Grandmaās Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake
When my grandma served this shortcake, she usually topped it with homemade vanilla ice cream. āAngela Lively, Conroe, Texas
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Marzipan Cups with Currant JellyThese bite-size beauties look and taste gourmet, but they're easy to make and boast a delicate almond flavor. The hidden jelly surprise and pretty nut accent make them a nice addition to any treats tray. You can make them in advance and freeze them for up to three months, if you like. āLorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Burnt CustardThe recipe for this smooth-as-silk custard came from a local restaurant years ago. With its broiled topping it looks pretty in individual cups. āHeidi Main, Anchorage, Alaska
Homemade Butterscotch PuddingHomemade pudding reminds me of my grandma and how she turned milk and eggs into creamy textures before my eyes. The
butterscotch in this recipe adds a caramel-sweet touch. āTeresa Wilkes, Pembroke, Georgia
Almond TorteReduced-fat sour cream, egg whites and applesauce lighten up this gorgeous almond torte. A creamy custard filling lends richness. āKathy Olsen, Marlborough, New Hampshire
Meringue Snowballs In CustardMy family has passed down this elegant dessert generation by generation. It started with my Russian great-grandmother, who traveled to America more than 100 years ago. I love continuing the tradition with her recipe. āTonya Burkhard, Palm Coast, Florida
Mango Gelatin SaladMy Aunt Nannette often made this salad as a convenient make-ahead dish. The mango mold has hints of apricot and can be served with pork, chicken and beefāor for dessert. āDebra Sult, Chandler, Arizona
Mocha Baked AlaskasMake these baked Alaskas ahead of timeāyou can torch the completed desserts and freeze them up to 24 hours before serving. āKerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida
Shoofly CupcakesThese were my grandmother's specialty. To keep them from disappearing too quickly, she used to store them out of sight. āBeth Adams, Jacksonville, Florida
Charlotte's Green Tomato PieGreen tomato pie makes an awesome conversation piece. I took it to a potluck and it was a delight to share. āCharlotte McDaniel, Jacksonville, Alabama
Strawberry Ice Cream CharlotteMy family loves ice cream cake, so they were delighted when I first presented this dessert. It's light, delicious and has a festive presentation. āScarlett Elrod, Newman, Georgia
Divinity CandyEvery Christmas my grandmother and I made divinity candy, just the two of us. I still make it every year. āAnne Clayborne, Walland, Tennessee
Cherry Gelatin SupremeWhen I was growing up, this yummy, easy dessert was always on the menu at holiday get-togethers. Years ago, my aunt gave me the recipe, and now when I make it for my family, I think of her. āJanice Rathgeb, Brighton, Illinois
Lemonade Icebox PieYou will detect a definite lemonade flavor in this refreshing lemon icebox pie. High and fluffy, this dessert has a creamy smooth consistency that we really appreciate. It's the dessert that came to mind immediately when I put together my favorite summer meal. āCheryl Wilt, Eglon, West Virginia
Skillet Blueberry SlumpDon't let the homey, almost unappetizing name "slump" fool you. Easier than pie, these baked summer
fruit desserts are topped with tasty biscuits. If you love vintage food, learn how to make
cottage cheese biscuits.
Figgy Apple Brie TartOur holiday gatherings often included baked Brie. I transformed it into a dessert thatās savory and sweet. It makes a wonderful appetizer, too. āKristie Schley, Severna Park, Maryland
Fresh Plum Crumb DessertMy old-fashioned dessert has the perfect sweet-tart balance with its fresh-plum tang and sweet, crispy topping. Imagine it warm from the oven, served with a scoop of ice creamā¦yum! āJanet Fahrenbruck-Lynch, Cincinnati, Ohio
Old-Fashioned Honey Baked ApplesMy baked apple recipe is very old-fashioned yet tried and true. It's definitely a comfort food. āRachel Hamilton, Greenville, Pennsylvania
Apple Roly-PolyMy grandmotherās apple dessert is genuine regional fare. With 13 children plus the men at Grandpaās sawmill, she had to do lots of cooking each day! āMegan Newcombe, Cookstown, Ontario
Grandmother's Corn PuddingMy grandmother always served this pudding for holidays and family reunions. Everyone loves it. Corn pudding is a popular side dish on Maryland's eastern shore. āSusan Brown Langenstein, Salisbury, Maryland
Old-Fashioned Rice PuddingThis comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. āSandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba
Crunchy Candy ClustersThese cereal and marshmallow clusters are so simple that I make them for the holidays each year, as my family looks forward to them. āFaye O'Bryan, Owensboro, Kentucky
LebkuchenIt's tradition for my family to make these German treats together. The recipe came from my great-grandmother's cookbook, and judging from the amount of requests I get, it has certainly stood the test of time. āEsther Kempker, Jefferson City, Missouri
Lemon Chiffon CakeThis moist, airy lemon chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! āTrisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
Peach BavarianFruit molds are my specialty. This one, with its refreshing peach taste, makes a colorful salad or dessert. āAdeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey
Scottish Shortbread CookiesThis simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. āMarlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California
Italian Holiday CookiesMany of our holiday traditions center around the foods my mother made while I was growing up. These cookies, which we called "Strufoli", bring back wonderful memories. āSue Seymour, Valatie, New York
Aunt Ione's Icebox CookiesWhenever we went to visit my Aunt Ione in south Georgia, her icebox cookies were our favorite treat. My mother later make these cookies, and I remember begging for a slice of the raw doughāI thought the unbaked cookies tasted just as great as the baked! āJenny Hill, Meridianville, Alabama
Traditional Hot Cross BunsOn Easter morning, our family always looked forward to a breakfast of dyed hard-boiled eggs and Mom's hot cross buns. I still serve these for special brunches or buffets. āBarbara Jean Lull, Fullerton, California
Mincemeat TrifleInstead of fixing a traditional pie, I gussied up mincemeat by creating this fancy trifle. The recipe's a time-saver, since it can be prepared a day ahead.
Apple Dumplings with SauceThis warm and comforting apple dumplings recipe is incredible by itself or served with ice cream. You can decorate each dumpling by cutting 1-inch leaves and a 1/2-inch stem from the leftover dough. āRobin Lendon, Cincinnati, Ohio
Easter PieEaster Pie is a specialty in many Italian homes, so mothers make sure their daughters master the recipe to ensure that the tradition continues. āBarbara Tierney, Farmington, Connecticut
Grandma's Polish CookiesThis traditional khruchiki recipe has been handed down through my mother's side from my great-grandmother. As a child, it was my job to loop the end of each cookie through its hole. āSherine Elise Gilmour, Brooklyn, New York
Banana PuddingI didnāt see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. Heās a true southern boy! Itās a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. āStephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia. Hungry for more? Here's our collection of delicious
retro breakfast recipes.
Apple Bavarian TorteA cookie-like crust holds the sensational filling of cream cheese, apples and almonds. This comforting apple torte will be welcomed addition to a bake sale or potluck. āSheila Swift, Dobson, North Carolina
Mulled Wine Jelly CandiesI donāt drink alcohol, so after Iāve had company over for dinner, I have to do something with the leftover wine. These unusual jelly candies make a nice hostess gift during the holidays. I make the mulled red wine version for the winter holidays, and a white wine variation in spring and summer.āJennifer Mack, Pensacola, Florida
Cranberry Ambrosia SaladMy paternal grandmother used to make this for Christmas dinner. I'm not sure how many batches she made since there were nearly 50 aunts, uncles and cousins in our family. I still make the recipe in memory of her, and it's still as good as I remember. āJanet Hurley, Shell Rock, Iowa
Rhubarb Fool with StrawberriesA fool is a classic British and Irish dessert that's usually made with whipped cream and cooked fruit. Try my quick version with rhubarb and berries. āCheryl Miller, Fort Collins, Colorado
Honey and Spice Snack CakeThe sweetness of honey, the bold flavors of nutmeg and cloves and the crunch of walnuts make for happy snacking. āTaste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
Banana SouffleThis pretty, golden-topped puff is so easy to whip up, but looks like you really fussed. Lightly laced with rum, the moist, tender, banana-rich souffle makes that perfect ālittle somethingā to wrap up any holiday dinner. āCrystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Makeover Sweet KugelThis is a traditional recipe I make for the holidays. My close friend and I used to bake together until she moved 1,300 miles away. Now when I make this dish, Iām reminded of our time together. āEileen Wolf, Abington, Pennsylvania
Strawberry Angel TrifleI always get compliments when I bring this attractive and tasty trifle out of the refrigerator. Not only does it serve a big group nicely, I can make it ahead of time, too. āLucille Belsham, Fort Fraser, British Columbia
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch SauceThe classic sticky toffee pudding is a traditional dessert in the United Kingdom. I love that I can just stay home and bake this cake version, featuring saucy butterscotch. āAgnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
Pretzel Gelatin DessertThis is one of my mother's absolute favorite desserts. The salty pretzel crust is the perfect complement to the sweet cream cheese filling. āErin Frakes, Moline, Illinois
Down East Blueberry BuckleThis buckle won a contest at my daughterās college. The prize was four lobsters, but the real reward was the smile on our daughterās face. āDianne van der Veen, Plymouth, Massachusetts
No money? No problem! Try this
vintage cake recipe, appropriately named
poor man's cake.