Food and Recipes 62 Vintage Recipes You May Have Forgotten About—But Shouldn't Have By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos If there's any sure thing around here, it's that food traditions in the South tend to stick, and for good reason. Cookbooks are passed down from mothers and grandmothers, recipes are exchanged by word of mouth, techniques are taught by hand, and Southern food endures as a way of keeping the communities, stories, and memories alive. Although we love creating new recipes in keeping with today's tastes and trends, there's something sweet about a vintage recipe that can still hold its own. Get ready for a trip down memory lane with these old-fashioned recipes we still love. From a traditional relish tray appetizer and a classic turkey tetrazzini dinner to divinity candy or shoofly pie for dessert, these vintage recipes are worth holding onto. These forgotten foods of the 70s span courses, decades, and seasons. Ready for some nostalgia and satisfied smiles at your table? Give these retro recipes a try, and we're sure they'll stir up good memories. 01 of 62 Crispy Cheese Wafers Recipe: Crispy Cheese Wafers Southern hosts have long served cheese wafers to keep arriving guests held-over until the main event, and we think they should always be homemade. 02 of 62 Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Ham Salad With the rise of establishments like beloved Chicken Salad Chick, Southern "salads" are staying mainstream, but do you remember Ham Salad? If not, it's time to resurrect this retro luncheon favorite. 03 of 62 Traditional Relish Tray Greg Dupree Recipe: Stuffed Celery with Cream Cheese and WalnutsRecipe: Pickled BeetsRecipe: Spicy Pickled Carrots Although beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards are all the rage right now, we love a nostalgic savory relish tray for a cocktail party. 04 of 62 Dainty Cucumber Sandwiches Southern Living Recipe: Dainty Cucumber Sandwiches Tea sandwiches are a hallmark of Southern luncheons, and while you might see pimiento cheese or chicken salad versions around, we miss these perfectly pretty cucumber sandwiches. 05 of 62 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers If you recognize this old-school snack, you're not alone. These salty bites keep coming back because they're just that good. 06 of 62 Cheddar-Horseradish-Walnut Cheese Ball Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Cheddar-Horseradish-Walnut Cheese Ball It's not a Southern party without a cheese ball, and we should be sure to keep it that way. 07 of 62 Diane's Southwestern Cornbread Salad Recipe: Diane's Southwestern Cornbread Salad Southerners love a cold layered salad, and this one is the perfect excuse to bring them back. 08 of 62 Classic Okra and Tomatoes Southern Living Recipe: Classic Okra and Tomatoes Okra and tomatoes are a Southern combination as well-loved as peanuts and Coca-Cola or chicken and dumplings. 09 of 62 Home-Style Butterbeans William Dickey Recipe: Home-Style Butterbeans Southern-style butterbeans are a budget-friendly, easy side dish that's most delicious when cooked with bacon, of course. 10 of 62 Classic Candied Yams Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Candied Yams Sweet potato casseroles have remained a constant on Thanksgiving sideboards in the South, but candied yams have fallen to the wayside for many. This delicious recipe is all the convincing you need to bring them back. 11 of 62 Classic Fresh Field Peas Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas Delicate Southern field peas pair perfectly with smoky ham hocks for an old-school veggie side. 12 of 62 Three-Bean Pasta Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Three-Bean Pasta Salad If you remember three-bean salad from your childhood, you'll love this pasta-salad remake we cooked up. 13 of 62 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Jen Causey Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham This cold pasta salad is reminiscent of another Southern classic, layered salads. 14 of 62 Tomato Aspic Southern Living Recipe: Tomato Aspic There was a time when you couldn't find a ladies' luncheon that didn't have tomato aspic on the menu, and we think it's high-time to give this retro dish another spin. 15 of 62 Poppy Seed Chicken Southern Living Recipe: Poppy Seed Chicken Poppy seed chicken casserole has been a staple on Southern dinner tables as long as we can remember, and we're bringing it back for its one-dish ease and comfort-food taste. 16 of 62 Fresh Corn Spoonbread Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoonbread You might still make corn pudding and cornbread, but do you remember fluffy spoonbread? 17 of 62 New Turkey Tetrazzini Alison Miksch Recipe: New Turkey Tetrazzini There aren't many dishes more nostalgic than casseroles with a "cream-of" soup on the ingredient list, and turkey tetrazzini is reminiscent of Thanksgiving leftovers at many homes. Here's our updated spin on the beloved classic. 18 of 62 New Tuna Casserole Greg Dupree Recipe: New Tuna Casserole Tuna noodle casserole is the budget-friendly best friend of busy cooks in the South. 19 of 62 Pineapple Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Pineapple Casserole To some, pineapple casserole might sound crazy. To others, it's been a fixture at Easter lunches forever. Whichever side you're on, this is a truly Southern recipe you should try. 20 of 62 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Remember this one? Chicken-and-wild rice casserole has been a weeknight wonder in Southern homes for years, and it will never stop tasting so comforting. 21 of 62 Quiche Lorraine Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Quiche Lorraine Once the queen of Southern luncheons and brunches, Quiche Lorraine stood atop its pedestal in the '70s, but we still love this classic egg dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 22 of 62 Chicken-Fried Steak Southern Living Recipe: Chicken-Fried Steak Chicken-fried steak, served with peppery, creamy gravy, is an old-school Southern dish that's bad for your waistline but good for your soul. 23 of 62 Chicken-and-Collards Pilau Greg Dupree Recipe: Chicken-and-Collards Pilau Rice is the base for many old-fashioned Southern dishes, including this one-pot Lowcountry dinner. 24 of 62 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti Casserole This cheesy, hearty casserole has been a mainstay on weeknight dinner tables for decades, and kids will never stop eating it up. 25 of 62 Classic Peanut Brittle Charles Walton Recipe: Classic Peanut Brittle Peanut brittle is a simple, iconic Southern sweet treat that was supposedly created by accident. 26 of 62 Coca-Cola Cake Southern Living Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake Coca-Cola cake is one of the trustiest sheet cake recipes of all time. 27 of 62 Cherry-Nectarine Pandowdy Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Cherry-Nectarine Pandowdy You might assume this is just another cobbler recipe, but pandowdies, popular as early as the 1800s, are different in that the cook uses a fork to break, or "dowdy" the crust. It might be messy, but it's so worth it. 28 of 62 Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie Iain Bagwell Recipe: Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie This simple, creamy pie came to be during the Depression and World War II, when "desperation pies" were made with whatever ingredients Southern cooks had on hand. 29 of 62 Cassandra's "Light" Fruitcake Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Cassandra's "Light" Fruitcake Fruitcakes are a permanent fixture on plenty of Southern holiday tables, whether some generations enjoy them or not. 30 of 62 Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake Use blueberries fresh from the farmers' market for this timeless and simple cornmeal cake. 31 of 62 Chocolate Lasagna Southern Living Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna You may have enjoyed a similar layered chocolate dessert in the 1960s or '70s, and we're happy to tell you it's back. 32 of 62 Blackberry Jam Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Blackberry Jam Cake Chef Damaris Phillips shared her take on a vintage jam cake, and this layered version is absolutely incredible. 33 of 62 Sliced Sweet Potato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Sliced Sweet Potato Pie The beautiful presentation of a vintage sliced sweet potato pie can't be matched. 34 of 62 Mrs. Floyd's Divinity Southern Living Recipe: Mrs. Floyd's Divinity This vintage candy's name fits it well—it's truly divine. 35 of 62 Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie Icebox pies are a hallmark of vintage Southern desserts, and this rich black bottom recipe is no exception. 36 of 62 Lemon Cheese Layer Cake Southern Living Recipe: Lemon Cheese Layer Cake This recipe got its start in the early 1800s, and no, it's not a cheesecake. 37 of 62 Peach-Raspberry Buckle Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Peach-Raspberry Buckle This streusel-topped cake has the fruit you love from a cobbler but the texture of a crumb-cake, and it's perfect paired with an afternoon cup of tea. 38 of 62 Fudge Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Fudge Cake If you can't remember the last time you had a decadent slice of fudge cake, then it's absolutely been too long. 39 of 62 Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies We gave nostalgic oatmeal cream pies a Southern makeover and added salty-sweet caramel to the mix. 40 of 62 Shaker Lemon Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly Recipe: Shaker Lemon Pie This four-ingredient vintage recipe uses every part of the lemon since they were expensive and difficult to find when it was created. 41 of 62 Strawberry Pretzel Salad Southern Living Recipe: Strawberry-Pretzel Salad This vintage gelatin recipe was a favorite for church potlucks and family reunions in the South for decades. 42 of 62 The Lane Cake Hector Sanchez Recipe: The Lane Cake This cake's history began more than 100 years ago, but it rose to fame after being featured in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, one of the most famous American novels of all time. 43 of 62 Chess Pie Southern Living Recipe: Chess Pie Refrigerated pie crust helps cut prep time for this sweet dish without sacrificing a single bit of its signature flavor. 44 of 62 Old-Fashioned Shoofly Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Old-Fashioned Shoofly Pie A "Desperation Pie" that tastes anything but desperate, this old-fashioned dessert is topped with a sprinkling of simple shortbread crumbles that bake into the molasses mixture. 45 of 62 Apple Stack Cake Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Apple Stack Cake According to Appalachian folklore, this cake was traditionally a wedding delicacy made from layers brought individually by women in the community that were then stacked together. 46 of 62 Soda Cracker Pie Patrick McGough Recipe: Soda Cracker Pie If the desperation pies hold a place in your heart, you can't forget about Soda Cracker Pie. With just egg whites, sugar, crackers, and a handful of nuts, it's amazing what Southerners can pull out of the oven. 47 of 62 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Buttermilk Spoon Bread Nothing comforts quite like a spoon bread will. The texture, which belies its name, is more of a pudding consistency and a must on any sideboard. 48 of 62 Hoppin' John Soup Johnny Autry; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Hoppin' John Soup Sure, you make it to ensure good luck at the start of the year, but don't forget about it in the early or late winter, when it still does the same hearty job. 49 of 62 Lime Cottage Cheese Jello Salad with Sour Cream Chili Sauce Dressing Southern Living Recipe: Lime Cottage Cheese Jello Salad with Sour Cream Chili Sauce Dressing Congealed salads are high on the list of classic recipes, but today's tastes might have you reaching for another recipe card. Still, this one begs to be remembered. 50 of 62 Ham-and-Bean Soup Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Ham-and-Bean Soup Beans always promise to make for a filling dish. This recipe will help you use up a leftover ham bone, and you can also stock the bones in the freezer throughout the year so you always have some on hand. 51 of 62 Cynthia Wong's Steamed Pudding with Vanilla Custard Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Cynthia Wong's Steamed Pudding with Vanilla Custard Consider this the Christmas classic you need for your holiday table. 52 of 62 Sorghum Custard Pie with Cornmeal Crust Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Sorghum Custard Pie with Cornmeal Crust The silky pie filling and coarse cornmeal crust make for a beautiful contrast of textures and flavors. It allows the sorghum to shine with its grassy cane notes. 53 of 62 Instant Pot Black-eyed Pea Soup Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Instant Pot Black-eyed Pea Soup Don't forget about this soup, which deserves to be remembered on chilly winter days. You don't need the excuse of the New Year to whip up a big, comforting pot. 54 of 62 Egg Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Egg Custard Pie It's easy to forget this homey pie when there are so many great ones out there—but one bite of the smooth custard and it's something you'll be remembering for a good long while. 55 of 62 Best Waldorf Salad Southern Living Recipe: Best Waldorf Salad It's a salad with a story that brings a classy touch to the table. Fruity, light, and dressed with the signature mayonnaise, it won't disappoint. 56 of 62 Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce Louisianians know the pleasure of a cushaw, which swaps perfectly with pumpkin. Serve every slice with a few candied pecans and a drizzle of Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce. 57 of 62 Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp In a nod to Gullah cuisine, Food Network star Kardea Brown shares her recipe for Okra Soup with Shrimp. The key is in the fresh shrimp stock—one taste and you'll always want to make it homemade. 58 of 62 Okra Creole Recipe: Okra Creole This humble Southern vegetable needs only a little encouragement (in the form of Creole seasoning) to shine. 59 of 62 Hashbrown Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole Let's not forget to sing the praises of Hashbrown Casserole, also known as Funeral Casserole. It's so good, it merits being made even when there isn't a funeral. 60 of 62 Creamy Collard Green Soup with Bacony Croutons Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Creamy Collard Green Soup with Bacony Croutons Bacon and collard greens are a classic, no-fail pairing and soup is guaranteed comfort in a bowl. 61 of 62 Bryant Terry's Turnip Green Soup Ed Anderson Recipe: Bryant Terry's Turnip Green Soup If you need an alternative to chicken noodle, try turnip greens instead. It'll have you feeling better in no time. 62 of 62 Cocktail Meatballs Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Cocktail Meatballs There was a time when Southern dinner and cocktail parties practically required a batch of cocktail meatballs, and this recipe makes us want to bring the tradition back. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit