15 Depression Era Desserts (2024)

Something I’ve really enjoyed looking into lately is Depression Era Dessert Recipes. We all know how rough times were back then, and the fact that families not only were able to make it work, but some were even able to treat their families to the occasional simple homemade indulgence is really inspiring!

❔ What Is The Depression Era?

The Depression Era was also known as The Great Depression. This happened during the 1930s, and our economy was suffering in a significant way. Due to the stock market crashing, almost everyone was left struggling financially.

Most people didn’t have the funds to splurge on items like fancy dinners or desserts. They would take the things that they had on hand and make the best of it. That is what these recipes are all about — using simple ingredients to create desserts that are terrific.

⌛ Why Make These Recipes?

There are lots of reasons to make these recipes from the Depression Era. The most important reason for me is saving money.

If you love to live frugal, saving money in the kitchen is a wonderful place to start. Making your own home-cooked food will save lots of money versus eating out.

Another reason why I am addicted to these types of recipes is that you can control the ingredients. You don’t have to worry about added preservatives or other ingredients you try to steer clear of. You know exactly how much of everything is added to these delicious recipes, so there are no questions.

The last thing is, the people from the Depression Era knew what they were doing! The food they made was divine, and that’s precisely why they are still so popular today.

If you consider yourself a foodie, try these easy-to-follow recipes with simple ingredients. It is well worth your time and energy. Don’t hesitate. These are amazing dishes that you aren’t going to want to miss out on.

🥪 What Foods Were Popular?

There were many foods that became household staples like soup, pasta, chili, and biscuits. They were all inexpensive meals that could feed a lot of people for quite a while, so they were very practical.

Many of the desserts were made without eggs or dairy and they were naturally vegan (before vegan was popular!). Those ingredients were expensive and hard to come by if you didn’t have livestock yourself.

That’s another reason why these recipes make sense in today’s world too. So whether you eat vegan or you want to save a little extra money; you are in for a special treat!

Some recipes on this list (like the first one featured below) are actually vegan and can check the box for a lot of the different ways we eat now!

I hope you enjoy this list of simple depression era desserts and I’d love to hear about any recipes passed down through your family!

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