The 1950s Cake Recipes You Need to Make Today
Updated: May 06, 2024
Go grab your apron! These 1950s cake recipes are as delicious today as they were decades ago. Find ideas for coconut cake, angel food, pineapple upside-down cake and more.
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Incredible Coconut Cake
I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. —Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania
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Orange Dream Angel Food Cake
A basic angel food cake becomes a heavenly indulgence, thanks to a hint of orange flavor swirled into every bite. The orange color makes slices of this 1950s cake look so pretty when arranged on individual dessert plates.—Lauren Osborne, Holtwood, Pennsylvania
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Icebox Cake
You don’t have to bake to serve a wonderful dessert! This icebox cake is made from chocolate wafers and whipping cream. It is so delicious.—Cindy Hawkins, New York, New York
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Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas. If you want to try more upside-down cakes, check out this cranberry duff.
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Chocolate Chiffon Cake
If you want to offer family and friends a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. The beautiful high, rich sponge cake is drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. —Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri
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Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
As a mother of three sons, sweets are a staple in my kitchen! I buy ripe fruit on sale and freeze it to make this cake. My banana cake with cream cheese frosting is a favorite among loved ones at my family picnics and dinners. —Bonnie Krause, Irvona, Pennsylvania
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Moist Chocolate Cake
This moist chocolate cake recipe with coffee reminds me of my grandmother because it was one of her specialties. I bake it often for family parties, and it always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! —Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania
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Pineapple Pudding Cake
My mother used to love making this easy pineapple sunshine cake in the summertime. This 1950s cake is so cool and refreshing that it never lasts very long! —Kathleen Worden, North Andover, Massachusetts
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Decadent Fudge Cake
Everyone loves the rich flavor in this decadent cake made with four types of chocolate. —Anna Hogge, Yorktown, Virginia
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Cherry Chocolate Marble Cake
Cherries and chocolate are natural partners that make desserts such as this simply scrumptious! The marbled effect is easily achieved by layering the two contrasting batters. —Sandra Campbell, Chase Mills, New York
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Pineapple Carrot Cake
This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I’ve ever eaten. It’s so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida
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Best Angel Food Cake
For our daughter's wedding, a friend made this lovely, airy angel food cake from a recipe she's used for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I've found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa
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Banana Nut Cake
I'm a pastor's wife, and it's so good to have something to serve when friends drop in unexpectedly. Because this banana nut cake can be frozen and also keeps well in the refrigerator, I try to have one on hand. —Gloria Barkley, Wilmington, North Carolina
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Rhubarb Custard Cake
Rhubarb thrives in my northern garden and is one of the few crops the pesky moose don’t bother! Of all the desserts I’ve tried, this rhubarb custard cake is my first choice. It has old-fashioned appeal but is so simple to prepare. —Evelyn Gebhardt, Kasilof, Alaska
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Hawaiian Sunset Cake
This three-layer sunset cake is pretty enough for company, but it’s so simple to make that you’ll find yourself baking it often. A boxed mix keeps it convenient while the fruity filling makes it a crowd-pleaser. —Kara De la Vega, Suisun City, California
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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Mom always made this special chocolate mayonnaise cake for my birthday dessert. It is very moist and has a nice light chocolate taste. Plus, the flavorful frosting is the perfect topping. —Deborah Amrine, Fort Myers, Florida
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Apple Stack Cake
My mom loved to bake this sky-high apple stack cake. Layer the apple goodness two days before serving. Later, a dusting of confectioners' sugar is the only topping you'll need. —LeVa Clement, Jackson, Missouri
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Mom’s Citrus Buttermilk Cake
Everyone raves over this lovely lemon cake. It’s divine with fresh raspberries and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Mama's Spice Cake
Whenever I get a craving for a tasty old-fashioned treat, I make this cake. Great cooks in my family have been baking it for generations, and their families have been enjoying the wonderful spice flavor and rich frosting. —Nancy Duty, Jacksonville, Florida
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Hot Milk Cake
This simple, old-fashioned milk cake tastes so good it will surprise you! As I remember my mom's delicious meals, this dessert was always the perfect ending. Mom always used "a dash of this and dab of that" to come up with what we thought was "the best." —Rosemary Pryor, Pasadena, Maryland
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Coconut Chiffon Cake
Toasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor, it’s a lovely end to meals throughout the year.
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Devil's Food Snack Cake
My husband and his friends request this devil's food snack cake for camping trips because it’s easy to transport. That makes it great for taking to potlucks and other events, too, as there's no frosting involved. —Julie Danler, Bel Aire, Kansas
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Layered Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream
This yellow cake will become your go-to recipe for birthdays, but the tender cake with flavorful chocolate buttercream is truly perfect for any occasion. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Glazed Lemon Chiffon Cake
This fluffy cake is a real treat drizzled with the sweet-tart lemon glaze. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, UtahOriginally Published: October 01, 2020
