24 Retro Desserts People Can’t Stop Talking About
Some desserts never lose their charm, and retro favorites are proof. These classics remind you why certain flavors just stick around.
This collection brings back the pies, cakes, and sweets that defined decades past. Each recipe feels familiar, comforting, and worth revisiting today.
Peach Crumb Pie
Peach crumb pie, with its delightful blend of juicy peaches and a buttery, crunchy topping, is a summer dessert that brings people together.
Get The Recipe: Peach Crumb Pie.
Gugelhupf
This Gugelhupf, or Kugelhopf, is a traditional German sweet yeast bread that is often served for breakfast or afternoon tea with coffee for dunking. It is served around the holidays, for occasions when the company comes.
Get the Recipe: Gugelhupf.
Apricot Pie
Apricot Pie is packed with summer flavors! It’s sweet, tart, and super easy to make. Use juicy apricots for a delicious filling, and if you’re short on time, a store-bought refrigerated crust works perfectly. Ideal for any summer gathering!
Get the Recipe: Apricot Pie.
Rhubarb Pie
When rhubarb is at its peak of freshness, seize the opportunity to make this old-fashioned rhubarb pie. It offers a flavorful burst of summer that can be enjoyed any time of the year. This classic pie captures the essence of rhubarb’s tangy taste, wrapped in a flaky, buttery crust.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Rhubarb Pie.
Rainbow Cake
Rainbow Cake is a cherished vintage recipe that has been a family favorite for generations. Known for its bright, cheerful layers of Jello, this cake is light and refreshing—a perfect choice for hot summer parties. It’s not heavy, making it an ideal dessert that everyone can enjoy even on the warmest days.
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Cake, Light And Fruity Jello Cake.
Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake
This Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake is the same recipe that your mom or grandma made! The recipe has been on the box of Hershey’s brand cocoa powder for nearly a century.
Get the Recipe: Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake.
Pina Colada Cupcakes
Piña Colada Cupcakes taste like the popular tropical adult beverage, right down to the rum. They are fruity, with a pineapple filling, and the lightly toasted coconut on the top adds a crunchy element, too. Of course, you can eliminate the rum if you are serving kids.
Get the recipe: Piña Colada Cupcakes.
Sunshine Cake
Sunshine cake, sometimes called Pig Pickin Cake, is a moist yellow cake flavored with vibrant oranges and topped with a creamy pineapple-infused topping. It’s an absolutely amazing dessert that is always a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Sunshine Cake.
Old-fashioned Coffee Cake
Old-Fashioned Coffee Cake, topped with brown sugar and cinnamon, is a wonderful treat to enjoy for breakfast or dessert.
Get the Recipe: Old-fashioned Coffee Cake.
Old-fashioned Chocolate Pudding Cake
This is a rich chocolate pudding cake my grandmother makes. You can eat this while it is still warm or let it cool and serve it with a little whipped cream.
Get the Recipe: Old-fashioned Chocolate Pudding Cake.
Oatmeal Cake
This perfectly divine and flavorful gluten-free, double-layer cinnamon oatmeal cake is topped with an easy, lightly-spiced cinnamon cream cheese frosting. It’s a popular cake frequently requested at family birthday parties!
Get the Recipe: Oatmeal Cake.
Sponge Cake
This easy sponge cake uses plain flour and oil. It’s a fluffy, decadent sponge cake that you can quickly whip and mix, and be ready for you to enjoy with your cup of coffee or tea in no time.
Get the Recipe: Sponge Cake.
Sticky Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe
One of our family’s favorite loaf cakes to bake is a sticky gingerbread cake. It reminds me of Christmas, regardless of the time of year we celebrate it, and this recipe is incredibly simple. It makes two 2-pound gingerbread loaves, one of which we freeze for later use. As it’s so moist, it also lasts really well and is a perfect treat to have with coffee and a book in the afternoon or evening. So here we go, we’re sharing with you our traditional sticky gingerbread loaf cake recipe.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe.
Old-Fashioned Ginger Cake
This is the best old-fashioned gingerbread cake recipe if you want to wow everyone. It’s an easy fall or holiday dessert with warm spices and dark molasses, and it’s both festive and nostalgic.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Ginger Cake.
Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake
This is the best lemon sour cream pound cake for any occasion. This old-fashioned cake is moist, soft, and topped with a perfect buttery lemon icing.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake.
Passionfruit Tiramisu
This no-bake Passion Fruit Tiramisu is a Latin twist on the classic Italian Tiramisu recipe, combining layers of Passion Fruit juice-soaked ladyfingers with a creamy mascarpone filling infused with rum and passion fruit, and topped with fresh fruit.
Get the Recipe: Passionfruit Tiramisu.
Orange Carrot Jello Salad
This retro recipe for Orange Carrot Jello Salad is just like your grandma made. It is cool, sweet, and a bit crunchy. Perfect for summer BBQs and picnics. It only takes five minutes of prep time, so it’s incredibly easy!
Get the Recipe: Orange Carrot Jello Salad.
Old Fashioned Banana Pudding
Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding recipe is the original, homemade banana pudding recipe. Easy to make – no mixes needed for this recipe that shows how to make banana pudding from scratch.
Get The Recipe: Old Fashioned Banana Pudding.
Vintage Buttermilk Cake
Vintage Buttermilk Cake is just like grandma used to make. Every time I went to visit my grandmother, she would always have some kind of dessert baked and ready to serve to us. It
Get The Recipe: Vintage Buttermilk Cake.
Chocolate Eclair Cake
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Eclair Cake is a no-bake, scrumptious dessert that is packed with flavor and quite refreshing!
Get The Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Eclair Cake\
Vintage Angel Cookies
Bake a batch of nostalgia with our Vintage Angel Crisps! A timeless treat perfect for holidays or sweet cravings.
Get The Recipe: Vintage Angel Cookies.
Classic Apple Cake
This simple and delicious apple cake recipe is perfect for beginners and will be a hit on any occasion. With only a few ingredients and minimal prep, you can whip up this tasty treat in no time! Get ready to indulge in a slice of sweet and tender goodness.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cake.
Old-fashioned Apple Cake
The BEST old-fashioned fresh apple cake recipe and a firm family favorite. This moist and flavorful cake is bursting with as much fresh apple as I could cram into it. Nutty browned butter, walnuts, and cinnamon with a dulce de leche topping take it to the next level. Get the Recipe: Old-fashioned Apple Cake.
Southern Peach Cobbler
Easy Southern Peach Cobbler is a flavor packed dessert made with fresh peaches in a rich, sweet homemade sauce and topped with buttery crust!
Get The Recipe: Easy Southern Peach Cobbler
