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17 Old School Desserts That Taste Like Childhood

Erren Hart

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Step back in time with these 17 old-school treats that bring a taste of nostalgia to your table! From the creamy indulgence of New York Cheesecake and Tiramisu to the fruity charm of Apple Crisp and Pavlova, these desserts are timeless classics. Relish the rich flavors of Chocolate Lava Cakes and Black Forest Cake, or enjoy the light and airy Angel Food Cake and Swiss Roll Cake. Whether you’re recreating family favorites or exploring retro recipes, these treats are perfect for any occasion. Let’s celebrate the sweet traditions of the past with every delicious bite!

New York Cheesecake

A New York cheesecake topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, and mint leaves. A slice has been cut from the cake, revealing a creamy interior. The cake is elegantly displayed on a white marble surface.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Get ready to impress with this foolproof recipe for a creamy, beautiful, crack-free New York-style cheesecake! Even beginners can master this delightful dessert and wow their friends!

Get The Recipe: New York Cheesecake

Apple Crisp

Close-up of a serving of apple crisp, featuring baked apple slices topped with a golden, crispy oat and sugar mixture. The dessert is swimming in a caramel-like sauce, delivering those delicious fall flavors. A fork is placed to the right, partially visible on a white plate—a must-try for apple recipes lovers.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Oatmeal Apple Crisp is just the perfect autumn treat! Picture this: a classic apple filling topped with a crispy, buttery oatmeal layer that takes you right back to your childhood.

Get The Recipe: Oatmeal Apple Crisp

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Layered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans on top, displayed on a white cake stand against a light background.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Treat yourself to the ultimate carrot cake experience! This moist, perfectly spiced cake is topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Simple to make, irresistibly sweet, and guaranteed to wow any crowd!

Get The Recipe: Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Sheet Cake with Whipped Ganache Frosting

A tray of chocolate-frosted brownies cut into squares, topped with colorful sprinkles.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This chocolate sheet cake is rich, moist, and full of decadent chocolate flavor. A hint of coffee enhances every bite. Topped with whipped ganache frosting, it’s pure indulgence.

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Sheet Cake with Whipped Ganache Frosting

Boston Cream Pie Cake

A close up of a vanilla cake filled with custard and covered in chocolate glaze.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Boston Cream Pie Cake is a delicious reminder of everything we love about American desserts. Moist cake layers are filled with a creamy vanilla center and finished with a decadent chocolate glaze. It’s a nostalgic treat that’s guaranteed to satisfy.

Get The Recipe: Boston Cream Pie Cake

Swiss Roll Cake

Close-up of two slices of a Pumpkin Swiss Roll with a rich brown sponge and a white cream filling, dusted with powdered sugar. They are placed on a white plate, next to an ornate serving spatula. The background is white.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

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

Upside Down Cake

A golden brown upside-down cake with neatly arranged slices of caramelized apples on top. The glossy finish indicates a sugary glaze, making it an appealing and tempting dessert. Ideal for those exploring new dessert recipes, the cake appears moist and is likely freshly baked.
Image Credit: Erren’s Kitchen

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

Ice Cream Cake

Ice cream cake with chocolate cake, fudge sauce, cookies and cream ice cream and whipped cream topping.
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

Homemade Ice Cream Cake! Imagine layers of moist, made-from-scratch chocolate cake, drizzled with rich, gooey fudge sauce, and topped with your favorite creamy, luscious ice cream. It’s pure dessert bliss!
Get the Recipe: Ice Cream Cake

Chocolate Chip Blondies

A close up image of a chocolate chip blondie with a gooey center exposed.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Move over, brownies! These golden beauties offer a wonderful adaptation of the classic fudgy treat. Packed with the same dense texture, they are a treat you won’t want to miss!

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Chip Blondies

Pavlova

Pavlova with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and passionfruit.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Light and fluffy on the inside, with a crisp, sugary shell on the outside – that’s the magic of Pavlova! This show-stopping dessert is a blank canvas for your topping creativity. From fresh fruit to decadent chocolate sauce, the possibilities are endless!

Get The Recipe: Pavlova

Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits

A close up image of a biscuit filled with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This easy recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits is made completely from scratch. Once you try it you’ll never have store bought again!

Get The Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate covered strawberries with their tops and stems exposed.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Indulge these chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert or as part of a romantic evening. Drizzle with white chocolate an extra wow factor.

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Tiramisu

Image of Tiramisu on a plate
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Tiramisu is a coffee-lover’s dream come true! This iconic Italian dessert blends coffee-soaked ladyfingers with velvety layers of whipped mascarpone, creating a luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth experience with every heavenly bite.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu

Chocolate Lava Cakes

Dreamy Chocolate Lava Cakes
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

Indulge in the ultimate dessert with these Dreamy Chocolate Lava Cakes! Rich, decadent, and oozing with a gooey molten chocolate center, they’re pure magic—and the best part? You can whip them up in just 20 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Lava Cakes

Angel Food Cake

An angel food cake with a slice taken out of it.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This easy Angel Food Cake recipe is a total game-changer! With its light, fluffy texture and effortless preparation, it’s guaranteed to impress—no hours of baking required.
Get the Recipe: Angel Food Cake

Pizza Recipe

showing how to serve fruit pizza by cutting into slices
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

This Fruit Pizza is a showstopper! Creamy, dreamy cream cheese frosting with a hint of lemon zest, topped with colorful, juicy fruit and finished with a glossy apricot glaze. It’s as delicious as it is stunning!
Get the Recipe: Fruit Pizza

Trifle

A strawberry trifle on the table with white napkin in the background and strawberries surrounding the base of the dish.
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

What happens when you take strawberry cake and create a shortcake the size of a tiny trifle? Magic! These strawberry cake shortcake trifles are addictive.
Get the Recipe: Trifle

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

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