50 Vintage Christmas Recipes That Deserve A Comeback By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 15, 2023 Close Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer In the South, Christmas season revolves around family, time-honored traditions, and the kitchen. We can't think about our childhood Christmas memories without landing on our favorite holiday meals and treats that make appearances year after year—and are passed down generation to generation. From mouthwatering roasts to perfect pound cakes, our Christmas recipes are too good to forget. At Southern Living, we've featured some of the very best holiday recipes that deserve to be spotlighted yet again. These throwback recipes go back decades and feature the old-school holiday dishes we have loved the most. Several were developed in our test kitchen, but many were submitted by our talented readers over the years. Spice up your holiday menu this year by giving these vintage Christmas recipes another look—you might just be reminded of that family classic that needs to be introduced to a new generation. 01 of 50 Christmas Snow Salad Credit: Jennifer Causey Originally from our November 1982 issue, this bright retro salad still deserves a spot on your Christmas buffet today. It's not only pretty, but it's a refreshing option to heavy holiday sides. Get The Recipe Save 02 of 50 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Credit: Iain Bagwell Once a classic side for Christmas Eve, glazed carrots offer the sweetness that sweet potato casserole does on Thanksgiving. Carrots, meet your special-occasion makeover. Get The Recipe Save 03 of 50 Apple-Bourbon Pie Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Apple pie might be a traditional Christmas dessert, but this creative version submitted by Eugenia W. Bell of Lexington, Kentucky is anything but ordinary. It gets a spiced twist from bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and toasted pecans or walnuts. Get The Recipe Save 04 of 50 Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland The not-so-secret ingredient to the best meatballs is grape jelly. Make sure to have a crock of these slow-cooker meatballs ready for hungry guests when they arrive—they'll go fast. Get The Recipe Save 05 of 50 Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer With a glistening ham residing at the head of the holiday table, you're already off to a good start. It pairs well with any side Mama wants to serve. Bonus—all you have to do is glaze and heat. Get The Recipe Save 06 of 50 Ambrosia Pudding Pie Credit: Alison Miksch Following British tradition, the earliest custard pies were recorded as puddings in historic cookbooks. We added a festive ambrosial note with orange marmalade, crushed pineapple, and coconut custard. Get The Recipe Save 07 of 50 Homemade Eggnog Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis You'll never go back to store-bought once you try this rich and sweet version. Omit the bourbon if you'd like—the vanilla and nutmeg provide all the flavor you need. Get The Recipe Save 08 of 50 Buche de Noel Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke The name of this festive Christmas cake is literally translated as "yule log." Trust us—everyone gets excited when they see this dessert. Get The Recipe Save 09 of 50 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Credit: Laurey W. Glenn We might be serving hearty roasts and casserole-happy sideboards, but there's always room for rolls at Christmas, and they make your home smell incredible. Get The Recipe Save 10 of 50 Japanese Fruitcake with Lemon-Coconut Frosting Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez "It was the signal that Christmas really was coming when this heavenly smell filled the kitchen," said Susan Houston of Tucker, Georgia. She submitted this family recipe with hopes it would spread that same Christmas joy to others. Get The Recipe Save 11 of 50 Pecan-Coated Pork Loin Roast Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Southerners love pork loin, and this recipe dresses it up nicely for the holidays. It would be perfect on a festive table. Get The Recipe 12 of 50 Christmas Morning Coffee Cake Credit: Will Dickey, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Wake up on Christmas morning to this delicious treat that's packed with flavor and topped with a delectably sweet pistachio drizzle. Get The Recipe Save 13 of 50 Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Crisp, cheesy, and buttery, these crackers are as nice on a holiday spread as they are wrapped up for a friend. Just add a bottle of wine or some homemade preserves to make a stack of these crackers gift-ready. Get The Recipe Save 14 of 50 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Southern grandmothers have been gracing our table with the classic appetizer duo of pepper jelly and cream cheese for as long as we can remember. Here, it's upgraded into a holiday-worthy dish with the addition of seasoned shrimp. Get The Recipe Save 15 of 50 Classic Roasted Duck with Orange-Bourbon-Molasses Glaze Credit: Southern Living Feel instantly fancy and old-fashioned when serving this perfectly crispy roasted duck. (Break out both the vintage china and Mama's old apron.) The secret is in the sauce: a glaze of orange marmalade, bourbon, molasses, lemon juice, and ginger. Get The Recipe 16 of 50 Retro Rum Punch Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Greet your guests with a glass of nostalgic cheer. The seasonal fruit makes this the perfect festive sip. Get The Recipe Save 17 of 50 Classic Cornbread Dressing Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Southerners know that any classic dressing recipe starts with skillet cornbread. As far as we're concerned, it goes with any Christmas main. Get The Recipe Save 18 of 50 Molded Cranberry Salad Credit: Hector M Sanchez This pretty vintage jewel of a dish just wants to be on the Christmas sideboard. And this cranberry rendition tastes great! The congealed salads of the 1960s deserve some love, and they sure are conversation-starters. Get The Recipe Save 19 of 50 Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith Who says a stuffed beef tenderloin is a thing of the past? This one is well worth the effort and will make a big impression on your holiday table. Get The Recipe Save 20 of 50 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Everyone from the kids to the grandparents will be grabbing for these simple, but oh-so-yummy nibbles. Get The Recipe Save 21 of 50 Chocolate Trifle Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez High on style, low on effort. This chocolate trifle looks decadent and fancy enough for the holiday spread but takes only five store-bought ingredients. (They never have to know.) Get The Recipe Save 22 of 50 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Is there a world where this doesn't belong on the list? From the frozen French-cut green beans to the crispy fried onion topping, it's a familiar staple on every Southern holiday table. Get The Recipe Save 23 of 50 Cheddar Cheese Straws Credit: Lee Harrelson This age-old snack is a perennial favorite appetizer and an excellent hostess gift to boot. It just isn't a holiday party without a plate of cheese straws. Get The Recipe Save 24 of 50 Butternut Squash Bread Pudding Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch It's the holidays, so why not go for a showstopping side? Bread pudding gets a seasonal update with the addition of butternut squash. Get The Recipe Save 25 of 50 Savory Corn Pudding Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If Aunt Barb said she loved this casserole once, she said it a million times. This recipe is always a favorite among the Southern crowd. Get The Recipe Save 26 of 50 Cornmeal Popovers Credit: Laurey W. Glenn These old-fashioned breads are a joy to eat, and they go so well with everything on the holiday table. Get The Recipe 27 of 50 Cassandra's "Light" Fruitcake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Anna Hampton "Every time your mama wasn't looking, I'd sneak into the closet and pour more whiskey over those cakes," said author and Southern Living contributor Cassandra King's father. This family recipe was a childhood tradition that lived on through King after her mother passed, but it didn't taste exactly right until her daddy let her in on the secret she was missing. Get The Recipe Save 28 of 50 Angel Biscuits Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Were they sent from heaven? Perhaps. Do they capture the holiday spirit with both the fluffiness of a biscuit and the yeasty flavor of a dinner roll? Definitely. Get The Recipe Save 29 of 50 Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Credit: Emily Laurae / Southern Living This is what Christmas smells like. Top with softly-whipped cream, and enjoy this elegantly classic holiday dessert. Get The Recipe Save 30 of 50 Spicy Sausage-and-Cheddar Kolaches Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A beloved Texas tradition, this classic Czech pastry gets a spicy Southern kick from a combo of smoky Conecuh sausage and sharp Cheddar cheese. Get The Recipe Save 31 of 50 Oyster Casserole Credit: Greg DuPree You'll know it when you see that familiar topping of Saltines. Whether you call it oyster dressing, oyster pie, or even scalloped oysters, oyster casserole is right at home on any Southerner's Christmas table. Get The Recipe Save 32 of 50 Grits Dressing Credit: Laurey W. Glenn Change up traditional cornbread dressing with this equally-Southern side dish, or here's an even better idea—serve both. Get The Recipe Save 33 of 50 Rum Balls Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Rum balls, rum balls, how we love thee. It's not a Christmas party in the South without some form of tipsy treat. Originally from our December 1993 issue, this boozy confection is also a perfect gift. Get The Recipe Save 34 of 50 Hot Cheesy Crab Dip Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Put this bubbling-hot throwback dip out for a Christmas appetizer, and watch everyone swoop in. Get The Recipe Save 35 of 50 Hot Cranberry Bake Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez If you've never used your Christmas cranberries for this simple, crisp-like dessert, you haven't lived. We can thank Sue-Sue Harstern of Louisville, Kentucky for this reader recipe submitted over 25 years ago. Get The Recipe Save 36 of 50 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Can there ever be enough cozy, old-fashioned sides at holiday dinners? We say no. This creamy dish pairs well with green bean casserole and any main dish. Get The Recipe Save 37 of 50 Green Tomato Mincemeat Pie Credit: Alison Miksch There's no Christmas pie more traditional (or divisive) than classic mincemeat pie. It's time to bring back this flavor-filled, holiday-spiced classic. Get The Recipe Save 38 of 50 Orange Cake Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez This retro recipe makes a beautiful centerpiece for any holiday buffet, and the citrus-flavored cake offers a bright finish to Christmas brunch. Get The Recipe 39 of 50 Molasses Crinkles Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Sprinkles might get more attention, but nothing tastes as much like Christmas as these irresistible cookies. Make everyone happy and bring these classic holiday crinkles to your cookie swap. Get The Recipe Save 40 of 50 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Some things are better when kept the absolute same, like this old-fashioned pot pie recipe. How do you know it's vintage? It uses hard-boiled eggs in the filling. Get The Recipe Save 41 of 50 Chicken Alouette Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Before the name scares you, know that Alouette is just cheese. Gloriously creamy, garlicky, herby spreadable cheese. This retro-fancy recipe belongs on your holiday table, because who doesn't love a pastry-wrapped main dish? Get The Recipe 42 of 50 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Consider these Christmas cookie jar-approved. What makes these stand out from basic oatmeal cookies: the toasted oats. Get The Recipe 43 of 50 Slow-Cooker Cranberry-Pear Butter Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Whip up this fruity butter for an ideal blend of tartness, sweetness, and creaminess to top your freshly baked holiday biscuits. Get The Recipe Save 44 of 50 Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez Enter: the original day-after-a-holiday turkey casserole. It's hands-down the tastiest, most family-friendly use of leftover turkey. So much so, that even after almost 30 years, it's still our favorite. Get The Recipe Save 45 of 50 Cranberry Brie Bites Credit: Southern Living Pastry-based apps have gone through waves of popularity over the years, but we think these brie bites, which are studded with tart cranberry, are timeless. Get The Recipe Save 46 of 50 Cherry-Pecan Swirl Bread Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Cherries and pecans take center stage in this contemporary update of a cast-iron classic. The swirl in this anytime bread makes it showstopping enough for company. Get The Recipe 47 of 50 Oysters Rockefeller Credit: Southern Living Because if there's ever a time to go retro-fancy, it's at Christmas. Get The Recipe Save 48 of 50 Pork Crown Roast Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Nothing centers a Christmas table quite as stunningly as a crown pork roast. If you want to go really retro, get the frilly paper bone-covers, called manchettes, like Grandma used to use. Get The Recipe 49 of 50 Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez These one-bite wonders take the classic sausage-and-cheese ball formula and update them for today's holiday parties. Get The Recipe Save 50 of 50 Williams Family Wassail Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis One of the most traditional holiday drinks of them all, wintertime wassail gets a contemporary update in this flavorful drink recipe. Get The Recipe Explore more: Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Recipes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit