31 Vintage Summer Desserts Just Like Grandma’s

June 19, 2020

These vintage summer desserts will make any backyard BBQ feel timeless. Whether it’s an icebox cake, a fruit-filled pie or even jello, these desserts will make grandma proud. We use fresh fruits like strawberries, cherries and peaches in an ode to summer produce. Recipes like Green Tomato Pie and Mini Angel Food Strawberry Shortcakes are delicious, flavorful and gorgeous on any table.

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Strawberry-Oat Streusel Bars

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The dough in this easy dessert recipe does double duty--it creates a sturdy crust to hold all the gooey strawberry filling and also makes a crisp crumb topping. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to take this to the next level. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2019

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Fresh Strawberry Pie

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Fresh strawberries top a lightly sweet cream cheese filling in this lightened-up pie recipe. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream for a delicious and photo-worthy finish. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2017

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Icebox Cake

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This no-bake "refrigerator cake" evokes pure nostalgia for childhood treats. Fold peanut butter into whipped cream for a delicately nutty frosting. Then, layer chocolate wafers with the creamy filling, and let it all meld together in the refrigerator for a decadent summertime treat. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018

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Lemony Tea Cake

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This light, lemon-poppy seed cake is filled and topped with a lemony blend of Greek yogurt and whipped topping and sprinkled with crisp pomegranate seeds. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Mango-Strawberry Jello

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Tropical mango and sweet strawberries are the perfect marriage in this pretty, crowd-pleasing jello recipe. We like the subtle tang the orange juice provides in this strawberry jello recipe, but using all mango juice works well too. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2012

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Cherry Cobbler on the Grill

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If you want an easy cherry cobbler recipe that also keeps your kitchen cool, you're in luck! This simple cobbler is made with frozen pitted cherries--so there's no sitting in a stuffy kitchen pitting cherries--and it's baked in a cast-iron skillet right on your grill so you don't have to heat up your oven. Try making this summery dessert for your next camping cookout. The sweet smells of tangy cherry filling and a buttery oat topping will have everyone in the campground asking for a bite. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

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Green Tomato Pie

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This sweet green tomato pie--also sometimes called mock apple pie--is a great way to make use of extras from a bumper crop of tomatoes. Be sure to select firm, green unripe tomatoes for this pie; there are heirloom tomatoes that are green when ripe--those would turn to mush in this pie, which is not the result you want. Served on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream, this summer dessert is sure to impress. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2019

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Mini Angel Food Strawberry Shortcakes

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These adorable strawberry shortcakes are made with mini angel food cakes. These single-serve desserts are perfect for a picnic or party on a warm summer day. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018

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Plum Buckle

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This fruit-topped cake got its name because of the way the batter buckles as it bakes. We omitted the traditional crumb topping to let this plum cake shine. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2020

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Fresh Berries & Kiwi Icebox Pies

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These fruit pies topped with blueberries, raspberries, and kiwi are so easy to make. Just be sure to allow them enough time to set in the fridge--about an hour! Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Lavender Cheesecake

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Baking homemade graham crackers with a touch of brown sugar and honey makes this cheesecake recipe an extra-special dessert. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2019

 

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Rhubarb-Strawberry Galette

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Strawberries and rhubarb are a classic springtime combo, but you could use cherries or apricots if you prefer. Baking this pretty galette on a heated surface like a baking stone creates a crisp, sturdy bottom. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020

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Easy Blueberry Cobbler

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This blueberry cobbler is a quick summer dessert and an excellent way to showcase fresh, bursting blueberries under a pillowy crust. Everything can be mixed and headed to the oven in 10 minutes. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

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Grape Jello

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The mix of white and purple grape juice lets you peek inside at all the fresh cut fruit layered inside this jello recipe. If you don't have both colors, either white or purple alone will work well too.

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Lemon Icebox Pie with Coconut-Graham Cracker Crust

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Light and delicious, this easy old-fashioned lemon icebox pie takes dessert up a notch thanks to coconut in the crust, which boosts both flavor and texture. For the brightest hit of citrus use fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Look for graham crackers made with 100% whole-wheat flour to get the most fiber. Seeing graham flour on the label? Good news--that's coarsely ground whole-wheat. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019

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Pink Grapefruit Meringue Pie

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For this pie's filling we call for fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, but store-bought (not frozen) works well and may even give you more brightly colored results. The Italian meringue topping is made by beating hot sugar syrup into egg whites that are already beaten to stiff peaks. It's a bit more effort, but the meringue holds its shape longer. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

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Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

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The tableside flambéing of bananas Foster sure is impressive ... if someone else is making it for you. This cake has all the flavors of the New Orleans classic in easier-to-prepare cake form that's just as stunning as the original for a healthier dessert you'll be proud to serve. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2019

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Blackberry & Blueberry Cake Bars

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These incredibly easy-to-make cake bars get a touch of sparkle and crunch from a sprinkle of turbinado sugar over the top. If you use frozen berries, thaw and pat them dry before topping the batter with them. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2020

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Blueberry Lemon Curd Ice Cream Cake

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For a sweet and easy diabetes-friendly dessert, enjoy this lemony ice cream cake with blueberries. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Strawberry Cobbler

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In-season strawberries shine in this simple strawberry cobbler recipe. The biscuits on top are light and fluffy, with crispy tops and hint of sweetness. This strawberry cobbler creates the perfect amount of sauce for serving with vanilla ice cream. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Italian Cheesecake

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The citron-laced ricotta cheese filling in this mouthwatering cheesecake is lightened up with beaten egg whites and loaded with luscious chopped maraschino cherries. Served on a basic graham cracker crust, this sweet slice of cake will be the star of your dessert table. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Blackberry-Lemon Ice Cream Pie

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In this healthy ice cream pie recipe, crumbled gingersnaps make an easy and tasty crust for the blackberry and lemon filling made with nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2014

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Peach Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel

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This fresh peach coffee cake with pecan streusel would be lovely for a summertime brunch or afternoon tea. A combination of Greek yogurt and buttermilk in the batter makes for a moist and tender cake, and swapping out all-purpose flour for white whole-wheat flour ups the nutritional value without affecting the taste or texture of this delicious coffee cake. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2019

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Lemon Angel Food Cake with Strawberries & Coconut Cream

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Be sure that your tube pan is free from any grease or flour--the batter for this homemade angel food cake needs to be able to climb the sides of the pan as it bakes to hold its structure. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020

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Apricot Pie

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Apricots signal the start of the stone-fruit season. Here they're tossed with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of nutmeg, which highlights their flavor. You can also make this easy pie recipe with nectarines or peaches. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

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Peach-Blueberry Pie

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Sweet summer peaches and blueberries shine in this peach-blueberry pie recipe. While they can't compete with fresh fruit, thawed frozen peaches and blueberries can be used in a pinch. Just be sure to add more cornstarch (up to double the amount if you're using all frozen fruit) to soak up the extra liquid. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2020

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Raspberry-Lemon Chiffon Icebox Cake

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You can use a mix of berries as the topping for this classic summertime dessert-we like combining regular raspberries, golden raspberries, and blackberries. Look for golden raspberries at farmers' markets or farm stands at the height of summer. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2018

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Champagne Raspberry Jello

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In this grown-up take on jello, we combine cran-raspberry juice with Champagne and fresh raspberries for a sparkling crimson dessert recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2012

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Cherry Cheesecake Cobbler

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Classic cherry cobbler is studded with a sweetened cream cheese swirl in this easy cherry dessert you can make any time of year. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

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Blueberry-Peach Upside-Down Cake

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This upside-down cake is the perfect dessert for a summer party. Full of fresh blueberries and peaches, flavored with a touch of ginger and topped with vanilla frozen yogurt, it's a sweet and refreshing way to end a meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Mostly Raw Blueberry-Elderflower Pie

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Blueberry lovers, this is the pie for you. Piled into a vanilla wafer crust is a mound of fresh berries held together with a thickened blueberry puree flavored with elderflower liqueur. It's the ultimate expression of fresh blueberry goodness. Greek yogurt combines with beaten whipping cream for a luscious topping with a little tang to complement the berries. You can substitute orange liqueur for the elderflower, or stir in fruit juice (such as blueberry, grape or apple) for an alcohol-free version. The pie is best enjoyed the day it's made because the crust will be at its crispy best. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

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