Vintage Baking: 25 Fascinating Facts

How long have people baked with yeast? How were cookies invented? The history of baking is as rich and layered as a devil's food cake. Learn some fun facts and pick up vintage-inspired recipes along the way.

Crisp Sugar Cookies

My grandmother always had sugar cookies in her pantry, and we grandchildren would empty that big jar quickly because they were the best! I now regularly bake these wonderful cookies to share with friends. —Evelyn Poteet, Hancock, Maryland

Sage & Gruyere Sourdough Bread

A sourdough starter gives loaves extra flavor and helps the rising process. This bread, with sage and Gruyere cheese, comes out so well that I’m thrilled to share it. —Debra Kramer, Boca Raton, Florida

Crusty Homemade Bread

Crackling homemade bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Giant Molasses Cookies

My family always requests these soft molasses cookies. These chewy cookies are also perfect for shipping as holiday gifts or to troops overseas. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York

Mom's Buttermilk Biscuits

These fluffy buttermilk biscuits are so tasty slathered with butter or used to mop up every last drop of gravy off your plate. I can still see Mom pulling these tender gems out of the oven. —Vera Reid, Laramie, Wyoming

Strawberry Walnut Torte

This is a special treat I love to make and everyone looks forward to a nice slice with lots of fresh berries. —Bonnie Malloy, Norwood, Pennsylvania

Lemon Meringue Angel Cake

I've been told that this dessert tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie and that it's the best angel food cake anyone could ask for. I'm not sure about all of that, but it is delightful to serve, and each slice is virtually fat free. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Honey Pecan Cheesecake

Birthdays and holidays are great times for cheesecake, and Christmas is ideal for this particular one. In our annual church baking contest, it won first place! —Tish Frish, Hampden, Maine

Onion Yorkshire Puddings

This easy recipe is a cross between traditional Yorkshire pudding and popovers. It makes a perfect complement to prime rib. We also like it with beef stew and steak. Make more than you need, because everyone loves it. —Emily Chaney, Blue Hill, Maine

Creamy Pineapple Pie

Creamy pineapple pie is a light and refreshing dessert that's quick to make and impressive to serve. This is one of our favorite ways to complete a summer meal. —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina

Strawberry Lemon Shortcake

I love a good strawberry shortcake, but this recipe is my favorite by far. The citrus zest in the dough adds a refreshing zip to the sweet dessert. —Nancy Hooper, Glen Burnie, Maryland

Perfect Rhubarb Pie

Nothing hides the tangy rhubarb in this lovely pie, which has just the right balance of sweet and tart. Serving this dessert is a nice way to celebrate the end of winter! — Ellen Benninger, Greenville, Pennsylvania

If you didn’t know your ‘pie history’, we bet you haven’t heard these unusual food facts either.

Maple Toast and Eggs

My home's in the country, right next door to my sister and brother-in-law's. They and their two children all enjoy this dish each time I serve it as a special evening meal—although it can also be made for breakfast or lunch. —Susan Buttel, Plattsburgh, New York

Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies

With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire

Mayan Chocolate Pecan Pie

This started off as a regular pecan pie for Thanksgiving Day. But it's evolved into something extra special. —Chris Michalowski, Dallas, Texas

Peach Bavarian

Fruit molds are my specialty. This one, with its refreshing peach taste, makes a colorful salad or dessert. —Adeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey

Light & Creamy Chocolate Pudding

This pudding is exactly what its name promises—light and creamy. Because it uses soy milk, it’s a smart choice if you’re lactose intolerant. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

Raisin Date Bread Pudding

All my leftover bread ends (raisin bread is a favorite in this house) and buns go in the freezer. Then, when I've stashed away enough, I whip up a batch of this pudding. It's an all-occasion dish—I've made it for holidays, potlucks, picnics...for any occasion or no occasion! —Dawn Green, Hopkins, Michigan

Daughter's Apple Crisp

My mom’s apple crisp is the best in all of Texas, honest! I tweaked it slightly, though, and now I spend less time in the kitchen and more time catching up with my spry 92-year-young mother. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Apple-Pear Compote

Apples and pears are almost always popular, so this warm, comforting dessert recipe is great for potlucks or other get-togethers. I also like to add raisins or chopped nuts to the compote, and for a more adult flavor I add 1/3 cup brandy or rum.—Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Kiss from a Vampire Cookies

Raspberry jam eerily oozes from these soft butter cookies. One bite, and you'll have a hard time stopping! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Gingerbread Men Cookies

No holiday treat platter would be complete without gingerbread men cookies! This is a tried-and-true recipe I'm happy to share with you. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland

Amish Sugar Cookies

These easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I've passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri

Kelsey Dimberg
A former senior digital editor at Taste of Home, Kelsey now writes articles and novels from her home in Chicago. Since 2010, she’s followed a gluten-free diet, and especially enjoys the challenge of baking sourdough bread and pizza dough. As a contributing writer for Taste of Home, she covers a broad range of topics but with a special emphasis on gluten-free cooking and baking. Outside of her gluten-free experiments in the kitchen, Kelsey is also the author of the thriller novel “Girl in the Rearview Mirror.”