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  5. 25 Vintage-Inspired Chocolate Desserts

25 Vintage-Inspired Chocolate Desserts

Sierra Guardiola
By Sierra Guardiola January 30, 2021
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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Mary-Claire Britton

A good dessert stands the test of time, especially if it's a chocolate one. Passed down through word of mouth or placed in trusty cookbooks, vintage desserts continue to grace the table at Southern family functions, holiday celebrations, and weekly Sunday dinners. Adults and children alike swoon over their heavenly scents and decadent tastes. You'll be hard pressed to find someone who dare pass on a slice or bite of one of these classic chocolate recipes. Some of our favorites were developed as a twist on a sweet treat that was more cost-effective in trying times. Others started as a tribute to regional ingredients a baker might call home. From Mississippi Mud Cake to Chocolate Pudding Pie, these are bound to be crowd-pleasers for the chocolate enthusiasts in every bunch. These vintage chocolate recipes may just take you right back to your childhood or offer you a new twist on a beloved staple. Either way, we know they're near impossible to resist!

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Coca Cola Chocolate Cake

Coca Cola Chocolate Cake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Coca Cola Chocolate Cake

The sweet flavor and carbonated bubbles of Coca-Cola are the magic ingredient that makes this sheet cake moist and tender.

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Chocolate Peanut-Butter Fudge Bars

Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut-Butter Fudge Bars

Chocolate and peanut butter are an age-old sweet and savory combination. These bars have three delicious layers and crunchy peanuts on top.

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Kentucky Bourbon Pie

Kentucky Bourbon Pie
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Kentucky Bourbon Pie

Inspired by pecan pie, this twist has layers of pecan-chocolate chips, creamy bourbon filling, and whipped cream to make for an unexpected delight.

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Replace oil with mayonnaise in this layered cake recipe that most certainly deserves a spot on your dessert table.

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Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

There are few desserts more universally loved than chocolate chip cookies. Browning the butter before adding it into the mix is what gives these favorites an extra chewy, crisp texture.

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Classic Chocolate Pound Cake

Classic Chocolate Pound Cake
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Classic Chocolate Pound Cake

An easy-to-make pound cake is already a crowd-pleaser. This decadent chocolate version will wow your crowd even more.

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Mississippi Mud Cake

Mississippi Mud Cake
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cake

Like many iconic chocolate desserts, this one incorporates marshmallow and pecans for a balance of flavor in every bite.

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Over the Moon Chocolate Pie

Over the Moon Chocolate Pie
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Over the Moon Chocolate Pie

This pie — with it's graham cracker crust, Tennessee whiskey-chocolate filling, and marshmallow-like meringue — is a take on famous Southern MoonPies. 

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Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

These pecan pralines trace their roots back to the 1700s in New Orleans and are a perfect example of a dessert rich in both flavor and history.

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Chocolate Lasagna

Chocolate Lasagna
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna

If your Sunday dinner memories are full of lasagnas, this sweet rendition may just be for you. Easy to make, this dessert lasagna is the perfect after-dinner indulgence.

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Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge

Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge

A go-to recipe for bakers in the 1950s and '60s, it's easy as can be with the use of packaged products like chocolate chips, evaporated milk, and a jar of marshmallow cream.

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Little Layer Chocolate Cake

Ivy Odom 18-Layer Chocolate Cake Still

Recipe: Little Layer Chocolate Cake

While they may be thin, these 18-layers are perfectly baked and give this cake some serious gravity-defying height.

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Chocolate Water Cake

Chocolate Water Cake
Credit: Micah Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Water Cake

Water Cake gets its name from the incorporation of hot water in the ingredient list instead of milk. It's sometimes referred to as Depression Cake because of its basic pantry ingredients. The hot water helps loosen the batter when it mixes with the cocoa powder so the flavor can flourish without any lumps.

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Fudge Cake

Fudge Cake Recipe
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Fudge Cake

Simple instructions, few ingredients, and a square pan that's easy to transport make this one of the most appealing and hassle-free chocolate recipes we know.

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Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake

Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake

Half lemon, half chocolate, all irresistible. This cake is not only a masterpiece, but it's flavor combination is unmatched as well.

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German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: German Chocolate Cake

German cakes are known for their richness, and this one's no exception. Top it with chocolate-pecan frosting and a bit of whipped cream.

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Ice Cream Sandwich Layer Cake

Ice Cream Sandwich Layer Cake
Credit: Sheri Castle

Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Layer Cake

Throw together some Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches, chocolate whipped cream, and fresh strawberries and you'll have a dessert that transports you back to hot summer days spent eating the classic treats.

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Wacky Cake

Wacky Cake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Wacky Cake

No cake is easier to make than this one. Throw all your ingredients together in the baking pan and mix them together. 

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Milky Way Cake

Milky Way Cake
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Milky Way Cake

Once you taste the frosting on this candy bar cake, it'll remind you of all your days spent drinking chocolate Ovaltine malts as a kid.

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Pecan Pie Brownies

Pecan Pie Brownies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies

These brownies take everything we love about traditional pecan pie and mix it with everything we love about chocolate.

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Chocolate Pudding Pie

Chocolate Pudding Pie
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Pie

Add chopped dark chocolate to this homemade pudding base for more chocolatey flavor. The addition of instant coffee enhances these flavors even more.

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Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies

Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies
Credit: Katie Strasberg Rousso

Recipe: Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies

We'll say it again, Grandma knows best. This recipe is double the chocolate goodness, with a chocolate soft dough and chocolate frosting. It's as easy to make as it is to eat!

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Texas Skillet Cake

Texas Skillet Cake
Credit: Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Texas Skillet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake has been associated with the Lone Star State since the mid-20th century. We decided to try it out in a skillet. 

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Rebecca's Black-Bottom Icebox Pie

Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie
Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Rebecca's Black-Bottom Icebox Pie

Creamy chocolate filling topped with thickly layered whipped cream sits in a chocolate wafer crust.

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Chocolate-Buttermilk Pudding

Chocolate-Buttermilk Pudding
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Chocolate-Buttermilk Pudding

Chocolate pudding most likely made an appearance at your table when you were growing up. This version adds a flair of sophistication with the addition of buttermilk and mint garnish.

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By Sierra Guardiola

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 25 Coca Cola Chocolate Cake
    2 of 25 Chocolate Peanut-Butter Fudge Bars
    3 of 25 Kentucky Bourbon Pie
    4 of 25 Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
    5 of 25 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    6 of 25 Classic Chocolate Pound Cake
    7 of 25 Mississippi Mud Cake
    8 of 25 Over the Moon Chocolate Pie
    9 of 25 Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines
    10 of 25 Chocolate Lasagna
    11 of 25 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge
    12 of 25 Little Layer Chocolate Cake
    13 of 25 Chocolate Water Cake
    14 of 25 Fudge Cake
    15 of 25 Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake
    16 of 25 German Chocolate Cake
    17 of 25 Ice Cream Sandwich Layer Cake
    18 of 25 Wacky Cake
    19 of 25 Milky Way Cake
    20 of 25 Pecan Pie Brownies
    21 of 25 Chocolate Pudding Pie
    22 of 25 Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies
    23 of 25 Texas Skillet Cake
    24 of 25 Rebecca's Black-Bottom Icebox Pie
    25 of 25 Chocolate-Buttermilk Pudding

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