Right now many of us are trying to figure out how to keep ourselves occupied during this difficult time. Well let the Vintage Inn help you out! I have compiled a list of Vintage ads that feature Cooking (& Baking) Recipes from the 1930s-1950s. Have some fun with them and share in the comments below on how you made out!

P.S. Some of these might not look too appetizing (that is retro food recipes for you!). Oh and a Tip! To see the recipes larger, click on the image and be taken to it is original source OR save and zoom in on your computer (that is why I do)

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Cooking Recipes as seen in Vintage Ads

1920s – 1950s

1937 Kraft Miracle Whip Salad Dressing Ad. “Even old-fashioned potato salad seems new when you glorify it with Miracle Whip’s special flavor.” The recipe is to the left in the ad.

Source: Etsy

1930s vintage ad for Two-Tone Chocolate Pie made with Baker’s Chocolate (of course you can make it with whatever chocolate you own). Made to order for the “whoever in your life (a 2020 revision)”.

1947 Birds Eye Vegetables Ad – Fish Fillets with Almond Cream Gravy. Cook in in 30 minutes flat!

Source: Etsy

1949 Snider’s Catsup Ad – Nature’s Bountiful Harvest Spiced Ham Recipe.

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1942 Diamond Walnuts advertisement. “Why be a hen-pecked hostess? You’ll hear nothing but praise for your teatime treats when you just add walnuts”.

Included are 3 great recipes for snacks that use walnuts: Walnut Gelatin Salad, Walnut Divinity, and Golden Walnut Cake Balls.

Vintage 1942 Diamond Walnuts advertisement. Included are 3 great recipes for snacks that use walnuts: Walnut Gelatin Salad, Walnut Divinity, and Golden Walnut Cake Balls.

Source: Etsy

Del Monte Garden Peas in the ‘Garden Patty-Go-Round’. “Right in the center it’s SPRING!”

Del Monte Garden Peas in the 'Garden Patty-Go-Round' vintage recipe ad

Enjoy some hurry-up heaven today! 1951 Minute Rice Ad with Recipes.

Source: Etsy

1954 Food Ad, Hellmann’s & Best Foods Mayonnaise, with Potato Salad Recipe.

1956 A&P Strawberry Preserves Ad with Spice Cake Recipe. This looks good!

FURTHER READING: Vintage Cake Ideas As Seen Thru 1920s-1950s Ads

Source: Etsy

1950s vintage ad for Carnation milk and an interesting dinner idea…Creamed Tuna. Yum?

1950s Vintage ad for Carnation milk with vintage dinner recipe.

Source: Pinterest

Friends! What did you find appetizing from the above? I’m leaning towards those desserts posted. Share in the comments below.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Food 1920s-1960s, Archived Blog Posts

Liz

1950s vintage photo of a family cooking a turkey

Updated February 2023

I own a slew of vintage cookbooks from the 1940s-1960s of which I mostly open to just transport into another era (my cooking skills are poor). They are truly fantastic pieces of history and the recipes are quite fun and sometimes very interesting.

Today post is going to be a peak into vintage cookbooks from the 1940s-1960s with a few recipes that you can try out at home. Super for anyone looking to try something different for dinner tonight. AND if you love them that much, at the time of posting this blog the books were all for sale on Etsy.

Note: Make sure you check out my Etsy collection that I update once a month with vintage cookbooks from the 1900s to 1960s avail for sale on Etsy.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy daily!

Enjoy!

Cooking Class, 1935. Vintage Photo featuring a group of young woman learning to cook.

The Vintage Cookbooks

What Shall I Cook Today? Very good question friends, but thankfully ‘Spry – Pure Vegetable Shortening’ has 124 healthful recipes for us. Circa 1940s.

LOVE the eye catching cover.

What Shall I Cook Today - Vintage Spry Recipes - 1940s Cookbook - 1940s Recipes

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage cookbook recipes-How to make Bread

Source: Etsy

A vintage cookbook entitled Quick Dishes for the Woman in a Hurry -- 332 Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less.

Copyright 1955. Published by the Culinary Arts Institute.

1950s cookbook featuring 1950s recipes for sauces for your vintage recipes.

Source: Etsy

Cooking also includes Baking! 1953 Cake Secrets Cookbook by General Foods. What a fun cover! (avail HERE as of Feb 24th, 2022).

Cooking also includes Baking! 1953 Cake Secrets Cookbook by General Foods. 1950s Vintage Cookbook

Who wants to make a Happy Day Cake? Looks delish and perfect for Easter (or anytime).

Happy Day Cake-A butter cake recipe for a 1950s vintage cookbook.

Swans Down Sponge Cake! I could eat this delish dessert all day long. YUM!

1950s sponge cake recipe as seen in a 1950s vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Food Fashion for 1957 by Canadian Brand (now gone), Silverwood Dairies.

The names on these book are making me laugh! Hey you have to get someones attention, somehow.

1950's Vintage Cookbook Silverwood Dairies

Source: Etsy

1950s Vintage Cook Book Recipe for Whipping Cream

Source: Etsy

“A Guide to Royal Success in Baking:” Royal Cream of Tarter Baking Powder circa 1940s.

Vintage 1940s Guide to Royal Success in Baking - Cream of Tartar Baking Powder Cookbook vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage Cookbook baking powder cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook from the National Live Stock and Meat Board.

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage Metropolitan Life Insurance cookbook from September 1955. These handy booklets were originally given as premiums to their policyholders.

Vintage Metropolitan Life Cookbook 1955 Cook Book Insurance Premium Recipes vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage Metropolitan Life Cookbook 1955 Cook Book Insurance Premium Recipes

Source: Etsy

“Fun to Cook Book”. Adorable kids’ cookbook, put out by Carnation Company in 1955. By Margie Blake.

Source: Etsy

Mmmm 5 Minute Fudge recipe and Meat Loaf (NOT my favorite dish). Have fun kids cooking!

1950s vintage recipes for fudge and for meat loaf from a vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950’s Paperback Brochure / Mini Cookbook.

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950's Paperback Brochure vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950's Paperback Brochure vintage cookbook recipes

Source: Etsy

1950s vegetarian cookbook titled “Florida’s Favorite Foods: Fruits and Vegetables in the Family Menu”. Copyright 1959 by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Tallahassee (Love the outfit on the cover)

Sample recipes:
* Scalloped Onions and Peanuts
* Persimmon Ice and MORE (See/ Purchase the cookbook HERE)

Salad anyone? Luncheon Salad ideas (Endive with Bacon Dressing, Vegetable Salad Combos).

vintage 1950 salad recipes as seen in a 1950s cookbook from Florida.

Source: Etsy

1950’s Cookbook titled The Greystone Everyday Cookbook by Agnes Murphy. (Avail as of Oct 22nd, 2021 HERE).

Source: Etsy

Stork Goes Continental From The Stork Cookery Service 1950s.

Stork Goes Continental From The Stork Cookery Service Vintage Cook Booklet 1950s

Source: Etsy

1950s vintage cookbook inside featuring the almond merangues and cream buns and other vintage desserts you can make.

Source: Etsy

Portal to Good Cooking – Women’s American ORT – 1950’s Cookbook.

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s Recipe for Crescents as seen in a 1950s vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

1950s ‘Definitely Different‘ The Daily Telegraph Recipe Book. The book was not super clear about what made it “definitely different” but it’s bright and cheerful cover caught my attention.

1950s 'Definitely Different' The Daily Telegraph Recipe Book vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

That’s it for this week friends! Happy cooking.

Question time: Do you own a vintage cookbook or 2? And if so, do you use it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

Liz

Tag: vintage recipes