39 Vintage Baking Recipes

Cinnamon-Sugar Apple Pie

Cinnamon apple pie baked in a cast iron skillet is a real stunner. This beauty, with its flaky, tender crust, also works in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. —Renee Schettler Rossi, New York, New York

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Butterscotch Apple Cake

My family often requests this easy old-fashioned cake for get-togethers—especially in the fall. —Beth Struble, Bryan, Ohio.

English Scones

When I came to America from England in 1967, I made sure to bring along my favorite recipe for scones. Served warm with butter, they’re perfect for breakfast.

Old-Fashioned Molasses Cake

This old-time spice cake is lower in fat but big on flavor. Serve it warm for breakfast on a frosty morning or have a square with hot cider on a snowy afternoon. It’s a great cold-weather treat. —Deanne Bagley, Bath, New York

Quick Buttermilk Cornbread

The tattered recipe card for this buttermilk cornbread proves it’s been a family favorite for years. It’s my daughter’s top request. —Judy Sellgren, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Traditional Scones

Making scones is shockingly simple. I learned how when my wife and I hosted an English tea, and I wish I’d tried my hand at it earlier! —Chuck Hinz, Parma, Ohio

Black Walnut Cake

My mother’s family members all were excellent cooks and known for their great hospitality. A longtime family favorite, this old-fashioned black walnut cake was always expected at holiday dinners, special occasions and potlucks.

Old-Fashioned Oat Bread

When this old-fashioned oat bread is baking, it reminds me of childhood and the warm, inviting aromas that greeted me after school. The light sweet flavor, crispy crust and hearty texture of this bread made for a special treat when Mom baked it for us. —Gloria Murtha, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Glazed Apple Pie Bars

This is only one of many wonderful recipes that my mother handed down to me. With their flaky crust and scrumptious fruit filling, these delicious apple pie bars are the perfect way to serve apple pie to a crowd.—Janet English, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I always requested banana cake with fudge frosting for my birthday. Mom’s recipe is attached to my fridge—and my heart. It’s funny how many memories live on in a stained handwritten recipe card. On a more practical note: It’s important to make sure the whipped cream cheese is truly at room temperature before you use it. If not, it chills the softened butter and makes for lumpy frosting. —Jeanne Ambrose, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Oat & Coconut Icebox Cookies

This recipe was passed down through my family from Grandma Irene and is a favorite of my dad and cousin Dennis. It's a true cookie lover's cookie: crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and perfectly dunkable. —Lori Rowe, Tigerton, Wisconsin

Maple Carrot Cupcakes

I come from a line of family cooks and have liked to cook and bake since I was young. Mother and Grandmom were always in the kitchen cooking up something delicious. These carrot cupcakes were Grandmom's specialty, and we always have them at family gatherings. —Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio, Vineland, New Jersey

Lemon Chess Pie

This bright and creamy lemon chess pie cuts beautifully and has a smooth texture. It’s one of my favorites. —Hannah LaRue Rider, East Point, Kentucky

Oatmeal Date Bars

In no time at all, these oatmeal date bars will be ready for your family. They'll be surprised at how light and tasty these treats are. —Helen Cluts, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Gooey Old-Fashioned Steamed Molasses Bread

While I was growing up, the smell of this bread often greeted me as I walked in the door from school. I thought that everyone baked bread in a slow cooker. My grandmother, my mother and I—and now my daughters—all bake this. It’s comfort food at its best! —Bonnie Geavaras-Bootz, Chandler, Arizona

Ginger-Cream Bars

I rediscovered this old-time recipe recently and found it's everyone's favorite. Even 4-year-olds have asked for these frosted bars as nursery treats. —Carol Nagelkirk, Holland, Michigan

Buttermilk Rolls

These buttermilk rolls are squishy, buttery and irresistible, especially when pulled straight from the oven.

Cuppa Joe Caramel Cake

I get compliments on this cake wherever I take it. It is very much an adult cake, with the hit of coffee and the warmth of the brown sugar and caramel.—Leigh Doutt, Pueblo West, Colorado

Honey Cinnamon Bars

My Aunt Ellie gave us the recipe for these sweet bar cookies with cinnamon and walnuts. Drizzle with icing, and serve with coffee or tea. —Diane Myers, Star, Idaho

Amish Potato Bread

A tasty mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour and a small amount of mashed potatoes combine to give this golden bread its wonderful texture. The loaf is very moist and stays that way for days. —Sue Violette, Neillsville, Wisconsin

Kentucky Butter Cake

Look no further than Kentucky butter cake for a fluffy, buttery cake with an excellent crumb and a vanilla-almond butter sauce that permeates every bite.

Mimosa Butter Cookies

You can add many different flavors to butter cookies to make them your own. Try an alternate type of citrus zest, or add an alternate liquid to change things up. —Sara Lark, Raton, New Mexico

Upside-Down Fruitcake

I get tired of people bad-mouthing holiday fruitcakes. It's one of my favorite holiday flavors and I look forward to it every year. This year, I decided to combine it with everyone's favorite, upside-down cake. Try to say no to this fruitcake; I dare you! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Buttermilk Biscuits

You can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.

Grandma Pruit’s Vinegar Pie

This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always served at our get-togethers.—Suzette Pruit, Houston, Texas

Peanut Butter Cookies

We cream shortening instead of butter for this dough, resulting in an ultra-rich-tasting version of traditional peanut butter cookies. Also nice? They take less than 30 minutes to prepare. 

Homemade Egg Bread

People rave about this tender, delicate bread every time I serve it. The braided look is just beautiful and is actually quite easy to do. —June Mullins, Livonia, Missouri

Frosted Brownies

These Frosted Brownies have an amazing chocolate frosting that you'll adore. Sit back and savor every bit of the chewy brownie base and rich, fudgy frosting.

Traditional Hot Cross Buns

On 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. —Barbara Jean Lull, Fullerton, California

Irish Soda Bread

Our Irish soda bread recipe yields a traditional loaf that would make any Grammy or Granda proud. Don’t forget to let the fairies out!

Toffee Angel Food Cake

Chopped toffee bits and whipped cream make the sweet flavor and light, moist texture of angel food even more indulgent. For best results, refrigerate the cake for at least an hour before serving. —Collette Gaugler, Fogelsville, Pennsylvania

Molasses Cookies with a Kick

Here’s my go-to combination of ingredients for the best spice cookies. They’re a natural for fall, but I make them all year long. My mom says they’re her favorite! —Tamara Rau, Medina, North Dakota

Lady Baltimore Cake

Lady Baltimore cake is an elegant, showstopping dessert made from layers of airy cake, chewy fruit, crunchy nuts, and a cloud-like frosting. Here is how to make it.

Milk Cake

This is a simple recipe—and especially easy in a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. The result is a deliciously light, airy cake. —Suzanne Coelman, Rabun Gap, Georgia

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

Hummingbird Cupcakes

Turn the traditional hummingbird cake—flavored with pineapple, bananas and walnuts—into a bite-sized treat with these moist cupcakes. —Jessie Oleson, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Cherry Pie Bars

Easy to make, easy to transport and easy to love, these indulgent cherry pie bars are the perfect treat, no matter your baking skill level.

Southern Lane Cake

What’s the most sumptuous, indulgent cake you can bake for your guests? The answer is probably Lane Cake, a Southern classic with a rich history and even richer filling. This Lane Cake recipe takes some planning and patience, but it’s all worth it in the end. 

Kate Smith Coffee Cake

When I lived in an orphanage more than 50 years ago, I helped out in the kitchen, often making this wonderful coffee cake and dutifully following the recipe the cooks used. Years later, seeing Kate Smith on television, I realized that I had been making one of the singer's own favorite recipes from her cookbook! —Ruth Nast, Waterford, Connecticut