If you’re sitting at your desk dreading the inevitable task of cooking dinner, take solace in knowing that a homemade dessert can be the perfect capstone to your day. This collection of 17 old-fashioned desserts brings back the classic, no-fuss sweetness that our parents and grandparents enjoyed. They’re easy to whip up, full of comforting flavors, and just the thing to look forward to after tackling the daily grind.
No-bake chocolate pistachio cake
This no-bake chocolate pistachio cake is a modern take on old-fashioned fridge cakes, ready in less than 30 minutes. This dessert combines the timeless flavors of chocolate and pistachios, using biscuits for a classic crunchy base. Its creamy texture and rich taste pay homage to the simplicity of past confections.
Get the Recipe: No-bake chocolate pistachio cake
Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Chocolate Hazelnut Bars are reminiscent of traditional teatime treats, prepared in about 20 minutes. With a base of crushed matzo and a blend of chocolate and hazelnuts, they offer a nod to old-fashioned baking. These bars boast a chewy texture and a timeless taste that evokes nostalgia.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Pistachio Cranberry Cookies
Pistachio Cranberry Cookies, with a prep time of about 25 minutes, bring a festive twist to classic cookie recipes. Dried cranberries and pistachios provide a tart and nutty flavor, while the cookies’ texture stays true to the beloved chewy and crisp edges of yesteryear’s treats.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cranberry Cookies
White Chocolate Chip Cookies
White Chocolate Chip Cookies, ready in about 20 minutes, are a variation of a long-standing favorite. The addition of white chocolate chips to a traditional cookie dough results in a soft, chewy treat. This dessert carries the comfort of classic cookies with a sweet, buttery flavor.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pouding chomeur with homemade date syrup
Pouding chomeur with homemade date syrup, taking about 45 minutes to make, revives an old Canadian dessert for modern dietary needs. Its gluten-free flour and date syrup maintain the moist, tender texture and caramelized taste of the original pudding.
Get the Recipe: Pouding chomeur with homemade date syrup
Apple cake
This apple cake, requiring about 1 hour, is a timeless dessert made suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals. It stays true to the classic flavors of apple and cinnamon, with a soft, spiced taste and tender crumb that recall the comforts of traditional apple cakes.
Get the Recipe: Apple cake
Cherry cobbler
Cherry cobbler, prepared in about 1 hour, offers a twist on a time-honored dessert. Despite its gluten-free adaptation, it retains the hallmark tart and sweet cherry filling with a golden, crisp biscuit topping characteristic of the original cobbler.
Get the Recipe: Cherry cobbler
Sticky Date Pudding with Pinot Noir
Sticky Date Pudding with Pinot Noir, a luxurious dessert ready in about 1 hour and 20 minutes, builds upon a classic sticky pudding. The inclusion of Pinot Noir adds depth to the date base, while the warm, moist texture remains a nod to its traditional roots.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Date Pudding with Pinot Noir
Raspberry mini pavlovas
Raspberry mini pavlovas, taking about 2 hours to create, are individual versions of the classic pavlova. These meringue nests with crisp shells and soft centers, topped with fresh raspberries, embody the essence of the old-fashioned dessert with a delicate balance of sweet and tart.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry mini pavlovas
Almond apple cake with apple roses
Almond apple cake with apple roses, taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare, is a sophisticated version of traditional apple cakes. Ground almonds and apple slices create a moist, nutty, and fruity flavor, while the decorative apple roses on top add a touch of classic charm.
Get the Recipe: Almond apple cake with apple roses
Raw Sweet Lime Bars
Raw Sweet Lime Bars, ready in about 20 minutes plus chilling, are a contemporary raw dessert inspired by classic lime treats. Their zesty flavor and chewy texture, made from nuts, dates, and lime juice, provide a modern twist on the conventional tangy bars.
Get the Recipe: Raw Sweet Lime Bars
Honey apple cake with salted caramel sauce
Honey apple cake with salted caramel sauce, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to make, updates an old-fashioned favorite with the addition of salted caramel. The moist cake layered with apples and honey offers a balance of sweet flavors that hark back to simpler times.
Get the Recipe: Honey apple cake with salted caramel sauce
Basil Peach Cobbler
Basil Peach Cobbler, ready in about 45 minutes, infuses an old-school cobbler with the fresh twist of basil. The sweet peaches and aromatic basil elevate the traditional juicy filling and biscuit topping of this historic dessert.
Get the Recipe: Basil Peach Cobbler
Vanilla cake with yogurt crema, roasted figs and hazelnuts
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Get the Recipe: Vanilla cake with yogurt crema, roasted figs and hazelnuts
Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie, with a baking time of about 1 hour and 10 minutes, brings a classic fall dessert up to date for dietary inclusivity. Its gluten-free crust and creamy pumpkin filling, spiced and sweetened with maple syrup, retain the rich, spiced flavor beloved in traditional pies.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
Pear Chocolate Granola Bars
Pear Chocolate Granola Bars, taking about 35 minutes to prepare, are a nod to the old granola bars with a combination of oats, dried pears, and chocolate. These chewy bars merge the sweet and rich flavors that have been enjoyed in various forms through generations.
Get the Recipe: Pear Chocolate Granola Bars
Paleo strawberry scones
Paleo strawberry scones, ready in about 30 minutes, offer a grain-free take on a classic British bake. The almond flour and fresh strawberries keep the tender, slightly sweet essence of traditional scones while catering to contemporary dietary preferences.
Get the Recipe: Paleo strawberry scones