Regarding major American holidays, the Fourth of July is definitely up there on the list. Food is a huge part of the celebration each year. However, as one of the oldest American holidays, it tends to have a vintage charm. So why not make some of these 15 vintage Fourth of July recipes to match that charm?
Fresh Cherry Pie
There’s just something about a freshly baked pie that’s hard to top. This recipe really ups the vintage appeal by making everything from scratch; even the filling.
You need: 1 double pie crust, 600 g cherries, 100 g sugar, 3 tbsp cornflour, 1 tbsp lemon juice.
- Pit the cherries and mix with sugar, cornflour and lemon.
- Fill the pie and cover.
- Bake at 200°C for 45 min.
Custard Pie Recipe with Berries
There was a time when custard pies were all the rage. While new and different pies have come and gone, you can recreate some of that old-world charm with this custard pie with berries recipe.
You need: 1 pastry case, 4 eggs, 500 ml milk, 80 g sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 200 g berries.
- Bake pastry blind.
- Whisk eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla and pour in.
- Add berries and bake at 160°C for 35 min.
Jell-O Poke Cake
Jell-O poke cakes were a big part of life just a few decades ago. For the 4th of July, reintroduce a new generation to this cheap, easy-to-make treat.
You need: 1 box white cake mix + eggs, oil, water, 1 pack jelly, 250 ml boiling water, whipped topping.
- Bake the cake and poke holes.
- Pour over dissolved jelly.
- Chill 3 hours and top with whipped topping.
Flag Cake with Cheesecake Topping
What recipe could be more classic for the Fourth than a good old flag cake? This dish ups the ante by adding cheesecake topping for a creamy, delicious treat.
You need: 1 sponge cake, 300 g cream cheese, 150 g whipped topping, strawberries, blueberries.
- Spread the cheesecake mix over the cake.
- Arrange berries as a flag.
- Chill 1 hour.
Strawberry Shortcake in a Jar
Strawberry shortcake is another dessert that has been around forever, or at least it seems that way. This Fourth of July recipe adds a little twist by making it in a jar, much like a classic British trifle.
You need: 2 jars, 200 g sponge or shortcake, 200 g strawberries, 200 ml whipped cream.
- Layer sponge, strawberries and cream in jars.
- Repeat.
- Chill 1 hour.
Berry Slab Pie
Here is another option for that most beloved of desserts: berry pie. Slab pie is the name given to a technique of baking a lot of pie for a lot of people all at once.
You need: 2 pie crusts, 600 g mixed berries, 100 g sugar, 3 tbsp cornflour, 1 egg, sugar for sprinkling.
- Roll out crust in a tray.
- Fill with berries, sugar and cornflour.
- Cover, brush with egg and bake at 190°C for 40 min.
Cherry Fluff Salad
Fluff salad is one of those dishes that tended to show up at every potluck in the 60s and 70s. Revive the trend and see just why it was so popular with this cherry fluff salad recipe.
You need: 400 g cherry pie filling, 250 g whipped topping, 400 ml condensed milk, 100 g marshmallows, 50 g pecans.
- Mix filling and condensed milk.
- Fold in topping, marshmallows and nuts.
- Chill 3 hours.
Red, White and Blue Jello Cups
If you are looking for vintage Fourth of July recipes, why not go with a product that has existed almost as long as the holiday itself? These red, white, and blue Jell-O cups look absolutely stunning with the stars and stripes proudly displayed.
You need: 2 packs jelly (red and blue), 400 ml boiling water, 200 g whipped cream, 6 cups.
- Dissolve each jelly separately.
- Layer into cups with cream between.
- Chill 2 hours.
Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie
While cream pies aren’t uncommon, this one brings something extra to the table. The cream filling is made from scratch, just like back in the day. No pudding mix allowed.
You need: 1 pastry case, 500 ml custard, 3 bananas, 250 ml whipped cream, chocolate shavings.
- Bake the pastry blind.
- Layer bananas and custard.
- Top with cream and chocolate.
Cherry Ice Cream Soda
Many people are unaware that cream soda can be something other than the smoother-tasting cousin of root beer. Soda shops used to make real cream sodas right over the counter, with all sorts of fruity flavors. Recreate that experience with this cherry ice cream soda recipe.
You need: 100 ml cherry syrup, 200 ml soda water, 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, cherry.
- Add syrup to a glass.
- Pour in soda.
- Top with ice cream and a cherry.
Peach Iced Tea
Iced tea is a classic all on its own. And fruit-infused drinks have been popular throughout the ages. Combine the two for a perfectly cool refresher, which is just what a hot July day calls for.
You need: 4 tea bags, 1 litre water, 3 peaches, 2 tbsp sugar, ice.
- Steep tea 4 min and cool.
- Blend peaches with sugar.
- Mix and chill over ice.
Old-Fashioned Three Bean Salad
There’s nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned three-bean salad. This classic recipe is simple to prepare and offers a light, cool side for a summer cookout.
You need: 400 g green beans, 400 g kidney beans, 400 g wax beans, 1 onion, 100 ml vinegar, 80 g sugar, 3 tbsp oil.
- Mix beans and onion.
- Whisk vinegar, sugar and oil.
- Marinate 4 hours.
Old Fashioned Potato Salad
Potato salad is a staple food at any summer gathering, regardless of the reason. This recipe really does things the old-fashioned way by making the potatoes and eggs from scratch.
You need: 800 g potatoes, 4 boiled eggs, 4 tbsp mayo, 1 tbsp mustard, 1 celery stalk, pickles.
- Boil and cube potatoes.
- Mix mayo and mustard.
- Fold in egg, celery and pickles.
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Looking for classic, vintage cookout recipes? What could be more classic than grilled corn on the cob? This Fourth of July side dish recipe makes the classic corn with a modern twist. Using the air fryer makes surprisingly delicious corn while freeing up space on the grill.
You need: 4 corn cobs, 2 tbsp butter, 1 tsp paprika, salt, lime.
- Brush corn with butter and paprika.
- Air fry at 200°C for 12 min.
- Finish with lime.
Deviled Eggs
While some of the recipes on this list add little twists to classic dishes, there’s nothing wrong with doing something the old-fashioned way. These tried-and-true deviled eggs are simple and easy, using ingredients that have been found in every kitchen for generations.
You need: 6 boiled eggs, 3 tbsp mayo, 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp vinegar, paprika.
- Halve eggs and remove yolks.
- Mash yolks with mayo, mustard and vinegar.
- Pipe back and dust with paprika.
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