You don't need counter service to belly up to these soda shop favorites. Try these retro recipes at home. (No soda jerk hats necessary.)
22 Old-School Soda Shop Recipes to Make at Home
Updated on Jan. 05, 2022
Travel back, back in time to an era when poodle skirts reigned supreme and it only cost 10 cents to play your favorite tune on the record machine. From malted milkshakes to burgers and fries, you won’t need a checkerboard floor to dine on these soda shop favorites.
Don’t miss these 55 recipes from the ’50s worth trying today.
1/23
2/23
Strawberry Floats
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When it starts warming up in Colorado, my kids ask for ice-cold treats. This rosy pink cream float is one of our household favorites. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
3/23
My Favorite Chili Dogs
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The very thought of a hot dog dressed in chili makes me giddy. To get that straight-from-the-ballpark taste, I combine ketchup, mustard, chili and pepper sauce. —Patricia Pauling, Adams, New York
4/23
Old-Time Custard Ice Cream
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2-3/4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
I think my most memorable summertime dessert for get-togethers has always been homemade ice cream. This recipe is so rich and creamy and is the perfect splurge on a hot summer afternoon. —Martha Self, Montgomery, Texas
5/23
Loaded Avocado BLT
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband invented this twist on a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. I like to make it with extra slices of bacon; if you want, you can leave the Gorgonzola cheese out of the avocado spread. —Lori Grant, Kingsport, Tennessee
6/23
Blue Cheese Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a big fan of blue cheese dressing, so I decided to go the "no mayo" route and replace it in this chicken salad. So tangy! Serve the chicken mixture on a bed of lettuce if you're in the mood for salad instead. —Giovanna Kranenberg, Cambridge, Minnesota
7/23
Thin Mint Milk Shake
Total Time
5 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that's fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
8/23
Bacon Cheeseburger
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Where can you get a juicy burger that is so superior to drive-thru fare? Right in your backyard with this delicious bacon cheeseburger recipe. —Jackie Burns, Silverdale, Washington
9/23
Jungle Float
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
This fun floats lets kids (and adults, too) be the masters of their own creations. What a tasty way to experiment!—Jenni Sharp, Mequon, Wisconsin
10/23
Cheese Fries
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina
11/23
Root Beer Float Pie
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the kind of recipe your kids will look back on and always remember. And you don't even need to use an oven! —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
12/23
Raspberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 sandwiches
From the Recipe Creator:
I gave this sweet-savory chicken salad a little zip with Chinese five-spice powder, which tastes a bit like pumpkin pie spice. Sprinkle some on roasted carrots for an awesome meal. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
13/23
Cinnamon-Strawberry Sundaes
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Lime adds a delicious tang to this easy dessert. I'll never eat plain vanilla ice cream again! —Cory Roberts, Riverton, Utah
14/23
Coney Island Sauce
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Camping and hot dogs go hand in hand. Roast some up over the fire, then top with this irresistible one-pot sauce. —Loriann Cargill Bustos, Phoenix, Arizona
15/23
Lemon Meringue Floats
Total Time
5 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I actually dreamed of this float idea one night, and woke up knowing I needed to make it. Thank you, Mr. Sandman! —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
16/23
Turkey Club Sandwich with Chipotle
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We’re crazy for turkey club sandwiches. A nearby roadside stand carries gorgeous tomatoes every summer. We load up, then stuff our sandwiches with the usual suspects, plus smoked turkey and cheese. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
17/23
S'mores Milk Shake
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When cabin fever hits, we whip up a beverage that tastes like s’mores. Oven-toasted marshmallows and a blender make it happen. —Sarah McKenna, Centennial, Colorado
18/23
19/23
Caramelized Pineapple Sundaes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever we get a craving for a tropical escape, this super simple recipe whisks us away in no time. Vanilla's nice but drizzling the sauce over salted caramel ice cream and taking a bite is just pure paradise. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
20/23
Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Sodas
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I keep the ingredients for these ice cream sodas on hand so I can enjoy a treat anytime I want. You can easily make more when feeding a crowd.
—Anna Erickson, Terrebonne, Oregon
21/23
Cheddar Chili Burgers
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Big, bold chili and french-fried onions are a fun alternative to the classic burger fixings of ketchup and mustard. The patties are easy to assemble, making this a great weeknight sandwich. —Sue Ross, Casa Grande, Arizona
22/23
Chocolate Strawberry Shake
Total Time
10 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m not a big sweets person, but I’ll slurp down a milk shake from Steak ‘n Shake any day! —Sarah Cowley, Houston, Texas
23/23
Turkey Salad on Wheat Bread
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When one of my favorite lunch spots closed, this recipe let me hold on to more than just good memories. The peas, bacon and cheese are such a fun and springy combo. I make big batches of the salad for parties—turns out I'm not the only fan! —Merrijane Rice, Kaysville, Utah
