15 Forgotten Dessert Recipes That Were Once Family Favorites
Here's a nostalgic collection of dessert recipes that once lit up family tables but have slowly faded from memory.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Desserts have always been the heart of family gatherings, yet many classics have disappeared. These treats were once kitchen staples that were passed down through generation. Let’s rediscover the sweet goodness our grandparents used to make.
1. Watergate Salad
Raul654 on Wikimedia Commons
A fluffy mix of pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping, this retro “salad” was once a potluck superstar. Its pastel green hue and nutty crunch made it a standout.
2. Vinegar Pie
whizchickenonabun on Flickr
Born out of the Great Depression, vinegar pie was a tangy-sweet miracle using pantry staples. Its custardy texture and zingy bite made it unexpectedly delicious.
3. Apple Pandowdy
Shadowfoot on Flickr
This spiced fruit dessert came before apple crisp, featuring baked apples beneath a biscuit crust. The name may sound odd, but its warm, cinnamon-kissed flavor was a winter favorite.
4. Tomato Soup Cake
National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution on Flickr
Yes, tomato soup — and it works! Moist, spiced, and topped with cream cheese frosting, this cake defies expectations. It became popular in the 1940s and deserves a comeback.
5. Junket
Ewan Munro on Wikimedia Commons
Made with rennet and milk, junket was once a staple for light, custardy desserts. Flavored with nutmeg or vanilla, it had a silky texture loved by kids and adults alike.
6. Shoofly Pie
Good N Plenty on Wikimedia Commons
A molasses-rich pie with a crumbly top, shoofly pie hails from Pennsylvania Dutch country. Sweet and sticky, it pairs beautifully with black coffee.
7. Floating Island
Smuconlaw. on Wikimedia Commons
An elegant dessert of poached meringue “islands” floating on vanilla custard. Light as air and visually stunning, it was once a dinner party showstopper.
8. Icebox Cake
Robyn Anderson on Flickr
No baking needed — just layers of graham crackers, whipped cream, and pudding chilled to perfection. Once a go-to for summer gatherings, it’s easy, creamy, and endlessly customizable.
9. Brown Betty
KaMan on Wikimedia Commons
Similar to a crisp but heavier on the breadcrumbs, Brown Betty was an old-fashioned apple dessert. It had a warm, homey charm and was often drizzled with hard sauce or cream.
10. Hummingbird Cake
ulterior epicure on Flickr
Originating in the South, this banana-pineapple spice cake was incredibly moist and decadent. Topped with rich cream cheese frosting, it was once a mainstay at holidays and church socials.
11. Cornmeal Pudding
esimpraim on Flickr
With roots in early American cooking, cornmeal pudding is smooth, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying. Often served warm with a splash of cream.
12. Tapioca Cream
Satisfying Juan’s Appetite on Flickr
Tapioca pearls suspended in rich vanilla custard made this dessert a childhood favorite. Chewy, creamy, and nostalgic, it’s fallen out of fashion but not out of flavor.
13. Blancmange
Apmarles on Wikimedia Commons
A creamy molded dessert thickened with cornstarch or gelatin, blancmange was once seen as elegant and refined. Often flavored with almond or fruit, it had a silky bite and a delicate look.
14. Prune Whip
Zaphod2012 on Flickr
Light, airy, and subtly sweet, prune whip combined stewed prunes with egg whites. Once popular for its health benefits and low sugar, it’s now all but forgotten.
15. Boiled Custard
City Foodsters on Flickr
A Southern tradition, boiled custard is richer and smoother than eggnog. Served chilled with a dash of nutmeg, it was a holiday must-have.