Holiday Traditions Archives - Our Heritage of Health

Piece of sour cream gingerbread cake dusted with powdered sugar on a red china plate on a table with a pan of gingerbread in the background along with an antique cookbook, some cloves and spoons and winter greenery, berries, and pinecones.

Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Gingerbread Cake Recipe from 1852

If I had to choose one baking recipe that seems to exemplify the 19th century I think I would have to choose gingerbread. From cookbooks …

Slice of pumpkin pie on a blue china plate with more of the pie in a baking dish behind it and an antique cookbook, a small gourd, eggs, a spoon, and nutmegs on the table.

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie Recipe from 1861

Pumpkin pie is a traditional, old-fashioned dessert that many people associate with holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, unlike recipes such as mincemeat pie …

Cup of hot chocolate on a saucer with a spoon, chocolate pieces, nutmegs, a spice grater and measuring spoons on a table.

Old-Fashioned Hot Chocolate Recipe from the 19th Century

As I've looked through old cookbooks from the 19th century, one of the things that always stood out to me was the lack of recipes …

Plum pudding on a red plate with a sprig of holly in the top and a slice of plum pudding on a plate beside it and pine needles and red berries scattered around.

Old-Fashioned Plum Pudding

Made famous by Dickens' A Christmas Carol, old-fashioned plum pudding is one of those quintessential holiday desserts that will forever be associated with the Christmas …

Favorite Holiday Cranberry Recipes

I love cranberry season, and each year I always look forward to finding fresh cranberries and stocking up on them so that I can keep …

Slice of fruitcake with icing on top on a red china plate.

Traditional 19th Century Fruitcake Recipe

This traditional 19th century fruitcake recipe is a rich and buttery spice cake with plenty of fruit and citrus to give it nice a festive …

Oven-roasted chestnuts covered in a spiced butter glaze on a china plate with evergreen sprigs beside it.

Oven Roasted Chestnuts with Spiced Butter Glaze

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . ." is one of those nostalgic Christmas traditions I've known about for as long as I can …

Old-Fashioned Mincemeat Pie Recipe from 1798

Up until just recently, I had always thought the idea of mincemeat pie sounded pretty unappetizing. I had never actually tried it until this year, but …