20 Retro Desserts I Love for Their Old School Charm

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Retro desserts have a charm that modern sweets just can’t quite replicate — they’re the recipes that have stood the test of time and bring instant nostalgia with every bite. This roundup of 20 retro desserts includes all the classics, from showstoppers like baked Alaska, Black Forest cake, and cherries jubilee to cozy comfort desserts like spice cake, icebox cake, and banana cream pie. You’ll also find fun old-school favorites like strawberry pretzel salad, Watergate salad, and pralines. Whether you’re reliving memories or trying these for the first time, these desserts are timeless.

Cherries Jubilee

A glass bowl filled with scoops of vanilla ice cream, topped with glossy red cherries and cherry sauce, showcases a perfect no bake dessert, complete with a spoon inside the bowl. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Cherries Jubilee is the ultimate dessert showstopper! Picture this: warm, luscious cherries soaked in a boozy, caramel-infused syrup that’s bursting with bold, fruity flavor. Then comes the grand finale—a dramatic flambé that lights up the room and takes this treat to the next level. Served over silky vanilla ice cream, it’s a thrilling, unforgettable dessert that’s as indulgent as it is impressive!

Get The Recipe: Cherries Jubilee

Banana Cream Pie

This Banana Cream Pie is dessert heaven! Think layers of sweet bananas, creamy pastry filling, and fluffy whipped topping, all on a buttery homemade crust. It’s the perfect cool, creamy treat that’s equal parts nostalgic and delicious.

Get The Recipe: Banana Cream Pie

Southern Pralines Candy

Seven pecan pralines with a creamy, caramel-colored coating are grouped together on a white surface. These classic 1980s desserts have a rough, chunky texture with visible pecan pieces throughout. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Indulge in these irresistible pralines, a symphony of sweet, buttery perfection. Each bite delivers a melt-in-your-mouth experience, where luxurious caramel swirls around crunchy pecans, creating an unforgettable treat.

Get The Recipe: Southern Pralines Candy

Easy Blueberry Crumble

A baked blueberry crumble in a white dish, topped with fresh blueberries and mint leaves. Perfect for dessert recipes, it features a golden crumbly topping and juicy berry filling, served with a gold spoon for a tempting treat. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Blueberry Crumble is a guaranteed crowd favorite! Imagine juicy, bursting blueberries bubbling beneath a golden, buttery crumble that’s crisp and oh-so-delicious. The best part? This cozy, comfort dessert is ready to delight your taste buds in just 40 minutes!

Get The Recipe: Easy Blueberry Crumble

Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake

A cheesecake topped with glossy strawberry sauce and fresh strawberries, surrounded by piped swirls of whipped cream, sits on a white surface—perfect inspiration for your next Dessert Recipes adventure. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Craving a rich, creamy dessert that screams summer? My strawberry cheesecake is the ultimate crowd-pleaser! Bursting with fresh strawberries and effortless to create, this indulgent treat will leave your guests raving and coming back for seconds. Give it a try—you won’t regret it!

Get The Recipe: Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake

Upside Down Cake

This tasty Apple Upside Down Cake recipe makes a perfect holiday centerpiece. It’s a fruity cake with a hint of cinnamon—such an indulgent treat!

Get The Recipe: Apple Upside Down Cake

Caramelized Bananas Foster

Close-up of a caramelized banana dessert with two scoops of vanilla ice cream on top. The dish is drizzled with caramel sauce and sprinkled with chopped pecans, creating a rich and indulgent presentation.

Treat yourself to the irresistible delight of Bananas Foster! Picture caramelized bananas drenched in a luscious blend of brown sugar, warm cinnamon, and a splash of dark rum, all coming together in a show-stopping dessert. Served over velvety vanilla ice cream, it’s a sweet, buttery masterpiece you won’t be able to resist!

Get The Recipe: Caramelized Bananas Foster

Spice Cake

One glance at this recipe is all it takes to know you’re in for a treat. The moist banana cake bursting with warm spices and topped with rich chocolate fudge frosting is a flavor combination that simply won’t last long!

Get The Recipe: Spice Cake

Red Velvet Cake

A slice of Red Velvet Bundt Cake being removed with a cake server. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Craving a stunning cake that’s surprisingly simple? This recipe delivers a vibrant red velvet cake with a moist crumb, all crowned with a luscious cream cheese icing. Perfect for birthdays, dinner parties, or just a delightful weekend treat!

Get The Recipe: Red Velvet Bundt Cake

Swiss Roll

This Pumpkin Swiss Roll is the ultimate treat with its cozy spices and fluffy, creamy filling. The cream cheese whipped cream adds a tangy sweetness that goes perfectly with the spiced cake—just right for fall!

Get The Recipe: Pumpkin Swiss Roll

Marble Cake

Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Marble Cake is a symphony of classic flavors! Swirls of melted chocolate and vanilla bean specks create a beautiful and delicious cake. Topped with a crunchy glaze, it’s a delightful treat that will satisfy every taste bud.

Get The Recipe: Marble Cake

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

A moist chocolate bundt cake with chocolate frosting on a plate. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Don’t let the name fool you – this Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is full of rich chocolate flavor! It’s also the most moist cake we’ve ever made, which is why it remains a fan favorite!

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Homemade Strawberry Pretzel Salad

A slice of Strawberry Pretzel Salad with a graham cracker crust, creamy filling, strawberry topping, and a swirl of whipped cream on top—classic comfort inspired by Southern recipes—served on a white plate with a fork. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Strawberry pretzel salad is a beloved dessert that brings a taste of nostalgia to the table with a classic Midwestern and Southern American treat from the mid-20th century. The dish combines sweet, salty, and creamy flavors, with layers of crunchy pretzel crust, tangy cream cheese filling, and juicy strawberry topping.

Get The Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Profiteroles

a close up image of a cream puff on a plate with chocolate sauce — Photo credit: Cooking Classy

Profiteroles (Cream Puffs) are an all-time favorite dessert! They’re absolutely impossible to resist. That perfect combo of light, airy pastry and luscious, creamy filling is pure magic in every bite!
Get the Recipe: Profiteroles

Black Forest Cake

A chocolate cake with white frosting layers is topped with glossy chocolate ganache and cherries, reminiscent of nostalgic snacks. It sits on a wooden platter, surrounded by decorative flowers and berries against a soft pink background. — Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Indulge in the ultimate Black Forest Cake—deliciously moist layers filled with fluffy homemade whipped cream, decadent chocolate ganache, and cherries soaked in a sweet, boozy twist. A dessert that’s guaranteed to impress!
Get the Recipe: Black Forest Cake

Watergate Salad

Watergate Salad is a retro side dish or dessert that features canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios.
Get the Recipe: Watergate Salad

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Image Credit: Allie Roomberg/Baking A Moment

Get ready to be wowed by this stunning Pineapple Upside-Down Cake! Made from scratch, it boasts a vibrant display of juicy pineapple and cherries glazed in a rich brown sugar sauce. All this sits atop a luxuriously moist butter cake, creating a dessert that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat.

Get The Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Baked Alaska

Indulge in Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Baked Alaskas—a modern twist on a classic dessert featuring chocolate cake, peanut butter Oreo filling, chocolate ice cream, and toasted meringue.
Get the Recipe: Baked Alaska

Strawberry Crepes

This restaurant-quality recipe is guaranteed to wow your taste buds and become a new family favorite!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Crepes

Icebox Cake

Make a delicious S’mores Icebox Cake at home with layers of graham crackers, chocolate ganache, and marshmallow fluff—no oven needed! Toast the top for a golden, gooey finish.
Get the Recipe: Icebox Cake