The Best Homemade Dessert Recipes From the Past

Explore Grandma's best Homemade Dessert Recipes on this unique recipe site. Immerse yourself in warm family memories as you explore the vintage comfort foods and treats from your childhood. This delightful journey through time offers a refreshing blend of nostalgia and irresistible flavors.

Get Grandma's Favorite Old Fashioned Dessert Recipes

You Can Make Delicious Old Fashioned Desserts Like This!
(Crisco® by Smucker's)

There's a good reason why this recipe site has proven itself popular over two decades. Grandma's delicious desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth and bring to mind fond memories of wonderful times spent with family and friends.

Let me take you on a nostalgic heartwarming journey complete with stories of cherished family moments and historical details making each dessert and its treasured recipe extra special.

Welcome to the World of Homemade Desserts
(Source: ©Don Bell)

Grandma's Legacy

Growing up in the 1950s, I was surrounded by an abundance of homemade desserts at family gatherings. From flaky fruit pies to rich chocolate cakes and crumbly cookie bars, these delights were lovingly prepared by Mom and her sisters, creating a dessert lover's paradise.

With Mom's cherished recipe cards, scrapbooks, and vintage cookbooks in hand, I'm excited to share her treasured recipes with you. Get ready to indulge in unforgettable homemade desserts that will tantalize your taste buds.

This website is dedicated to Mom and dessert enthusiasts like you who appreciate the best homemade dessert recipes and the timeless flavors of country-kitchen treats. Join me on this delightful journey as we savor every delicious spoonful!

Explore 30 Dessert Categories

Grandma's collection includes a range of 30 Dessert Categories including pies, cakes, puddings, cookies, pastries, ice creams, and more. Over 2,000 dessert recipes! Each category reminds us of delights from our childhood.

Make an Old Fashioned Devil's Food Cake
(Source: ©asimojet/Depositphotos.com)

Discover the nostalgic charm of Old Fashioned Cake Recipes, from the classic Chocolate Layer to light Angel Food. These timeless cakes recall the warmth of Grandma's kitchen. They offer a delightful journey through flavors and textures that transport you back to cherished childhood memories and warm family gatherings.

Enjoy Old Fashioned Donuts While Still Warm
(Source: ©jentara/Depositphotos.com)

Explore the world of Old Fashioned Donut Recipes, from crispy yeast-free varieties to classic Crullers and homemade Funnel Cakes. Learn to craft these beloved childhood treats at home, filling your kitchen with irresistible aromas and creating lasting memories with loved ones.

Enjoy Grandma's Homemade Chocolate Fudge
(Source: ©bhofack2/Depositphotos.com)

Discover the joy of Old Fashioned Candy Recipes, from rich Chocolate Fudge to delectable Toffee Treats. Relive the excitement of Grandma's Sunday afternoon candy-making sessions by crafting your own sweet delights from scratch, continuing a delicious family tradition.

Make and Enjoy Grandma's Homemade Cookies
(Source: ©Dukell/Depositphotos.com)

Rediscover the magic of Grandma's kitchen with her Old Fashioned Cookie Recipes. These timeless treats offer more than just delicious bites; they're a nostalgic journey connecting generations. Uncover the secrets to baking perfect homemade cookies that fill your home with irresistible aromas and warm memories.

Chocolate Candy Cane Fudge for Christmas
(Source: ©TeriVirbickis/Depositphotos.com)

Grandma's favorite old fashioned Christmas Dessert Recipes let you indulge in the nostalgia of Christmas with classic desserts like Gingerbread Houses, Plum Puddings, Shortbread, and Sugar Cookies. These traditional treats will transform your home into a hub of festive cheer, rekindling cherished childhood memories.

Make Authentic Italian Castagnole
(Source: ©fiorellamacor/Depositphotos.com)

Explore a world of traditional sweetness with International Dessert Recipes. From the sweet crispy Italian Castagnole to buttery French Crepes, these classic treats offer a delightful culinary journey. Break your dessert routine and indulge in diverse flavors that will transport your taste buds across the globe.

Enjoy an Authentic Renaissance Apple Tart
(Source: ©studioM/Depositphotos.com)

Step back in time with authentic Renaissance Dessert Recipes. From sweetmeats to marchpane and gingerbread, experience the flavors that delighted Shakespeare and royalty alike. Easily recreate these exquisite delicacies and bring the sweetness of history to your noble table.

Old Fashioned Fun in Grandma's Kitchen
(Source: ©everett225/Depositphotos.com)

Relive the charm of yesteryear with Old Fashioned Fun and Nostalgia. From Victorian Crafts and Apron Sewing to Old Time Radio Shows and Aeolian Harp Building, these timeless activities offer a delightful journey through cherished traditions. Experience the joy of simpler times and create lasting memories.

What's New

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1. Pennsylvania Dutch Cake Recipes: Funny Cake & 4 More Classics

   
   Discover authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cake recipes, including the famous Funny Cake, Krum Kuchen, and Iced Molasses Cake. All traditional family recipes.

   Read More

2. Simple Dessert Bars Recipes: Magic Cookie & Fruit Filled Bars

   
   Grandma's simple dessert bars recipes from the 1920s feature classic treats like Magic Cookie Bars and Caramel Nut Bars. Easy to make family favorites.

   Read More

3. Dessert Squares Recipes: Vintage 1920s Homemade Treats

   
   Explore traditional dessert squares recipes featuring homestyle favorites. Find vintage shortbread-based treats and nut squares from family recipe boxes.

   Read More

Take pride in serving wholesome desserts so unlike the typical recipes found on most food blogs. Your friends will be begging to know how you made something so unique and delicious!

Many recipes featured were invented by the famous celebrity chefs of Grandma's day, while others evolved from humble farmhouse kitchens. You are sure to find a delicious dessert for that special occasion.

Also Get Grandma's Cooking Tips

Unlock Grandma's Simple Cooking Tips to elevate your culinary skills. Learn precise measurements, perfect oven temperatures, and tricks that transform ordinary dishes into masterpieces. Uncover time-tested secrets for creating memorable meals with Grandma's heartwarming approach to old fashioned cooking.

Experience Authentic Recipes

After browsing through Grandma's recipe box and selecting her best homemade dessert recipes, I am careful to publish the vintage recipes EXACTLY as they were written. That way, you can have the fun of reading and preparing them just as she did.

Freshly Made Chocolate Nut Fudge
(Source: ©Don Bell)

Don't fall into the trap of ignoring vintage recipes simply because they might be written in paragraph form without step-by-step photos. Recipes from Grandma's day are easy-to-follow, so you can expect to have good results.

Remember, old fashioned dessert recipes were written for home kitchens lacking the electric mixers and modern appliances we enjoy today, so you can expect to make mouth-watering desserts in half the time that Grandma did!

Join Others in Celebrating Grandma's Best Homemade Dessert Recipes

An Original "I Want to Draw a Cat for You" Drawing by Steve Gadlin, as Seen on ABC's Shark Tank Series

What Fans Are Saying…

Thanks for providing the world with a nice dessert website that looks as nice as the desserts themselves! —Rick, U.S.A.

I absolutely adore your recipe site. I had to say thank you for sharing your Grandma's wonderful recipes and I can't wait to try them.

I love how everything is set up. It's so easy to move around in, not like other sites that are cluttered and unorganized.

I also enjoy the articles about the recipes and their history. Just had to let you know I will be returning here again and again! —Maggie, U.S.A.

I love this website. So nostalgic and cosy! —Judy, USA

Thank you so much for these wonderful dessert recipes. They always bring back such cherished memories. —Sharon, USA

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Pour your favorite cuppa, get comfy in your chair, and browse this collection of Grandma's best homemade dessert recipes. But, don't hurry! Take time to enjoy the heartwarming nostalgia too.

Let's Keep in Touch

Homemade Cake with Berries and Whipped Cream
(Source: ©Don Bell)

Grandma's legacy of sharing love through cooking lives on through this site. We aim to keep her tradition of delicious, homemade dessert recipes alive in hearts and kitchens. Experience the joy of baking and sharing these treats, from homemade pies to chocolate layer cakes, with your loved ones, just as Grandma did.

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE in your browser. I am always adding new desserts along with items of interest and nostalgia, so be sure to visit often.

GET YOUR FREE MEMBERSHIP in Grandma's Dessert Club. Instantly download your FREE Recipe Ebook and receive regular club Bulletins featuring delicious recipes, page updates, and items exclusive to members delivered to your inbox.

Grandma McIlmoyle's Little Dessert Book

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