has the simple, familiar feel of the kind of dessert that would have been tucked into a well-used family recipe box.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie

Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie

Vanilla custard and a caramelized cinnamon-sugar topping give this Hoosier pie its old-fashioned appeal. With no eggs in the filling, it is a simple classic that has lasted for generations.
Get the Recipe: Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie

Granny Cake with Coconut

Pineapple cake gets topped with brown sugar, then finished with a buttery sauce full of nuts and coconut. It is sweet, homey, and exactly the kind of cake that feels passed down through the family.
Get the Recipe: Granny Cake with Coconut

Old-Fashioned Apple Cider Donut Recipe

Soft apple cake on the inside and a crisp cinnamon-sugar coating on the outside make these donuts feel wonderfully nostalgic. They are the kind of fall treat that makes the kitchen smell like home.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Apple Cider Donut Recipe

Easy Boston Cream Pie Recipe (Using Cake Mix)

Cake mix makes this Boston Cream Pie easier while a simple technique keeps the classic sponge cake texture. It is a shortcut take on the custard-and-chocolate dessert people have loved for generations.
Get the Recipe: Easy Boston Cream Pie Recipe (Using Cake Mix)

Traditional Baked Alaska Using Cake Mix

Layers of cake, ice cream, and toasted meringue make Baked Alaska a true retro showstopper. This version starts with cake mix, making the old-school dessert a little easier to pull off at home.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Baked Alaska Using Cake Mix

Old Fashioned Peach Pound Cake Recipe

Sweet peaches and butter keep this Southern pound cake moist, with peach pieces and puree worked right into the batter. A simple peach glaze finishes a dessert that feels straight from an old recipe box.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Peach Pound Cake Recipe

Old Fashioned Rhubarb Custard Pie

Tangy rhubarb and creamy custard strike a classic sweet-tart balance inside a flaky pie. It is a timeless way to turn rhubarb season into the kind of dessert families have made for years.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Rhubarb Custard Pie

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Chess Pie with Cornmeal

Rich cocoa flavor gives this Southern chess pie a fudgy, silky filling baked in a simple crust. Cornmeal keeps it true to its old-fashioned roots while the easy preparation makes it worth revisiting.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Chess Pie with Cornmeal

Really, Really Good Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

Tender rice simmered in sweetened milk creates a creamy pudding with a light touch of cinnamon. It is simple, comforting, and exactly the sort of dessert that brings back memories with one spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Really, Really Good Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

An Old-fashioned Blackberry Cobbler Recipe with Homemade Biscuits

Juicy blackberries bake beneath a golden homemade biscuit topping in this rustic Southern cobbler. Add a scoop of ice cream and it feels like the kind of dessert that always showed up at family gatherings.
Get the Recipe: An Old-fashioned Blackberry Cobbler Recipe with Homemade Biscuits

Old-Fashioned Southern Caramel Cake with Pecans

Moist cake layers and rich homemade caramel frosting make this Southern favorite unapologetically sweet. Pecans add a little crunch to a celebration cake with plenty of old-fashioned charm.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Southern Caramel Cake with Pecans

Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe From Scratch

Cream cheese gives this from-scratch pound cake a rich, buttery crumb that stays tender and dense. Serve it plain or with fruit and whipped cream for a dessert that never needed trends to stay popular.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe From Scratch

Old Fashioned Apple Custard Pie Recipe

Tender apples bake into a creamy custard filling inside a flaky crust for a cozy fall dessert. The lightly spiced flavor gives this pie the familiar feel of something pulled from a handwritten recipe card.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Apple Custard Pie Recipe

Old-Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies (Soft And Chewy)

Warm spices and a sweet glaze turn chewy oatmeal cookies into a treat that feels instantly familiar. They are simple, cozy, and just right for a cookie tin or an after-school plate.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies (Soft And Chewy)

Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake with Lemon Curd

Whipped egg whites give this classic angel food cake its famously light and airy texture. Lemon curd adds a bright finish to a dessert that has been appearing on family tables for generations.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake with Lemon Curd

Vintage Banana Split Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting

Bananas, pineapple, whipped topping, and a cookie crust turn the flavors of an ice cream sundae into a vintage no-bake cake. It is fruity, creamy, and made for a retro dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Banana Split Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting