Old Fashioned Desserts Your Family Will Love · Seasonal Cravings (2024)

There's something magical about desserts that take us back in time, bringing a wave of nostalgia with every bite. From classic banana pudding to old-fashioned chocolate cake, these retro desserts remind us of family gatherings and simpler times. In this article, we're diving into some beloved nostalgic dessert recipes that have stood the test of time. These sweet treats are easy to make and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Pear Cobbler

Thisold-fashioned pear cobbler recipeis super simple to make and is one of my go-to desserts to make when I'm having people over. Impress your guests with this fancy, secretly effortless recipe.

Get the recipe: Pear Cobbler

Watergate Salad

ThisWatergate Salad Recipe, also known as “Pistachio Delight,” is a delicious dessert salad recipe made from a mixture of pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, whipped topping, chopped pecans, and mini marshmallows. Sweet, creamy, and so easy to make, it takes just 5 minutes to make!

Get the recipe: Watergate Salad

Cinnamon Rice Pudding

Sweet and with a hint of citrus, this creamy rice pudding recipe (arroz con leche) has been in my family for ages. It is easy to make and keeps refrigerated for several days. We like it cold dusted with ground cinnamon, but you can eat it at room temperature or even warm.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon Rice Pudding

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Thischocolate mayonnaise cakeis a not-too-sweet, moist chocolate cake that’s made from scratch! This dense chocolate cake is perfect with a sweet chocolate or vanilla frosting.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Citrus Jam Roly Poly Spotted Dick Pudding

This recipe is a new take on the traditional English puddings of jam roly poly and spotted dick. It brings both toagether in one delicious pudding, and enhances them with a citrus zesty twist throughout and a spicy citrus preserve filling

Get the recipe: Citrus Jam Roly Poly Spotted Dick Pudding

Classic Gooey Butter Cake

This classic gooey butter cake recipe is a dessert that has ingredients of a cake but is served up like a brownie. With it’s buttery crust and flaky, gooey, cream cheese-based top, it’s one of the best dessert recipes out there!

Get the recipe: Classic Gooey Butter Cake

Million Dollar Pie

This easy to makeMillion Dollar Pie recipeis one that belongs in everyone's recipe box. A classic diner pie great for any occasion, especially the holidays.

Get the recipe: Million Dollar Pie

Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie

Meet the mouthwatering pineapple cheesecake pie – a dessert that's as easy to make as it is to devour.It's incredibly delicious.The cookie crust encases a 5-ingredient, no-bake filling in minutes. It can be made ahead and kept refrigerated or frozen.

Get the recipe: Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie

Old-Fashioned Butter Cookies

These soft butter cookies are full of rich-buttery goodness. They have a delightful crumbly texture that just melts in your mouth. This easy one-bowl recipe is made with only 6 ingredients.

Get the recipe: Old-Fashioned Butter Cookies

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

Homemade vanilla pudding layered with vanilla cookies and fresh bananas make this the ultimateold fashioned banana puddingrecipe.

Get the recipe: Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

Red Velvet Cake with Ermine Frosting

Red velvet cake with ermine frosting is the red velvet cake of the good old days. It’s not weighed down with heavy cream cheese but paired with the most delicate whipped ermine frosting. The combination is delicious!

Get the recipe: Red Velvet Cake with Ermine Frosting

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

With achewy peanut butter oat base, creamy peanut butter center, and richchocolate buttercream topping, these cafeteria-style peanut butter chocolate bars arethe best, and so simple to bake.

Get the recipe: Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Lime Jello Salad with Cream Cheese

Lime jello salad is the ultimate holiday side dish or potluck recipe! Made with crushed pineapple, marshmallows, and cream cheese, this light and refreshing fruit salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

Get the recipe: Lime Jello Salad with Cream Cheese

Ambrosia Salad

This vintage fruit salad is a retro dessert that's made gluten-free and allergy-free using dairy-free coconut whipped cream, sour cream, canned pineapple, mandarins, cherries, coconut, and mini marshmallows! Quick and simple to customize or keep it like grandma's nostalgic 5 cup salad recipe!

Get the recipe: Ambrosia Salad

Homemade Nutter Butters

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Remember the iconic Nutter Butters? Crispy, crunchy cookies sandwiched with creamy peanut butter goodness – a classic childhood treat. We created these homemade Nutter Butters so you can enjoy them with real food ingredients!

Get the recipe: Homemade Nutter Butters

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

These classic iced oatmeal cookies are the best dessert! They are chewy, soft, and sweet. This easy cookie dough will become a go-to for holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and more. Only 20 minutes in total. They are cozy, warmly spiced, and so flavorful.

Get the recipe: Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Biscuit Base Lemon Meringue Pie

This no-bake crust will save you from the drama of mixing, chilling and blind-baking a shortcrust pastry base. Instead, this is a quick and easy kickoff to a beautiful dessert.

Get the recipe: Biscuit Base Lemon Meringue Pie

Buttermilk Vanilla Cake Recipe From Scratch

Bake a cake just like Grandma used to with thisVintage Buttermilk Vanilla Cake Recipe From Scratch. A delicate layer cake topped with homemade vanilla buttercream frosting!

Get the recipe: Buttermilk Vanilla Cake Recipe From Scratch

Pudding in a Cloud

Dive into a dreamy dessert experience with Pudding in a Cloud, a heavenly treat of fluffy Cool Whip and rich chocolate pudding. This simple yet sophisticated dessert starts with fluffy Cool Whip spread into glasses and chocolate pudding is spooned into the cloud-like base.

Get the recipe: Pudding in a Cloud

Apple Bread Pudding

If you’ve been wondering what to do with thatleftover breadsitting on the counter, thisapple bread puddingis a delicious way to use it! Made withfresh apples, everydaybread, andwarm cinnamon, this old-fashioned apple bread pudding recipe takes little effort yet packs plenty of sweet flavor. Serve it with your favorite toppings or a bowl of vanilla ice cream for a delightful andcomforting fall dessertthat will have the whole family running back for seconds!

Go to the recipe: Apple Bread Pudding

Cosmic Brownies

These classic Cosmic Brownies are nostalgic, fun, rich, and decadent! This copycat recipe will remind you of your childhood. These brownies are quick and easy to make at home. You will love the dense, fudgy brownies, smooth chocolate frosting, and fun rainbow sprinkles!

Get the recipe: Cosmic Brownies

Millionaire Bars

These Millionaire Bars have three delicious layers: buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, and smooth chocolate! Sprinkle some sea salt on top for an extra tasty touch. It is a super rich treat that lives up to its fancy name. These millionaire bars are made with wholesome ingredients, but they are rich, gourmet, and indulgent!

Get the recipe: Millionaire Bars

Old School Cornflake Tray Bake With Jam And Golden Syrup

Just like the classic Cornflake tart with jam but in traybake form! This is so easy to make and perfect for beginner bakers.

Get the recipe: Old School Cornflake Tray Bake With Jam And Golden Syrup

Sugar Donuts

Sweet, crunchy, and hard to resist, thesehomemadesugar donutsare the perfect mid-day treat alongside coffee or tea or as a post-dinner dessert. This easy sugar donuts recipe is a breeze, requiring onlyeight ingredientsand30 minutesof your time. You’ll be craving another the very moment you sink your teeth into one of them!

Go to the recipe: Sugar Donuts

Sour Cream Cookies

You will fall in love with these yummy sour cream cookies' melt-in-your-mouth, almost cake-like texture! Fluffy, super soft, and topped with a rich buttercream frosting, they can be decorated to match any occasion. So get ready to delight your taste buds and impress your loved ones with this classic old-fashioned sour cream cookie recipe!

Go to the recipe: Sour Cream Cookies

Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

This oatmeal craisin cookies recipe is the ultimate soft and chewy cookie treat to make any time! Making these healthyoatmeal cranberry cookies is super easy yet provides a luxurious cookie experience. The cookies are loaded with craisin, cinnamon, and brown sugar, making them wonderfully rich yet very well-balanced in sweetness.

Go to the recipe: Oatmeal Craisin Cookies