Old Fashioned Cookies, Donuts, Squares and Pastry Treats

Whether you're searching for a classic sugar cookie recipe from the 1920s, a no-bake square that's perfect for a summer picnic, an old fashioned buttermilk donut, or a decadent peanut butter marshmallow square, you'll find it here. This page is your passport to the world of old fashioned cookies, donuts, squares, pastries, and bite-sized treats all made from scratch with simple, wholesome ingredients.

I've spent years collecting these recipes from Grandma McIlmoyle's recipe booklets, from Mom's scrapbooks, and from vintage cookbooks that date back over a century. Every recipe has been preserved exactly as it was written, so you get the authentic, old fashioned baking experience. Let's explore each category together.

What Are the Old Fashioned Cookies, Donuts, Squares, and Pastry Treat Recipes?

The old fashioned baked treats you find on this site are cookies, bars and squares, donuts, and assorted pastries from scratch using traditional recipes, many from the early-to-mid 1900s. They rely on basic pantry staples like real dairy butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and wholesome flavorings instead of boxed mixes or artificial ingredients.

These recipes were passed down through generations of home cooks, often handwritten on recipe cards or on clippings tucked into family scrapbooks.

Why Old Fashioned Baked Goods Are More Popular Than Ever

You might have thought that vintage recipes belong in the past, but the truth is quite the opposite. Home baking is now experiencing a revival. According to Circana, unit sales of baking cookbooks surged by more than 80% in 2025, signaling a powerful shift in people's interest toward scratch baking.^1

And it's not just cookbook sales. Morning Ag Clips noted that "home cooks are returning to vintage recipes, modernizing dishes that defined late 20th-century kitchens," calling Grandma's recipes one of the defining food trends of recent years.^2

Why the interest? Researchers point to the deep emotional comfort that familiar flavors provide. I recently came across a 2025 study published in the National Library of Medicine that explored why people turn to comfort foods. It emphasizes the role of nostalgic eating in providing emotional stability during uncertain times.^3 Mintel's U.S. Baking Mixes Market Report found that 43% of home bakers agree that baking brings them a sense of comfort.^4

There's also a practical reason: people want to know what's actually in their food. When you bake Mom's favorite oatmeal cookies or Grandma's hermit squares, you know every ingredient. There are no unknowns, no unpronounceable chemicals: just real food made with real love.

When I was growing up on the farm, there was always a large tin of freshly baked cookies sitting in the pantry. I was told not to touch them, but I often sneaked one or two when Mom wasn't looking. Okay, I confess, I sneaked a handful. Mom never complained too much. They were wholesome, and she loved to see us enjoying them, and she could always bake more when needed.

That feeling of a cosey farmhouse kitchen filled with the aroma of warm spices and melting butter and sugar is exactly what these vintage recipes bring to mind.

Old Fashioned Cookie Recipes

Nothing fills a home with warmth quite like a batch of cookies baking in the oven. Cookies have been a staple of home baking since the earliest settlers brought their family recipes from Europe. According to Merriam-Webster, the word "cookie" itself comes from the Dutch "koekje," meaning little cake, and by the early 1900s, every family had their own treasured collection.^5

Grandma's cookie recipes cover every variety you can imagine, from rich, chocolatey drop cookies and buttery Scottish shortbreads to spicy gingersnaps and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. There are delicate almond cookies perfect for afternoon tea, tangy lemon cookies that brighten any day, and classic sugar cookies that can be cut into fancy shapes for every holiday and occasion.

One of my personal favorites has always been Grandma McIlmoyle's old-time hermit cookies, those soft golden cookies with a chewy sweetness inside. Baking them was a true labor of love, and every bite was worth the effort.

You'll also find some truly unique treasures in the collection, like the vintage radio cookie recipes that were once shared over the airwaves during old-time radio cooking shows (you get to actually listen to them), and the "forgotten" cookie recipes that were once staples in every pantry but have nearly disappeared from modern kitchens.

And don't forget the practical extras. There are tips on choosing the best cookie sheets for an even baking result, how to use and even make your own cookie cutters, and where to find those collectible old fashioned cookie jars that keep your treats fresh and on display.

Old Fashioned Bars and Squares Recipes

If cookies are the everyday treat, then bars and squares are the party favorites. These homemade treats are baked or assembled in a pan and then cut into equal portions. This makes them wonderfully easy to prepare in large batches for bake sales, picnics, potlucks, and holiday gatherings.

Mom's collection of recipes for bars and squares features a wonderful variety of flavors from rich chocolate brownies and chewy date squares to peanut butter marshmallow squares and delicate dessert bars layered with coconut and walnuts. All are yummy!

One of my fondest childhood memories is the sweet aroma wafting through the house on Monday mornings when Mom lit the fire in her kitchen stove and began the weekly baking. Squares, cookies, and buttered slices of moist banana bread offered a convenient treat in my school lunch or an evening snack after the day's farm chores. Life was good!

The beauty of bars and squares is their versatility. Some are baked while some are no-bake. Some have a single rich layer, while others feature multiple layers with textures ranging from cake-like to soft frosting. And they all share one thing in common; they're incredibly delicious and surprisingly easy to make. A box full of assorted squares also makes a perfect homemade gift for someone special that's far more meaningful than anything you could buy at a store.

Old Fashioned Donut and Pastry Recipes

There's a reason homemade donuts have been beloved for centuries. Imagine the sizzle of dough hitting hot oil, the sweet aroma that fills the entire house, the satisfying crunch of a perfectly golden donut giving way to its soft, tender center. Homemade donuts are pure comfort!

One of my fondest kitchen memories is of Mom making old fashioned donuts. Her hands, dusted with flour, transformed a simple dough into perfectly golden, crispy rings. The collection features her favorite buttermilk donuts, crispy potato donuts, old time crullers, and even easy-to-make funnel cakes. You'll also find recipes for cream puffs and chocolate eclairs that look like they came from a bakery but are surprisingly simple to make at home. These aren't just recipes; they're a taste of a simpler time.

Did you know that donuts have a fascinating history? Many food historians believe they first appeared in Germany and Holland, where cooks dropped leftover bits of dough into hot oil, calling them "olie koeken" (oily cakes). During World War One, YMCA Canteen Girls, also known as "Y-Girls," served homemade donuts to American soldiers in Europe, and the troops became so passionate about them that they earned the nickname "Doughboys."

The donut and pastry page also includes Grandma's time-tested tips for perfect frying: from getting the oil temperature just right (between 325°F and 375°F) to the constant-turning technique that ensures an even browning on all sides.

Grandma's Tips for Successful Old Fashioned Baking

No matter which treat you decide to make first, these timeless tips will help you get the best results:

• Use real butter. Margarine and shortening have their place, but real butter gives old fashioned treats their authentic flavor and texture.
• Measure carefully. Grandma's recipes were written in an era before digital scales, so use standard measuring cups and spoons and be sure to level off your dry ingredients.
• Don't over mix. Whether you're making cookies, squares, or donut dough, over mixing develops too much gluten and makes your treats anything but tender.
• Know your oven. Every oven is different. Grandma always said to watch your baking, not the clock. If your treats are browning too quickly, lower the temperature by 25°F.
• Let baked cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This lets them set firmer without breaking.
• For donuts, keep the oil temperature steady. Too hot and they'll burn on the outside while staying raw inside. Too cool and they'll absorb grease and become heavy.
• Consider your first recipe attempt an experiment. Even Grandma's first attempts often led to improvements.

Finally, once you've mastered the recipe, double it. Whether it's cookies, squares, or donuts, you'll be glad you made extra. These treats disappear fast!

Experience the Joy of Baking Together

One thing that sets old fashioned baking apart from modern convenience cooking is the togetherness it creates. Spending a fun-filled afternoon in the kitchen with your children making cut-out cookies, or teaching a grandchild how to decorate sugar cookies, or letting a teenager try their hand at frying donuts for the first time — these are the moments that become lifelong memories.

In our hectic modern world, it's comforting to return to these old fashioned cookies and pastry recipes and recreate the homemade treats that have always been a source of joy and connection. As one reader from the U.S.A., wrote: "I just briefly want to say thanks for publishing such a warm, cozy site that just feels like, well, home."

Frequently Asked Baking Questions