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Vintage Christmas Recipes

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October 27, 2020 By Lisa Sharp Leave a Comment

Vintage Christmas recipes can bring back memories of past Christmases and help keep family traditions alive. This year bring out some of your old favorites and try some of these as well.

collage of vintage christmas recipes

There is something about Christmas that can make us very nostalgic. Old-fashioned Christmases are always popular and even with all the trends that come and go the classic decor, recipes, and traditions always have a special place in our hearts. 

Christmas is such a good time to pull out the family cookbook and make some classics you may have forgotten about. You can also make some vintage Christmas recipes that are new to you to experience what past generations enjoyed during the holidays.

There are some strange vintage Christmas recipes out there, like Christmas candle salad. 

retro christmas dish, bananas in cherry sauce

Cherry and banana don’t sound that bad together but guess what other ingredient is in this. Mayonnaise! Why is there always mayo and jello in vintage recipes? 

For that vintage Christmas recipe, I’m going to say try it at your own risk. I’m going to skip that one. However, I have found some delicious vintage Christmas recipes that don’t mix mayo and jello. 

Let’s bring these vintage recipes back but maybe skip the ones like Christmas Candle Salad. Deal?


Vintage Christmas Recipes

This Christmas try some old-fashioned Christmas recipes! These recipes are from some of my favorite bloggers and are sure to make the whole family happy.

Vintage Cranberry Noel Dessert Recipe

Cranberry Noel is a vintage cranberry dessert that is perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert or Christmas dessert. It’s really simple and surprisingly delicious.

Vintage Cheesy Potato Casserole

Looking for a delicious and different potato side dish? Try this cheesy potato casserole from the 1960s. It’s a retro recipe that your whole family will love.

Lawry’s Famous Creamed Spinach

Photo Credit: whatagirleats.com

Lawry's Famous Creamed Spinach has been a steak house favorite since 1938. It's the perfect accompaniment to your holiday dinner!

Homemade old-fashioned spicy hermit cookies

Photo Credit: homespunseasonalliving.com

Hermit cookies are the perfect combination of spice, nuts, and dried fruits. They're perfect for shipping in care packages and adding to gift baskets alike

Old-Fashioned Ambrosia Recipe

Photo Credit: www.gritsandpinecones.com

Southern Ambrosia is often called “Nectar of the Gods” and it’s an excellent description for this famous citrusy fruit salad. Classic ambrosia is a traditional Christmas dish, and I am no exception. I can’t imagine the holidays without this delicacy.

Pecan Pralines Recipe

Photo Credit: www.gritsandpinecones.com

Old-fashioned Pecan Pralines are a classic Southern candy. These luscious, crunchy bites of heaven taste a little like a combination of creamy butterscotch, caramel, and roasted pecans all wrapped up in a sugary, fudgy package!

Martha Washington Candy (2 Ways)

Photo Credit: www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

Martha Washington Candy is an old-fashioned favorite for the holidays -- and it's easy to see why. Loaded with creamy sweetened coconut-pecan centers coated in chocolate, this classic confection is a purely decadent delight.

Original Eggnog Recipe

Photo Credit: canadiancookingadventures.com

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that can put us in the holiday spirit. And for me it is making this EGGNOG from scratch at home.

Old Fashioned Tea Cake Christmas Cookies

Photo Credit: intelligentdomestications.com

One recipe you should most certainly have in your collection is an Old Fashioned Tea Cake recipe. Although the name alludes to a cake, these are actually thin little sugar cookies, much like a short bread cookie. They are not too sweet, just exactly right and perfect for Christmas cookie decorating.

Chocolate Pecan Slice and Bake Cookies

Photo Credit: thriftyjinxy.com

This Chocolate Pecan Slice and Bake Cookie recipe is made with Grandma’s recipe! A chocolate log is cut into slices and rolled in tasty chopped pecans.

Kringla Recipe for Traditional Norwegian Cookies

Photo Credit: littlefamilyadventure.com

I fondly remember my grandmother making these Kringla Cookies every holiday season. These are soft, pillowy shaped cookies are a traditional Norwegian treat that even Santa can't resist.

Sugared Mixed Nuts on Stovetop

Photo Credit: www.lucismorsels.com

You'll eat handful after handful of these sugared mixed nuts. A perfectly sweet, creamy, and crunchy treat for all!

Retro Cocktail Olives Appetizer Recipe

Photo Credit: www.vavoomvintage.net

These are so perfectly retro- an olive, cream cheese, lunch meat on a toothpick. As people filter in, drop their coats and get the kids settled, they all grab several at a time from the platter and if you're late to the party, you're out of luck because they'll be long gone!

Christmas Cranberry Cake

Photo Credit: thestressfreechristmas.com

A cranberry version of a vintage cake recipe. It's delicious and simple to make.

More Vintage Recipes

Want even more vintage recipes? I’ve got several on the blog and they can be made for Christmas or any other time you want to try them out.

collage of apple recipes

Old-Fashioned Apple Recipes

cream cheese spaghetti on plate

Easy Cream Cheese Sauce for Spaghetti (1950s Recipe)

two glasses on chocolate coffee pudding with vanilla pudding

Easy Chocolate Coffee Pudding (1960s Recipe)

berry punch in pitcher and glass on outdoor table

Retro Berry Punch Recipe (1940s Recipe)

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Filed Under: Recipes, Christmas, Holidays, Recipe Collections Tagged With: Christmas Recipes, Vintage Recipe

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Welcome to my blog! My name is Lisa and I'm the Retro Housewife trying to live a greener life. I share my love of all things vintage, homemaking and green living here on the blog. To read more, click here.

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