21 Groovy ’70s Desserts

Updated on Jun. 09, 2024

These dessert recipes prove that it is worth going back to the '70s for sweet treat ideas. Throwback to wafers, fondue and bundts!

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1/21

Frosty Watermelon Ice

Total Time 20 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Here's a fun twist on watermelon. It's so refreshing on a summer day, and you don't have to worry about seeds while you're enjoying it. —Kaaren Jurack, Manassas, Virginia
2/21

Cream Wafers

Total Time 35 min
Servings 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My sons used to help me make these cookies, and now my oldest granddaughter helps. When the smaller grandchildren are home, they help, too. The cute little sandwich cookies are tender, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth good! —Linda Clinkenbeard, Vincennes, Indiana
3/21

Almond Tea Cakes

Total Time 45 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When I have time—usually in the winter—I love to bake. I make these tea cakes every Christmas, double the recipe and freeze half for later. —Janet Fennema Ringelberg, Troy, Ontario
4/21

Orange Chocolate Fondue

Total Time 15 min
Servings 1-1/3 cups
From the Recipe Creator: "Invite you family and friends to dip cubes of cake and pieces of fruit into this rich, luscious fondue for a special treat during the holiday season," writes Mary Jean DeVries from her home in Grandville, Michigan.
5/21

Pear Bundt Cake

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
6/21

Swedish Apple Pie

Total Time 40 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This decadent Swedish apple pie serves up homemade flavor in every bite. This is a perfect snack with coffee or as an after-dinner treat. —Sarah Klier, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7/21

Black Forest Cake

Total Time 1 hour 15 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: As far as I know, this cake recipe can be traced back to my German great-grandma. When I got married, my mother gave me a copy and I hope to someday pass it down to my children. —Stephanie Travis, Fallon, Nevada

8/21

Spice Cake

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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

9/21

Frozen Mocha Marbled Loaf

Total Time 15 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This showstopping marbled dessert seems fancy, but it's really simple to prepare ahead of time and pop in the freezer. Frosty slices have a creamy blend of chocolate and coffee that's delightful anytime of year. —Cheryl Martinetto, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
10/21

Cranberry Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 15 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Both kids and grown-ups like this gorgeous dessert. It'll keep a few days and is actually better the second day, so you can make it a day ahead. —Sherry Conley, Noel Hants County, Nova Scotia
11/21

Rhubarb Mallow Cobbler

Total Time 55 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My mom used to make this cobbler every year when I was growing up. Now we take fresh rhubarb to my son in Texas so he can share this recipe with his family. —Judy Kay Warwick, Webster City, Iowa

12/21

Peach Ice Cream

Total Time 40 min
Servings about 3 quarts
From the Recipe Creator: When peaches are in season, this recipe is at the top of my list to make. The pureed fruit lends a fresh flavor to the silky-smooth ice cream. You'll have to make it more than once, though, because the first batch never lasts long! -Toni Box Weaver, Alabama

13/21

Almond Pear Tart

Total Time 40 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I had never seen a "pie without a pan" until my daughter brought back this wonderful pear almond tart recipe from a Rotary Club exchange program in Belgium. It's still a family favorite after all these years. —Sherry LaMay, Capitan, New Mexico
14/21

Slow-Cooker Dump Cake

Total Time 2 hours 10 min
Servings 10 servings
From the Recipe Creator: No matter the season, this dump cake recipe is wonderful! It works well with gluten-free and sugar-free cake mixes too. —Karin Gatewood, Josephine, Texas
15/21

Double-Chocolate Toffee Icebox Cake

Total Time 30 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My mother-in-law taught me that anything tastes good if you use enough chocolate or cream. This no-bake dessert proves she was right. Sometimes I use chocolate graham crackers and stack up the layers in a 9-inch square pan. —Bee Engelhart, Bloomfield Township, Michigan

16/21

Chocolate Cake

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania

17/21

Oatmeal Crispies

Total Time 25 min
Servings 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My husband, who normally isn't fond of oatmeal, thinks these old-fashioned cookies are great. With a hint of nutmeg, their aroma is wonderful as they bake...and they taste even better! —Karen Henson, St. Louis, Missouri
18/21

Creamy Strawberry Crepes

Total Time 50 min
Servings 7 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Wrap summer-ripe strawberries and creamy filling into these delicate crepes for an elegant brunch entree. —Kathy Kochiss, Huntington, Connecticut

19/21

Applesauce Cake

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This moist applesauce cake recipe is a treasured heirloom passed down from my Grandma Stuit, who cooked for a family of 13 during the Depression. At reunions, it's the first dessert gone...including the crumbs! —Joanie Jager, Lynden, Washington

20/21

Mini Cheesecake

Total Time 35 min
Servings 9 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Presto! We turned cheesecake into irresistible bite-sized snacks with these cute little treats. Feel free to use your favorite flavor of jam. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
21/21

Orange Cake

Total Time 55 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: A delightful orange frosting is the secret to this cake from Kathleen Gingras of Thorold, Ontario. "It is great with a scoop of ice cream," she suggests.