1950s Guide to Freezing Food for the Holidays

Be prepared for the holiday season like a 1950s housewife with this vintage guide to freezing food for the holidays. You will be prepare no matter what the holiday season throws your way.

I’m a big believer in preparing ahead for the holiday season. That is one of the big reasons I started my other website The Stress-Free Christmas. 

I also love to read vintage magazines and something I see come up often is freezing food for the holidays. 

One article in a November issue said, “serve traditional holiday dinners or any other kind, by being a smart cook, plan and prepare them now.” It really is the smart move to start putting food away in the freezer now to make the holiday season easier. 

I’ve looked through a bunch of issues of homemaking magazines from the 1950s to find recipes and tips for freezing food for the holidays to help you be a smart cook as well. 

1950s Guide to Freezing Food for the Holidays

The 1950s articles usually suggested starting to freeze holiday recipes starting in October or November so that they’d be available for the whole holiday season. 

While often the suggestions for holiday freezer meals focus more about planned out meals these 1950s articles often talked about just making sure to have a variety of foods in the freezer for surprise guests or busy days. I love this idea.

They also suggested making some delicious breads, cookies, and other treats that could be given as gifts. This would be a great way to have some last-minute gifts on hand without breaking the bank.

Now it’s time for some vintage recipes that are freezer-friendly so that you can make this Christmas a vintage-style Christmas. 

1950s Freezer-Friendly Holiday Recipes

These are some of the recipes included with the holiday freezer cooking articles. I’m not able to test and recreate every recipe I find. I have search for similar recipes and when possible I will share those along with freezing notes. 

I will share the other recipes I find but use caution when trying them. I have not tested the recipes but they were tested back in the 1950s. 

• Marshmallow Pumpkin Pie– This recipe I found is almost identical to the 1950s recipe. To freeze it instead of putting it in the fridge as the recipe suggestions, cover it in foil and freeze. I’d double wrap or also put it in a freezer bag. To serve, let thaw for 20-minutes at room temperature while wrapped and another 20 unwrapped or until fully thawed. 
• Frozen Whipped Cream– Whip and sweeten heavy whipping cream until it has stiff peaks. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and arrange mounds on the sheet. Freeze until firm. Remove frozen mounts and place in freezer bag. To serve, just place on your desserts and let thaw for about 20 minutes. 
• Frosty Eggnog– You can just stick the carton of eggnog in the freezer. To keep freezer burn out stick it in a freezer bag once frozen. To use, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, never thaw on the counter. A good shake is likely all it will need or you can beat it with a whisk in a punch bowl. 
• Turkey Pot Pie– The recipe is similar and has freezer instructions. 
• Anchovy Dip– This video recipe uses a 1950s recipe. To freeze it simply package in a freezer safe container. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight. 

Don’t forget you can also freeze most cookies as long as they don’t have icing. This is one of my favorite things to bake ahead during the holiday. 

More 1950s Holiday Freezer Recipes

These are the recipes I couldn’t find good online options for. I don’t have photos and they haven’t been tested by me but they come from vintage magazines so they would have been tested at the time.

However, keep in mind ingredients sometimes change over the years, this is why I usually test recipes before sharing them. So use with caution. 

Ice Cream Mince Pie

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (18 crackers)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup mincemeat, well-drained
• 1 quart vanilla ice cream

Directions:

1. Mix graham-cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press firmly into a greased 9-inch pie pan. 
2. Chill in the fridge until set, about 45 minutes.
3. Stir mince-meat into softened ice cream and place in freezer until almost firm. 
4. Fill pie shell with ice cream, wrap, and freeze.

To serve: Remove from freezer; top with whipped cream and chopped walnuts.

Nut-Covered Sweet-Potato Balls

• 2 1/2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• dash pepper
• 3/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Season mashed sweet potatoes with salt and pepper.
2. Shape in 2-inch balls.
3. Roll in chopped salted peanuts. 
4. Put dark corn syrup and butter in a large skilled over low heat. When the syrup is hot, add the potato balls.
5. To glaze, turn them over and over in hot syrup.
6. Place in an oven safe pie pan, wrap, and freeze.

To serve: Leave in pie pan, without thawing reheat in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Red and White Freeze

Described as having a bottom layer that is tart and fruity, top layer is smooth and mellow with cream cheese.

• 1-pound (2 cups) jellied cranberry sauce
• 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, whipped
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup heavy cream, whipped

Directions:

1. Crush cranberry sauce with fork. Add lemon juice.
2. Pour into 1-quart refrigerator tray. 
3. Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sugar, blend well. Add walnuts.
4. Fold in whipped cream and spread over cranberry mixture; freeze until firm or ready to serve.

To serve: Cut into wedges and serve on crisp lettuce.

Printable Holiday Recipes Cards

If you want to try any of these three vintage recipes, I’ve created printable version you can download and print to have on hand this holiday season. You can also add them to your own Christmas recipe book. To get the printable recipes just fill out the form below and I’ll send them to your inbox.

More Vintage Holiday Recipes

If you want even more vintage holiday recipes I have some here on the site for you to enjoy. 

• Cranberry Glazed Ham
• Semi-Homemade Cranberry Sauce
• Deviled Corn Casserole
• Cheesy Potato Casserole
• Gingerbread Brownies
• Peppermint Fluff
• Cranberry Noel

And if you want more vintage holiday freezer recipes you need to check out the digital version of the 1970s Freezing for Christmas guide. It’s a really cool vintage guide that will help you freeze everything you need for Christmas.