58 Vintage Recipes Worth Making Again

Copper pennies are sweet, tangy, and a little savory—with a charming name to boot. Take it from our Southern Living Test Kitchen: a retro dish like this is made for being sopped up with cornbread.

There’s a reason this 128-year-old dessert is still popular today. With a cherry sauce, a splash of bourbon, and vanilla ice cream, what’s not to love?

Southern hosts have long served cheese wafers to keep arriving guests held over until the main event, and we think they should always be homemade.

We trust just about anything the Carter family does. Roslyn Carter’s famous pimiento cheese recipe is no different.

This vintage dessert is ideal for those hot summer days when a richer dessert just feels like too much. With a crisp yet marshmallowy crust, it almost melts in your mouth.

These “onion boils” are viral social media sensations, but Southern grandmas have been making the same dish by a different name for years. Whether you know them as baked onions or an onion boil, this side dish is a classic for a reason.

With the rise of establishments like beloved Chicken Salad Chick, Southern “salads” are staying mainstream, but do you remember Ham Salad? If not, it’s time to resurrect this retro luncheon favorite.

No one can resist the soft, minty, melt-in-your-mouth flavor of homemade butter mints. This retro treat never goes out of style as far as we’re concerned.

Tea sandwiches are a hallmark of Southern luncheons, and while you might see pimiento cheese or chicken salad versions around, we miss these perfectly pretty cucumber sandwiches.

If you recognize this old-school snack, you’re not alone. These salty bites keep coming back because they’re just that good.

Southerners love a cold layered salad, and this one is the perfect excuse to bring them back. It’s also a good way to use leftover cornbread.

Okra and tomatoes are a Southern combination as well-loved as peanuts and Coca-Cola or chicken and dumplings.

Southern-style butterbeans are a budget-friendly, easy side dish that’s most delicious when cooked with bacon, of course.

Sweet potato casseroles have remained a constant on Thanksgiving sideboards in the South, but candied yams have fallen to the wayside for many. This delicious recipe is all the convincing you need to bring them back.

Delicate Southern field peas pair perfectly with smoky ham hocks for an old-school veggie side.

This cold pasta salad is reminiscent of another Southern classic, layered salads. Simply prep the ingredients and chill until it’s time to assemble and serve.

There was a time when you couldn’t find a ladies’ luncheon that didn’t have tomato aspic on the menu, and we think it’s high time to give this retro dish another spin.

Poppy seed chicken casserole has been a staple on Southern dinner tables as long as we can remember, and we’re bringing it back for its one-dish ease and comfort-food taste.

You might still make corn pudding and cornbread, but do you remember fluffy spoonbread? It’s time to add it to your menu.

There aren’t many dishes more nostalgic than casseroles with a “cream of” soup on the ingredient list, and turkey tetrazzini is reminiscent of Thanksgiving leftovers at many homes. Here’s our updated spin on the beloved classic.

Tuna noodle casserole is the budget-friendly best friend of busy cooks in the South.

To some, pineapple casserole might sound crazy. To others, it’s been a fixture at Easter lunches forever. Whichever side you’re on, this is a truly Southern recipe you should try.

Remember this one? Chicken-and-wild rice casserole has been a weeknight wonder in Southern homes for years, and it will never stop tasting so comforting.

Once the queen of Southern luncheons and brunches, Quiche Lorraine stood atop its pedestal in the ’70s, but we still love this classic egg dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Chicken-fried steak, served with peppery, creamy gravy, is an old-school Southern dish that’s bad for your waistline but good for your soul.

Rice is the base for many old-fashioned Southern dishes, including this one-pot Lowcountry dinner.

This cheesy, hearty casserole has been a mainstay on weeknight dinner tables for decades, and kids will never stop eating it up.

Coca-Cola cake is one of the trustiest cake recipes of all time. It’s chocolaty, moist, and full of soda flavor, with even more Coca-Cola in the cream cheese frosting.

This simple, creamy pie came to be during the Depression and World War II, when “desperation pies” were made with whatever ingredients Southern cooks had on hand.

Fruitcakes are a permanent fixture on plenty of Southern holiday tables, whether some generations enjoy them or not.

Use blueberries fresh from the farmers’ market for this timeless and simple cornmeal cake.

You may have enjoyed a similar layered chocolate dessert in the 1960s or ’70s, and we’re happy to tell you it’s back.

Chef Damaris Phillips shared her take on a vintage jam cake, and this layered version is absolutely incredible.

The beautiful presentation of a vintage sliced sweet potato pie can’t be matched.

This vintage candy’s name fits it well—it’s truly divine. Whip up this classic candy to sweeten your holiday dessert tray.

Icebox pies are a hallmark of vintage Southern desserts, and this rich black-bottom recipe is no exception.

This recipe got its start in the early 1800s, and no, it’s not a cheesecake. The layers are filled with rich lemon curd.

If you can’t remember the last time you had a decadent slice of fudge cake, then it’s absolutely been too long.

We gave nostalgic oatmeal cream pies a Southern makeover and added salty-sweet caramel to the mix.

This four-ingredient vintage recipe uses every part of the lemon since they were expensive and difficult to find when it was created.

This vintage gelatin recipe was a favorite for church potlucks and family reunions in the South for decades.

This cake’s history began more than 100 years ago, but it rose to fame after being featured in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, one of the most famous American novels of all time.

Refrigerated pie crust helps cut prep time for this sweet dish without sacrificing a single bit of its signature flavor.

A “desperation pie” that tastes anything but desperate, this old-fashioned dessert is topped with a sprinkling of simple shortbread crumbles that bake into the molasses mixture.

According to Appalachian folklore, this cake was traditionally a wedding delicacy. Women in the community brought individual cake layers that were then stacked together.

If the desperation pies hold a place in your heart, you can’t forget about Soda Cracker Pie. With just egg whites, sugar, crackers, and a handful of nuts, it’s amazing what Southerners can pull out of the oven.

Nothing comforts quite like a spoon bread does. The texture, which belies its name, is more of a pudding consistency and a must on any sideboard.

Sure, you make it to ensure good luck at the start of the year, but don’t forget about it in the early or late winter, when it still does the same hearty job.

Congealed salads are high on the list of classic recipes, but today’s tastes might have you reaching for another recipe card. Still, this one begs to be remembered.

Beans always promise to make for a filling dish. This recipe will help you use up a leftover ham bone, and you can also stock the bones in the freezer throughout the year so you always have some on hand.

It’s easy to forget this homey pie when there are so many great ones out there—but one bite of the smooth custard and it’s something you’ll be remembering for a good long while.

It’s a salad with a story that brings a classy touch to the table. Fruity, light, and dressed with the signature mayonnaise, it won’t disappoint.

Louisianians know the pleasure of a cushaw, which swaps perfectly with pumpkin. Serve every slice with a few candied pecans and a drizzle of Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce.

Let’s not forget to sing the praises of Hashbrown Casserole, also known as Funeral Casserole. It’s so good that it merits being made even when there isn’t a funeral.

Get out your punch bowl and make this throwback recipe for your next gathering. Fruit juices are spiked with two kinds of rum for a spirited and fruity cocktail.

Half a pear, lettuce leaves, and a dollop of mayo will take you back to celebrations of your childhood. If you haven’t made this yet, don your apron, grab a jar of maraschino cherries, and give it a whirl.

Prep your 9×13-inch pan to recreate a creamy classic that makes eating your vegetables a breeze. The crunchy, buttery cracker topping will make you fall in love.

Perk up your party with an appetizer that’s sure to please the crowd. This updated recipe proves cheese balls never go out of style.