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25 of our favourite old-fashioned desserts

Just like Grandma used to make (with a twist or two).
A winner with all age groups, this cobbler has a scrumptious chocolate-chip-cookie cover that's an unexpected but welcome treat.

Cherry crumble coffee cake. (Photo: Roberto Caruso)

old fashioned desserts

Coffee cake

How surprised were you when you finally realized there was no coffee in these delicious cakes? Try them:
Raspberry and streusel coffee cake
Cherry crumble coffee cake recipe

A raspberry streusel coffee cake on a white plate with a piece cut out of it to one side on a smaller white plate(Photo: Erik Putz)

Peach Crisp

Or any fruit crisp, really. (Don’t forget about the huge scoop of vanilla ice cream on top). Get our peach crisp recipe.

Peach crisp in a pink square baking tray with peach crisp served in three glass bowls around it.

Apple crumble

We can’t decide which we enjoy more. Try them:
Apple crumble
Blueberry and apple superfood crumble

A blueberry apple oat flax and pepita crumble in a white baking dish next to a bowl of the crumble topped with vanilla ice cream and a spring of mint(Photo: Erik Putz)

Avocado Pound Cake With Raspberry Glaze

Grandma’s simple go-to loaf gets a modern twist with avocado, and a sweet raspberry glaze. Get the avocado pound cake with raspberry glaze recipe.

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Avocado pound cake with raspberry glaze with two slices cut off on a white rectangular serving plate next to a bowl of raspberry glaze on top of a sketch of two avocados(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Banana cream pie

Nostagia meets caramel and crunchy chocolate toffee, in this over-the-top pie. Get the recipe.

25 of our favourite old-fashioned desserts

Date squares

A classic blend of brown sugar, oats, butter and sweet dates. Get our old-fashioned date squares recipe.

a batch of date squares sitting on parchment paper, freshly cut into squares, with a knife to one side and two squares to the side on a cooling rack

Chocolate Cake

A golden oldie from your childhood, with a little pop of colour. Get the chocolate layer cake with pink vanilla frosting recipe.

A three-layer chocolate cake with pink vanilla icing on a white cake stand next to green pine cones(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Bread Pudding

A decadent twist makes this pudding even more delicious (hint: it’s the croissants). Get the bread pudding recipe.

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Croissant sticky bun bread pudding in a white pan with a blue tea towel at one edge and holiday ornaments to one side on a blue tablecloth(Photo: Michael Graydon)

Coconut cake

We added lemon curd layers to make it extra-impressive. Get the recipe.

25 of our favourite old-fashioned desserts

Lemon Loaf

Because just about everyone loves a sweet slice of lemon loaf, right? Try them:
Glazed poppyseed lemon loaf recipe
Classic lemon loaf recipe

Glazed lemon poppyseed loaf with icing sugar and lemon on top, sliced on baking sheet.(Photography: Roberto Caruso)

Strawberry Shortcake

One of the easiest (and most memorable) summer desserts. Get the strawberry shortcake recipe.

Polenta strawberry shortcake topped with cream and strawberries and fresh mint on a silver serving platter(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Angel Food Cake

Airy and light, this vanilla cake is a perfectly dreamy summer dessert. Get the recipe.

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angel food cake with berries and syrup on topPhoto, Erik Putz.

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Just like the ones you used to sneak out of the cookie jar when no one was looking. Get the oatmeal raisin cookie recipe.

25 of our favourite old-fashioned desserts

Pecan Pie

A chocolatey take on traditional pecan pie—with a splash of bourbon to finish. Get our pecan pie recipe.

A chocolate bourbon pecan pie with a braided crust on a wood table(Photo: Sian Richards)

Upside-down cake

No icing required. This perfectly crumbly cake comes with a sweet and saucy fruit topping. Try them:
Upside-down pineapple and cherry cake
Upside-down rhubarb cake

Upside-down pineapple and cherry cake made with canned bing or black cherries; butter; brown sugar; fresh pineapple; and rum on a glass cake stand on a marble counter next to a plate with a cake server on it for a post on the best upside-down pineapple and cherry cake recipe(Photo: Angus Fergusson)

Rice pudding

We like to top this classic with sweet and crunchy candied walnuts. Get the recipe.

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Rice pudding with candied walnutsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Hot pudding

Raspberries add a dose of antioxidants and give this dessert its sweet-tart taste. Drizzle whisky-butter sauce over warm cake and top with whipped cream. Get the bush berry pudding cake recipe.

Bushberry pudding cake in a baking pan.(Photography: Angus Fergusson. Food styling: David Grenier. Prop styling: Sasha Seymour)

Ginger cookies

With a slight chew in the centre and a crisp outer layer, these ginger-crackle cookies cover all the bases. Get the recipe.

ginger crackle cookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Fruit cobbler

This cobbler has a scrumptious chocolate-chip-cookie cover that’s an unexpected but welcome treat. Get the recipe.

A winner with all age groups, this cobbler has a scrumptious chocolate-chip-cookie cover that's an unexpected but welcome treat.

Sponge Cake

To dress up a classic sponge, we like to use fresh cream and seasonal fruit. Get the peach-almond sponge cake recipe.

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Peach-almond sponge cake topped with whipped cream with a slice missing on a square of parchment paper on a serving tray

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Rhubarb is on it’s way, with local strawberries not far behind. Make sure you save this recipe for a late spring celebration. Get the strawberry rhubarb pie recipe.

strawberry rhubarb pie with a slice missing

Watch: Make it Fancy: Cupcakes

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Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.

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