Timeless Classics: 30 Recipes from Old Cookbooks

Remember when Mom would tie on her apron and pull out her Betty Crocker cookbook to whip up dinner? Well, now you can revisit those nostalgic dishes from your childhood, thanks to recipes from old cookbooks! You’ll find vintage salads, comforting soups, creamy desserts, and all sorts of other recipes that have stood the test of time and remained beloved. Take a bite of culinary history with these intriguing and delicious recipes.

Beef Wellington

This beef wellington is made with beef tenderloin, along with flavourful ingredients such as prosciutto parma ham, rosemary, and mushrooms. It’s a wonderfully decadent classic cookbook recipe!
Get the Recipe: Beef Wellington

Coq Au Vin

Roasted chicken with mushrooms and carrots in a white bowl. — Chicken Braised in Red Wine. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Coq au vin, or chicken braised in red wine, is a simple French dish. The slow braise gives this delicious chicken dinner a rich taste.
Get the Recipe: Coq Au Vin

Boeuf Bourguignon

A delightful mushroom stew perfect for any occasion. — Boeuf Bourguignon. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Boeuf bourguignon is one of the best French recipes. This flavourful beef recipe combines the meat with red wine for an exquisite dish. This dish is sometimes called beef burgundy. It is a version of Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon aka beef bourguignon and a great alternative to a traditional beef stew recipe.
Get the Recipe: Boeuf Bourguignon

Hearty Beef Chili

This is the best hearty beef chili recipe! This is a traditional chili recipe is just like mom used to make with a delicious homemade taste.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Beef Chili

Linzer Cookies

Star-shaped cookies with jam and powdered sugar on a cutting board. — Linzer Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella

Linzer cookies are a classic old-school cookie recipe consisting of buttery almond cookies sandwiched around a tart raspberry filling.
Get the Recipe: Linzer Cookies

Old Fashioned Caramel Sticky Buns

Old fashioned sticky buns are caramel pecan rolls, with or without nuts. These cinnamon caramel sticky buns are perfect for any occasion!
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Caramel Sticky Buns

Grandma’s Honey Glazed Onions

Grandma’s Honey Glazed Pearl Onions recipe is a delicious side dish that’s so easy to prepare. The honey glaze adds a nice balance to the pearl onions. It only takes a few ingredients to make these honey glazed onions.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Honey Glazed Onions

Jello Mold

Elevate your gatherings with the timeless elegance of this vintage-inspired sparkling white grape and Champagne molded gelatin.
Get the Recipe: Jellojoy

Old Fashioned Custard Pie

This creamy custard pie is just like the old-fashioned custard pie likely made by your grandma, with eggs, sugar, and cream.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Custard Pie

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake | Old-Fashioned. — Old-Fashioned Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Photo credit: food Meanderings.

This easy Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake uses mayonnaise in the batter to replace the eggs and oil for a rich and delicious chocolate cake.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Delicious And Moist Banana Bread Recipe

A delicious loaf of banana bread on a blue and white plate. — Delicious And Moist Banana Bread Recipe. Photo credit: PinkWhen.

This quick and easy banana bread recipe is the best way to devour those over-ripe bananas. It’s a classic quick bread that the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Delicious And Moist Banana Bread Recipe

Colorful Cobb Salad

A colorful salad with chicken, avocado, tomatoes and eggs. — Colorful Cobb Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Healy Eats Real.

The classic Cobb salad is a rich and hearty entree salad. With rich bacon, creamy avocado, bright tomatoes, and more, it makes a great lunch!
Get the Recipe: Colorful Cobb Salad

Pea Salad

This easy old fashioned pea salad recipe is the perfect chilled side dish for any summer gatherings. Combine the bold flavors of cheddar cheese and onion mix with the calming flavors of sour cream and peas for a delicious side dish.
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad

Overnight Lettuce Salad

Overnight lettuce salad is a great nostalgic 7-layer salad made with lettuce, cauliflower, mayonnaise, onions, celery, bacon, and parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: Overnight Lettuce Salad

Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Savor the cozy goodness of this homemade apple pie filling – it’s loaded with soft apple slices, a sprinkle of cinnamon & nutmeg, and just the right touch of sweetness. Whip up your favorite desserts or breakfast goodies with this easy apple filling.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Apple Pie Filling

5 Cup Salad

A bowl of ambrosia salad with marshmallows and shredded coconut. — 5 Cup Salad. Photo credit: Dash For Dinner.

This vintage recipe for 5 Cup Salad is made with just 5 simple ingredients! It’s a family favorite and perfect for special occasions.
Get the Recipe: 5 Cup Salad

Old Fashioned Strawberry Glaze Pie

A slice of strawberry pie on a white plate with a red and white striped napkin on the side. — Old Fashioned Strawberry Glaze Pie. Photo credit: What A Girl Eats.

Fresh strawberry glaze pie, with a creamy filling and homemade strawberry pie glaze, is ideal for any spring or summer gathering.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Strawberry Glaze Pie

Savory Braised Short Ribs

If you want a mouth-watering meal to remember this Valentine’s Day, try these delicious braised short ribs. The meat will melt in your mouth!
Get the recipe: Braised Short Ribs

Vintage Hot Milk Cake Recipe

Freshly baked cake dusted with powdered sugar, with one piece served on a plate. — Vintage Hot Milk Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Retro HouseWife Goes Green .

Hot milk cake is a simple and delicious cake recipe that gained popularity in the 1940s. It’s a soft, sponge-like cake that pairs perfectly with fruit.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Hot Milk Cake Recipe

Coconut Dream Bars

Freshly baked pecan bars on parchment paper with scattered nuts and coconut flakes on a wooden surface. — Coconut Dream Bars. Photo credit: Art Of Natural Living.

Rich, chewy & almost pecan-pie-like, Coconut Dream Bars are a classic cookie. Perfect for the holidays, snacking or any special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Dream Bars

Classic Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffins

A plate with a halved blueberry muffin and a fork, next to a white mug, with more muffins and a colorful napkin in the background. — Classic Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffins. Photo credit: Art Of Natural Living.

Fruity with a hint of sweetness, Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffins are great for brunch or snacking. Or an artisan bread basket with dinner!
Get the Recipe: Classic Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffins

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

A slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles on a plate. — Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Photo credit: I Heart Eating.

Chocolate mayonnaise cake is a moist chocolate cake that’s made from scratch. This vintage homemade chocolate cake is so easy and so tasty!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Vegetable Marrow Soup

Three bowls of creamy soup garnished with herbs on a wooden table with carrot peels and a striped napkin on the side. — Vegetable Marrow Soup. Photo credit: Earth To Veg.

Vegetable Marrow Soup is a classic British soup recipe made with zucchini’s bigger cousin. Adapted from Good Things in England, a cookbook published in 1932.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Marrow Soup

Hot Jezebel Dip

Hot Jezebel Dip is the perfect easy appetizer for a last-minute party! This vintage recipe is a sweet and spicy Southern classic.
Get the Recipe: Hot Jezebel Dip

Old Fashioned Yeast Roll Recipe

Freshly baked dinner rolls on a wooden board with a sprinkle of herbs on top. — Old Fashioned Yeast Roll Recipe. Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

This old fashioned yeast roll recipe creates soft pull apart dinner rolls that everyone loves! Your family table needs warm homemade yeast rolls!
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Yeast Roll Recipe

Buttermilk Pound Cake

Sliced bundt cake with powdered sugar on a white plate. — Buttermilk Pound Cake. Photo credit: GrandBaby Cakes.

This buttermilk pound cake is super simple to make and makes one tasty bundt cake! The buttermilk adds a subtle tang flavor to the base of your pound cake.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Pound Cake

Homemade Custard Creams

A plate of sandwich cookies on a red cloth with the text "keep calm" visible and a small british flag in the corner. — Homemade Custard Creams. Photo credit: Christina Cucina.

Homemade Custard Creams are so much better than the store-bought variety. These classic British biscuits literally melt in your mouth.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Custard Creams

The Very Best Salisbury Steak

Cooked salisbury steak in a sauce garnished with herbs in a cast iron skillet. — The Very Best Salisbury Steak. Photo credit: The Suburban Soap Box.

Seriously the BEST Salisbury Steak Recipe of all time. This easy Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy is quick and loaded with rich flavor.
Get the Recipe: The Very Best Salisbury Steak

Easy Ambrosia Salad

A bowl of fruit salad topped with a cherry, surrounded by marshmallows, with a spoon on the side. — Easy Ambrosia Salad. Photo credit: The Suburban Soap Box.

Ready in minutes, this Easy Ambrosia Salad Recipe is a nostalgic treat perfect for a party or holiday. Light, creamy and completely addictive.
Get the Recipe: Easy Ambrosia Salad

Strawberry Cobbler

A piece of strawberry crumb cake on a fork. — Strawberry Cobbler. Photo credit: PinkWhen.

Strawberry cobbler is made with fresh strawberries, melted butter, a splash of lemon, and more. It’s a delicous and easy summery dessert.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cobbler