Funny,FailsDEC 24, 2025

80 Horrifying Vintage Recipes That Would Have Made Your Party A Success Decades Ago

Rugilė Žemaitytė and Oleksandra Kyryliuk

We often like to look back on the past with a sense of nostalgia, remembering it as a time when everything felt a little better. People seemed kinder, music more soulful, and food somehow tastier. But was it really all that great?

To find out, we’re stepping several decades back with Wendy, the creator of Vintage Cookbook Gore on Instagram. She shares recipes from her personal collection of vintage cookbooks, some dating as far back as the 1940s. And while a few of them still look surprisingly appealing, plenty of others raise an eyebrow or two.

The photos themselves are undeniably beautiful. Whether the meals would hold up today is another question entirely. Scroll down to see them all, and let us know if there are any you’d be willing to try.

#61 Oven Porcupines From “The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library”, 1971

#62 Hansel And Gretel’s House, Sailboat Cake, Camelot Knight’s Cake, And Doll Cake From From “Betty Crocker’s Cake And Frosting Mix Cookbook”, 1966

#63 Autumn Soup From “The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library”, 1971

#64 Fig Chewies From “Pillsbury’s Best Butter Cookie Cookbook”, 1960

#65 Apple Candy Pie From “Family Circle Illustrated Library Of Cooking, Vol. 11”, 1972

#66 Squash And Apple Bake From “The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library”, 1971

#67 A Touch Of Color From “How To Garnish”, 1994

#68 Apricot Cheesecake From “The Dessert Lovers’ Handbook”, 1973

#69 Stuffed Apples From “The Garden Club Holiday Cookbook”, 1971

#70 Roasted Turkey With Individual Cranberry Molds From “Southern Living Cookbook Library - The Poultry Cookbook”, 1971

#71 Five-Fruit Sherbet, Rainbow Sherbet Parfait, Guava Sherbet From “Woman’s Day Encyclopedia Of Cookery Vol. 10”, 1966

#72 Quiche Lorraine With Swiss Cheese From “Woman’s Day Encyclopedia Of Cookery Vol. 10”, 1966

#73 From “New Ways With Ice Cream”, 1949

#74 Tomatoes And Blue-Cheese Dip From “Better Homes And Gardens Barbecue Book”, 1956

#75 From “Southern Living - The Meats Cookbook”, 1975

#76 Alsatian Choucroute Garnie From “Southern Living - The Meats Cookbook”, 1975

#77 Sweet-Sour Pork From “Better Homes And Gardens Meals With A Foreign Flair”, 1963

#78 Chocolate Thumbprints From “Ideals Cookie Cookbook”, 1977

#79 Skinke Med Madeira, FLødebudding Med Frugtsauce, Rødkaal From “Women’s Day Encyclopedia Of Cookery Vol. 4”, 1966

#80 Frozen Peaches From “Calorie Saving Recipes For Foods Sweetened Without Sugar”, 1951

Poll Question

What strikes you most about the vintage dishes featured here?

Poll Question

What strikes you most about the vintage dishes featured here?