Vintage Desserts and Sweets Worth Remembering

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Some desserts never needed a comeback—because they never went out of style. We’re talking Iced Oatmeal Cookies, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, and Buttermilk Pie that taste like they came straight from a well-loved church cookbook. Whether you’re in the mood for Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Scotchies, Hot Milk Cake, or a slice of Apple Pie Cheesecake (because why choose between two classics?), this collection is full of sweet throwbacks. You’ll also find treats like Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy, Chocolate Donut Cake, and Raspberry Bars with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble—because some things are too good to keep in the past!

Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

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strawberry frosted cookies made with oatmeal
Photo credit: Heather Mubarak creator of Browned Butter Blondie

These Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies are a delicious update to a classic cookie! They feature soft centers, chewy edges, and a sweet strawberry icing that will have everyone begging for more. This recipe is sure to make you the star baker!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Donut Cake Recipe

slices of bundt cake piled on parchment paper
Photo credit: Heather Mubarak creator of Browned Butter Blondie

This chocolate donut cake takes all the flavors of a chocolate old fashioned donut and transforms it into an easy cake. It’s perfectly chocolatey and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. Enjoy a slice for breakfast or dessert!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Donut Cake Recipe

Pineapple Pound Cake

A slice of pineapple pound cake on a white plate with a fork, showing its moist interior and glaze, with a whole pineapple and more cake in the background
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

This Pineapple Pound Cake is bursting with pineapple flavor in every bite! The recipe uses dried and crushed pineapple, along with a delicious pineapple glaze for the ultimate tropical treat. Perfect for summer gatherings or any time you crave a taste of sunshine.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Pound Cake

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple upside-down cake one a wooden pedestal with a vintage silver server.
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

This pineapple upside-down cake is a classic dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make. Juicy pineapple rings and sweet maraschino cherries sit atop a moist butter cake with a rich brown sugar glaze. It’s perfect for any occasion, from holidays to simple weeknight desserts!
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Hermit Cookies

A stack of hermit cookies drizzled with icing.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These Hermit Cookies are a classic treat, perfect for the holidays or any cozy occasion. Filled with molasses, raisins, and warm spices, these cookie bars offer a deliciously comforting flavor in every bite. They’re easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Hermit Cookies

Soft and Chewy Molasses Cookies

cookies sprinkled with granulated sugar
Photo credit: Heather Mubarak creator of Browned Butter Blondie

These soft and chewy molasses cookies will be the star of your holiday baking! With crispy edges, chewy centers, and a sugar-dusted top, they’re perfect for cookie swaps or shipping to loved ones. Get ready for everyone to fall for these old-fashioned treats!
Get the Recipe: Soft and Chewy Molasses Cookies

healthy raspberry bars on parchment paper
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

These healthy gluten-free raspberry crumble bars are the perfect summer treat! Made with fresh raspberries and an oatmeal cookie crumble, these bars are easy to make and freezer-friendly. Enjoy a guilt-free dessert that’s both delicious and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Bars with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble

Ginger Peach Crisp

Ginger Peach Crisp
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

This Ginger Peach Crisp features a warm ginger-vanilla peach filling that’s perfectly complemented by a crispy almond oat topping. It’s a delightful dessert that’s sure to impress, especially when peaches are in season!
Get the Recipe: Ginger Peach Crisp

Cherry Pie

Cherry pie with a few slices cut, on a wire cooling rack with fresh cherries in the background.
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

This classic cherry pie is bursting with juicy cherries in a jammy glaze, all nestled in a flaky, buttery crust. Whether you use fresh or frozen cherries, this pie is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for holidays, summer gatherings, or any time you crave a taste of old-fashioned goodness!
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pie

Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Scotchies

oatmeal scotchies on a cooling rack
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

These soft and chewy oatmeal scotchies are packed with butterscotch chips and cinnamon spice. This buttery drop cookie is the perfect dessert! The recipe even includes a video to help guide you through the baking process.
Get the Recipe: Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Scotchies

Mini Fruit Crisps (You Choose The Fruit!)

These Mini Mason Jar Fruit Crisps are easy to make with your favorite fruit, topped with a delicious oatmeal-almond crumble, and SO delicious! Feel free to make them with your favorite fruit (peaches, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, apples, pears, etc.), and I highly recommend serving them with ice cream. ;) | gimmesomeoven.com
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

These mini fruit crisps are the perfect dessert for any occasion! They’re easy to make with your favorite fruit and topped with a delicious oatmeal-almond crumble. For an extra treat, serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Mini Fruit Crisps (You Choose The Fruit!)

7 Up Cake (Pound Cake Recipe)

A bundt cake with a vanilla glaze drizzled over the top, forming a decorative pattern. The cake has a golden-brown crust and is placed on a white surface.
Photo credit: Cook’s with Soul

This 7 Up Cake recipe by Cook’s with Soul is a lemon-lime dream! Made in a Bundt pan, this old-fashioned pound cake is incredibly moist with a subtle lemon flavor, thanks to the 7 Up glaze. Perfect for dessert or afternoon tea!
Get the Recipe: 7 Up Cake (Pound Cake Recipe)

Apple Pie Cheesecake

Whole apple pie cheesecake that's been cut into slices with one slice missing.
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

This apple pie cheesecake recipe is the best of both worlds! It features a walnut-infused crust, a creamy cheesecake filling, and a simple crumb topping that will have everyone begging for more. It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion, especially Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Cheesecake

Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies on a wire rack cooling.
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

If you’re a fan of classic cookies, you’ll adore these Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies! This recipe is packed with oats, raisins, and flavor, making it a guaranteed favorite. Get ready to enjoy a batch of these comforting and delicious treats.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Recipe

Hot Milk Cake

fork scooping a bite from a slice of bundt cake topped with fudgy chocolate frosting
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

This simple Hot Milk Cake recipe makes a dense, yellow cake that’s perfect for any occasion. The thick chocolate fudge frosting takes it to the next level, making it a crowd-pleaser. Enjoy a slice of this old-fashioned goodness that’s surprisingly easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Hot Milk Cake

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake Recipe

An Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake on a white plate
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This old-fashioned oatmeal cake is a delightful treat that’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion. The lightly spiced cake is topped with a luscious coconut and pecan frosting, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. Enjoy it warm or cold for a comforting dessert experience.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake Recipe

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

iced oatmeal cookie
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

These Iced Oatmeal Cookies are densely packed with chewy, pulverized oats and dipped in a shiny vanilla frosting. This old-fashioned recipe is easy to make and results in a delicious, classic treat that everyone will love. Be sure to watch the how-to video for perfect cookies every time!
Get the Recipe: Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Buttermilk Pie

Slice of buttermilk pie on white plate
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

This old-fashioned buttermilk pie is a simple, custard-based dessert that’s easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. Using a homemade pie crust, the filling features buttermilk, eggs, and a touch of lemon juice for a delightful tangy flavor. A sprinkle of nutmeg on top adds a warm, comforting touch to each slice.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Pie

Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe

Piled white divinity on a plate with pecans and a bite taken out of the top piece of candy.
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

This Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy recipe is a Southern classic that’s perfect for the holidays. This gluten-free treat is made with simple ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, and pecans. Share this light and fluffy confection with your loved ones!
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe

Best Recipe for Blackberry Pie

A slice of blackberry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh berries in the back
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

This Easy Old Fashioned Blackberry Pie recipe is the perfect dessert for any occasion, especially during the summer or holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving! The juicy blackberries combined with a flaky, buttery crust create a truly delightful treat. This recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Best Recipe for Blackberry Pie

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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