If there’s one thing that takes me right back to my grandma’s kitchen, it’s the smell of a cake baking in the oven. Sweet, warm, and just a little old-fashioned, these are the cakes that showed up at potlucks, church socials, and holiday gatherings year after year. They weren’t fussy or over-the-top...just dependable, comforting, and delicious!
Today, I’m sharing 25 vintage cakes that taste like a slice of nostalgia. From pineapple upside-down cake straight out of a 1950s magazine to Appalachian jam cake baked with love for Christmas, these are the classics worth keeping in your recipe box.
You'll love these Old Fashioned Vintage Cake Recipes ❤️
1
Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Almond Cake
Back in the Civil War era, the Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Almond Cake was a delicious dessert many would treat themselves to. Mary Todd would make the almond cake for President Lincoln and from there it became a popular dessert enjoyed in many homes and throughout the generations.
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2
Old-Fashioned Coconut Cake
With layers of cake smothered in coconut frosting and sometimes filled with lemon curd or custard, the coconut cake quickly became a family favorite. It's been around since the 1900's and is still a popular dessert today.
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3
The Best Devil’s Food Cake - Baker by Nature
When cocoa became wildly available, it didn't take long for bakers to start experimenting and to come up with a delicious chocolate cake. Devil's food cake is dark, moist, and fudgy giving chocolate lovers the perfect dessert.
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4
Perfect Angel Food Cake
Light and airy, the classic angel food cake has been around for centuries. It's a light dessert option that's great for enjoying after a big meal or when you don't want a heavy dessert.
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5
Fruit Cocktail Cake
Fruit cocktail cake was popular in the 60's. Mixing the canned fruit cocktail with the cake mix made it a sweet fruity dessert that was always moist. Many topped it off with a pecan icing for extra flavor.
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6
Easy Granny Cake Recipe
This easy and moist Granny Cake features pineapple-infused cake batter soaked in a brown sugar glaze. An old school dessert ready in about 1 hour!
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7
Grandma’s Vanilla Wonder Cake
A light vanilla cake was a baker's favorite. If Grandma loved to bake, vanilla cake was probably made many times. It was one of the more fancier cakes to make and took a little extra love and care to make compared to others.
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8
Lady Baltimore Cake Recipe
The 7-minute frosting combined with a great base cake layer makes for an intriguing new taste. Find the recipe for Lady Baltimore Cake here!
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9
Smith Island Cake and Easton, Maryland
A recipe for a Smith Island Cake! This decadent dessert pairs multiple layers of yellow cake with a rich chocolate frosting.
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10
Old Fashioned Southern Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
The chocolate cake was made with the popular soda drink and always came out moist. The cola was included in the cake and icing enhancing the flavor. It was always a favorite for gatherings and potlucks.
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11
Doberge Cake | Ash Baber
Multiple thin layers of butter cake sandwiched with chocolate or lemon pudding is what made this old fashioned cake so irresistible. The cake was finished with glaze to gave it an extra burst of sweetness.
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12
Southern Sock It To Me Cake | I Heart Recipes
This southern classic is a sour cream Bundt cake with a cinnamon-pecan swirl. It was more traditional in the 1970's but is still loved today by many. The cake got it's name from the popular phrase during that time.
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13
Grandma’s Texas Sheet Cake - The Seasoned Mom
Grandma’s old fashioned Texas sheet cake is a delicious and easy chocolate cake recipe with a rich fudge frosting.
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14
Classic Coconut Cake - The Pancake Princess
This fluffy coconut cake features plush layers of sour cream vanilla cake, a tangy cream cheese frosting and lots of toasted coconut!
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15
Gram’s Easy Wacky Cake Recipe
No eggs, milk, or butter was needed to make a delicious and moist cake. The pantry friendly classic became a favorite for many families and it was easy to make. You could mix it right in the pan, bake, and enjoy.
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16
The Best Devil’s Food Cake - Baker by Nature
If you love standard chocolate cake, you have to try this sinfully delicious recipe for Devil’s Food Cake. Super moist with an intense chocolate flavor, it’s basically the opposite of angel food cake. Exploding with rich chocolate flavor and covered in chocolate buttercream, it’s my favorite chocolate cake recipe! Devil’s Food Cake Recipe Welcome to
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17
Applesauce Spice Cake
With a few simple pantry spices and eggs, the applesauce spice cake was (and still is) one of the easiest cakes to make. During the days when food was rationed, the cake gave many families the option of still being able to enjoy a delicious dessert after dinner or for celebrations.
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18
Old Fashioned Stack Cake Recipe
Throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, this old fashioned stack cake goes back generations where fresh apples were abundant. Prepare with your favorite fruit.
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19
Best Ever Boston Cream Cake Recipe • Food Folks and Fun
This Wicked good Boston Cream Pie recipe is a New England classic. It is made with yellow cake, pastry cream, and rich chocolate ganache.
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20
Old Fashioned Butter Cake
There’s nothing quite like the smell of butter cake baking in the oven. This old-fashioned recipe is a classic for a reason - it’s delicious!
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21
Old Fashioned Skillet Cake
This super easy recipe for a rustic Skillet Cake is perfect served with berries and whipped cream and makes a perfect base for strawberry shortcake!
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22
Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake (13x9)
This 13x9 inch cake is an old fashioned fresh apple cake that’s moist, easy to mix and covered in a rich brown sugar and butter glaze.rn
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23
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
When fresh ingredients were scarce, you could still enjoy a delicious dessert after dinner. Using shelf stable mayo helps create rich, tender chocolate layers of cake without having to use eggs or oil.
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24
Grandma Blanche’s Famous Old Fashioned Pound Cake - Big Delicious Life
Traditional pound cakes are dense, sweet, buttery, and moist. Some would give the cakes a crunchy topping while others would add some flavoring to the cake or enjoy it as is.
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25
Old Fashioned Red Velvet Cake
With its silky frosting and layers of velvety cake, the red velvet cake was often served after dessert or for fancy dinners. It had a hint of chocolate and the famous red colors it's known for.
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26
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
A simple, sweet pineapple upside down cake recipe made with a fluffy from-scratch vanilla cake. This old fashioned dessert became especially popular in the 1950s when canned pineapple and maraschino cherries were kitchen staples, cementing its place as a true mid-century classic.
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27
Blackberry Jam Cake - bakes & recipes
Inspired by old fashioned southern jam cakes, this Blackberry Jam Cake is flavored with seedless blackberry jam, spices, and chopped pecans. Southern blackberry jam cake dates back to the 1800s in Appalachia and the American South, where blackberry jam was used to sweeten and moisten cakes before sugar was widely available, making it a cherished holiday tradition.
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Our 25 vintage cakes aren’t just recipes, they’re memories baked into every slice. They remind us of family gatherings, holiday tables, and the joy of simpler times when a cake was all it took to make a day special.
If you grew up with one of these cakes, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
FAQs About Vintage Cakes
What makes a cake “vintage”?
Vintage cakes are recipes that became popular decades ago, often tied to regional traditions, food rationing, or brand promotions. They feel nostalgic and comforting.
Which vintage cake is the easiest to bake?
Wacky Cake or Applesauce Spice Cake—both use pantry staples and don’t require fancy equipment.
Can I still make these cakes today with modern ingredients?
Yes! Most recipes adapt beautifully to today’s kitchens. You can swap margarine for butter, or use fresh fruit instead of canned, while keeping the vintage spirit alive.
What’s the most “retro” cake on this list?
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake - it practically defines mid-century baking and still brings that fun, retro vibe.
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