From simple sweets to hearty stews, these recipes are inspired by early America. Learn which all-American eats have withstood the test of time!
17 Vintage Recipes from Early America
Updated on Aug. 03, 2024
Chunky Apple Cake
After taste testing lots of apple cakes, I’ve found this apple cake recipe the best. Full of old-world comfort, the yummy brown sugar sauce really makes the cake special. For a festive occasion, top with a dollop of whipped cream. —Debi Benson, Bakersfield, California
1/16
2/16
Cream of Asparagus Soup
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Rumor has it that asparagus soup was one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite dishes; he even had asparagus planted and grown at Monticello.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 154 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 585mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat-free milk.
3/16
Molasses Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 310 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 219mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
4/16
Fresh Corn & Potato Chowder
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Quickly adopted by settlers, corn was planted and grown throughout the colonies. Corn chowder, like this recipe, was one way colonists used up their fresh produce.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 200 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 534mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1-1/2 fat.
5/16
A Bit Nutty Boston Brown Bread
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2 loaves (12 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
Originally developed when wheat crops wouldn’t grow, this sweet and hearty bread is still common in the Northeast.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 159 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 263mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
6/16
Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Though apple pie’s roots are from Europe, it didn’t long for this pie to become quintessentially American.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 496 calories, 23g fat (14g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 351mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
7/16
Rump Roast Recipe
Total Time
8 hours 50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Slow roasted and chalk-full of hearty vegetables, dishes like this rump roast were common for special events.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 368 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 103mg cholesterol, 464mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 35g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1.500 starch, 1 fat.
Editor’s Tip: Ever tried the popular southern dish fried chicken and waffles? Here’s why it belongs on your breakfast menu.
8/16
Jumble Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Simple and easy to throw together, these cookies were a common treat. Martha Washington even had her own recipe!
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 60 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 28mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
9/16
Pumpkin Gnocchi in Sage Butter
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Though pumpkin gnocchi may seem strange, pasta was a very common way colonialists incorporated pumpkin into their dishes. Paired with a simple and delicious butter sauce, you’ll find love at first bite!
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 394 calories, 23g fat (14g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 312mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 6g protein.
10/16
Buttermilk Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Classic cakes were originally made with just four ingredient: a pound of butter, flour, sugar and eggs. This version has a few more ingredients that make it even more delicious.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 334 calories, 13g fat (8g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 159mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
11/16
Beef Barley Soup
Total Time
2 hours 10 min
Servings
9 servings (2-1/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This hearty beef barley soup is a favorite menu item in our house throughout the year. Everyone savors the flavor. —Elizabeth Kendall, Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 133 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 859mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.
12/16
Apple Dumplings
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple dumplings were incredibly popular throughout the middle colonies, since boiling was one of the most common way to cook food in the area. This particular recipe is inspired by the Pennsylvania Dutch’s baking method.
Nutrition Facts:
1 dumpling: 764 calories, 40g fat (16g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 429mg sodium, 97g carbohydrate (59g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein.
13/16
Sausage Cornbread
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cornbread is a staple here in the South. I added sausage and cheese to a cornbread recipe and came up with this satisfying dish. It goes especially well with soup.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 369 calories, 22g fat (9g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 731mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g protein.
14/16
Gingerbread Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This treat was as popular during Christmas in Colonial America as it is today. Though, our modern-day gingerbread cake recipe has an extra-sweet touch of caramel sauce.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 497 calories, 17g fat (11g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 353mg sodium, 83g carbohydrate (51g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
15/16
Dill Pickles
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
Since pickling was one of the simplest way to preserve fresh produce, pickles were commonly eaten during dinner or as an appetizer.
Nutrition Facts:
1 spear: 5 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 280mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Free food.
16/16
Cranberry-Orange Roast Ducklings
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Roast duck was a favorite of colonists, especially when stuffed with a citrus.
Nutrition Facts:
8 ounces cooked duck: 373 calories, 21g fat (7g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 517mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 1g fiber), 16g protein.
