Depression Era Christmas: 19 Thrifty Holiday Dishes Families Made Special With Almost Nothing

Depression era Christmas dinners were made with very little money, yet people who grew up in the 1930s still describe those holidays with a smile. There was no store-bought candy and often no turkey, but there was always something warm from the oven. Our Depression era dinners gallery is one of our most read posts on MSN this week, and a 1930s Christmas menu video has passed 700,000 views. With grocery prices on everyone’s mind, these thrifty dishes feel useful again. Below you will find the dinners, breads, cakes and cookies families used to make the holiday feel like a feast. Which one did your grandparents make..

Depression Era Christmas: A Feast Made From Almost Nothing

In the 1930s, many families had no money for a turkey or store-bought sweets, yet people who grew up then still talk about those Christmases with a smile. These are the thrifty dishes that made the holiday feel like a feast. The secret was simple: stretch every ingredient, waste nothing, and let the oven do the rest. Day-old bread became stuffing and pudding, molasses stood in for sugar, and one chicken fed a whole table. Ready to cook like Grandma..

You will need: The 1930s Christmas pantry: flour, lard or shortening, molasses, oats, raisins, day-old bread, dried beef, potatoes, apples, a few eggs, cinnamon, cloves and ginger, and a little butter saved for the holiday.

How to make it: 1. Plan the menu around what you already have. 2. Save stale bread for stuffing and pudding. 3. Bake cookies early and keep them in tins. 4. Stretch meat with bread, potatoes and gravy. 5. Make simple gifts from the kitchen. 6. Share with neighbors, the most loved tradition of all.

Depression Era Christmas: Mock Turkey Loaf

When a real turkey cost more than a week of groceries, clever cooks made a “mock turkey” instead. Day-old bread, a little sausage, onions and sage were packed into a loaf pan, baked until golden and served with gravy. On a Depression era Christmas table, it tasted just like Thanksgiving stuffing with a meaty bite, and it fed a crowd. Some families shaped it like a bird for fun. Would you try it?

You will need: 6 cups day-old bread cubes, 8 oz pork sausage, 1 onion (diced), 2 celery ribs (diced), 2 tsp dried sage, 1 tsp thyme, 2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups broth, salt and pepper, gravy for serving.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a loaf pan. 2. Brown the sausage with the onion and celery. 3. Toss with the bread, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. 4. Beat the eggs with the broth and pour over. 5. Pack into the pan. 6. Bake 45 minutes until golden, rest 10 minutes and slice with gravy.

A Small Hen Stretched With Bread Stuffing

If a family could afford a bird at all, it was often an old laying hen or a small chicken, and the stuffing was what made it feed everyone. Mothers stuffed it full of seasoned bread, roasted it slowly, and made gravy from every drop of drippings. The meat was the treat; the stuffing filled the plates. A roast chicken still makes a lovely small Depression era Christmas dinner today. Chicken or turkey at your house?

You will need: 1 whole chicken (4 to 5 lb), 4 cups day-old bread cubes, 1 onion and 2 celery ribs (diced), 4 tbsp butter, 1 tsp sage, 1/2 cup broth, salt and pepper. Gravy: drippings, 2 tbsp flour, 1 1/2 cups broth.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Cook the onion and celery in butter, then toss with the bread, sage and broth. 3. Season the chicken inside and out. 4. Loosely stuff the chicken and bake extra stuffing in a small dish. 5. Roast 1 1/2 hours until the thigh reaches 165 F. 6. Whisk the drippings with flour and broth for gravy.

Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast for Christmas Morning

A jar of dried beef went a long way in the 1930s. Torn into a creamy white sauce and spooned over toast, it was a warm, salty breakfast that felt special on Christmas morning. Many grandparents still ask for this Depression era Christmas breakfast today. It costs very little and takes just ten minutes. Did someone in your family make this?

You will need: 4 oz dried beef (chopped), 3 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour, 2 cups milk, black pepper, 4 slices toast or biscuits.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the dried beef if it is very salty and pat it dry. 2. Melt the butter in a skillet. 3. Stir in the flour and cook 1 minute. 4. Slowly whisk in the milk until thick and smooth. 5. Stir in the beef and plenty of pepper. 6. Spoon over hot toast.

Depression Era Christmas: Plum Pudding on a Budget

Christmas pudding was the grand finish of the holiday meal, and families made it work with whatever they had. Grated carrot and potato stretched the flour and dried fruit, and a little molasses gave it a deep color. A popular Christmas during the Great Depression video recreated a 1930s holiday menu with a jellied plum pudding, and it has been watched more than 700,000 times. Steamed or jellied?

You will need: 1 cup flour, 1 cup grated carrot, 1 cup grated raw potato, 1 cup raisins, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, 1/2 cup melted shortening or butter, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp salt.

How to make it: 1. Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl. 2. Spoon into a greased 6-cup pudding mold or heatproof bowl. 3. Cover tightly with foil and tie with string. 4. Set on a rack in a big pot with simmering water halfway up the sides. 5. Cover and steam 2 1/2 to 3 hours, adding water as needed. 6. Cool 10 minutes and turn out.

Wacky Cake With No Eggs, Milk or Butter

Wacky cake, also called crazy cake, is the famous chocolate cake made with no eggs, no milk and no butter. It is often linked to the Depression and wartime rationing, and you mix it right in the pan. Vinegar and baking soda make it rise, and it comes out moist and chocolatey. It is still one of the cheapest Depression era Christmas cakes you can bake. Have you ever made it?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 5 tbsp oil, 1 cup water. Optional: powdered sugar for dusting.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in an 8-inch square pan. 3. Make three wells. 4. Pour vanilla in one, vinegar in one and oil in the third. 5. Pour the water over everything and stir until smooth. 6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes and dust with powdered sugar.

Molasses Cookies for Pennies

Molasses was cheaper than white sugar in many places, so molasses cookies filled cookie jars all through the 1930s. One fresh video about Depression era Christmas cookies talks about a 1934 recipe that made about 50 cookies for just 24 cents. They are chewy, spicy and keep for days. Roll them in sugar for a crackly top. Chewy or crisp?

You will need: 3/4 cup shortening or butter, 1 cup sugar plus more for rolling, 1 egg, 1/4 cup molasses, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Beat the shortening and sugar, then the egg and molasses. 3. Mix in the flour, baking soda, spices and salt. 4. Roll into 1-inch balls and coat in sugar. 5. Bake 9 to 10 minutes. 6. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes.

Depression Era Christmas: Icebox Cookies

Icebox cookies were the original slice and bake. Moms mixed a simple dough, rolled it into logs, wrapped them in waxed paper and kept them in the icebox. When company came, they sliced off a few and baked them fresh. Roll the logs in colored sugar for a Depression era Christmas look. It is still a great way to bake ahead. Do you keep cookie dough in the freezer?

You will need: 1 cup butter (softened), 1 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 3/4 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional), red and green sugar.

How to make it: 1. Beat the butter and brown sugar, then the egg and vanilla. 2. Mix in the flour, baking soda, salt and nuts. 3. Shape into two logs and roll in colored sugar. 4. Wrap and chill at least 4 hours. 5. Slice 1/4 inch thick. 6. Bake at 375 F for 8 to 10 minutes.

Eggless Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oats were cheap and filling, and raisins made cookies feel like a treat. When eggs were scarce, cooks left them out and used a little extra liquid. The cookies came out chewy, cinnamon-scented and very homey. At a Depression era Christmas, they were often tucked into little paper bags as gifts for neighbors and teachers. Raisins: love them or pick them out?

You will need: 1/2 cup shortening or butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup milk or water, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cups oats, 3/4 cup raisins.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Beat the shortening and sugar. 3. Stir in the milk and vanilla. 4. Mix in the flour, soda, cinnamon and salt, then the oats and raisins. 5. Drop spoonfuls on a greased pan. 6. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Depression Era Christmas: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Just peanut butter, sugar and one egg: no flour, no butter. These cookies were a lifesaver for families who could not afford much, and they are still one of the easiest cookies there is. Press them with a fork for the classic crisscross. They are crumbly, nutty and gone in minutes. Fork marks or plain?

You will need: 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg. Optional: 1/2 tsp vanilla and a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Stir the peanut butter, sugar and egg until smooth. 3. Roll into 1-inch balls. 4. Press with a fork in a crisscross. 5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. 6. Cool on the pan until firm.

Popcorn Balls for the Tree and the Table

Popcorn was one of the cheapest treats around, and at Christmas it did double duty. Families strung it on the tree, and molasses or sugar syrup turned it into sticky popcorn balls wrapped in waxed paper. On a Depression era Christmas, children often found one in their stocking. They still make a sweet, cheap gift. Did you ever string popcorn for the tree?

You will need: 10 cups popped popcorn, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup light corn syrup or molasses, 1/3 cup water, 2 tbsp butter, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Put the popcorn in a big buttered bowl. 2. Cook the sugar, syrup, water, butter and salt to 250 F. 3. Stir in the vanilla. 4. Pour over the popcorn and stir. 5. Let it cool just enough to handle. 6. Shape into balls with buttered hands and wrap in waxed paper.

Sweet Potato Pie, No Fancy Crust Needed

Sweet potatoes grew in many backyard gardens, so sweet potato pie was the Christmas dessert many Southern families could always make. When flour and lard ran short, some cooks skipped the crust and baked the spiced filling in a buttered dish like a custard. Either way, it tastes like the holidays. Pie or crustless custard?

You will need: 2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup evaporated milk, 3 tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt, 1 unbaked pie crust (optional).

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Beat the sweet potatoes until smooth. 3. Mix in the sugar, eggs, milk, butter, spices, vanilla and salt. 4. Pour into the crust or a buttered dish. 5. Bake 50 to 55 minutes, until set. 6. Cool before slicing.

Depression Era Christmas: Homemade Bread and Apple Butter Gifts

When nobody had money for store gifts, a warm loaf of bread and a jar of apple butter said Merry Christmas in the best way. Apple butter used apples that were too bruised to sell, cooked down for hours with cider and spice. Wrapped in a clean dish towel, it was a gift people remembered. It is still a lovely Depression era Christmas gift today. Would you rather get bread or cookies?

You will need: Apple butter: 4 lb apples (peeled and chopped), 1 cup apple cider, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/4 tsp allspice. Serve with a loaf of homemade or bakery bread.

How to make it: 1. Put the apples and cider in a slow cooker. 2. Cook on low for 8 hours. 3. Stir in the sugar and spices. 4. Cook with the lid off for 2 more hours until thick and dark. 5. Blend until smooth. 6. Spoon into clean jars and keep in the fridge up to 3 weeks.

Cornbread Dressing Stretched With Day-Old Bread

In the South, the dressing was often the real star of the Christmas table, because it made a little meat go a long way. Leftover cornbread and day-old biscuits were crumbled together with onion, celery, sage and broth, then baked until crisp on top. It fed a big family for pennies at a Depression era Christmas. Do you call it stuffing or dressing?

You will need: 6 cups crumbled cornbread, 2 cups day-old bread or biscuits (crumbled), 1 onion and 3 celery ribs (diced), 4 tbsp butter, 2 tsp sage, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 eggs, 3 to 4 cups chicken broth, salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Cook the onion and celery in butter until soft. 3. Mix with the cornbread, bread, sage and pepper. 4. Beat the eggs into the broth and stir in until very moist. 5. Spread in a greased baking dish. 6. Bake 45 minutes until golden.

Bread Pudding With Raisins

Not a crumb of bread went to waste in the 1930s. Stale bread soaked in milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon became a warm, soft bread pudding, and a handful of raisins made it festive. Some families poured a simple vanilla sauce over the top for a Depression era Christmas. It is still the best way to use up a loaf. With sauce or plain?

You will need: 6 cups day-old bread cubes, 3 cups milk, 3 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup raisins. Sauce: 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and butter a baking dish. 2. Add the bread and raisins. 3. Whisk the milk, eggs, sugar, butter, cinnamon and vanilla. 4. Pour over the bread and let it soak 15 minutes. 5. Bake 45 minutes. 6. Simmer the sauce ingredients until thick and pour over warm pudding.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

A pot of cider simmering with cinnamon and cloves made the whole house smell like Christmas, and it cost very little in apple country. Families served it to carolers and neighbors who dropped by. Add a few orange slices if you have them. It is just as cozy today, and kids love it. Cinnamon stick or a whole clove-studded orange?

You will need: 1/2 gallon apple cider, 3 cinnamon sticks, 6 whole cloves, 4 allspice berries, 1 orange (sliced), 2 tbsp brown sugar (optional).

How to make it: 1. Pour the cider into a large pot. 2. Add the spices and orange slices. 3. Warm over low heat without boiling. 4. Simmer gently 20 minutes. 5. Taste and add brown sugar if you like. 6. Strain and serve hot in mugs.

Why One Orange in the Stocking Meant So Much

Ask anyone who grew up in the 1930s about Christmas and many will mention the orange in the toe of their stocking. Fresh oranges were rare and costly in much of the country in winter, so one bright orange felt like real luxury. Families shared it piece by piece and saved the peel for baking. It is a sweet tradition to bring back. Did you ever get an orange in your stocking?

You will need: For candied orange peel: peel of 3 oranges (cut in strips), 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, extra sugar for rolling.

How to make it: 1. Boil the peel strips in water for 10 minutes and drain. 2. Repeat once more to remove bitterness. 3. Simmer the sugar and water until dissolved. 4. Add the peel and simmer 30 minutes until clear. 5. Drain and roll in sugar. 6. Dry overnight on a rack.

Applesauce Cake With No Eggs

Applesauce cake was a favorite Depression era Christmas bake because applesauce stood in for eggs and butter. Spiced with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and studded with raisins or nuts, it tastes like a soft spice cake and keeps moist for days. For more sweets from the same era, see our Depression era desserts made with no eggs or butter. Raisins or walnuts?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups applesauce, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup oil or melted shortening, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup raisins or chopped walnuts.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a loaf pan or 8-inch square pan. 2. Mix the applesauce, sugar and oil. 3. Stir in the flour, baking soda, spices and salt. 4. Fold in the raisins or nuts. 5. Bake 45 to 55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 6. Cool before slicing.

Buttermilk Biscuits for Christmas Breakfast

Biscuits cost almost nothing to make, and on Christmas morning they were often served with a little butter, honey or sorghum syrup as a special treat. Flour, fat and buttermilk were all it took. Make them tall by cutting straight down without twisting the cutter. Serve with gravy, jam or apple butter. Butter and honey or sausage gravy?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 6 tbsp cold butter or shortening, 3/4 cup cold buttermilk.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 450 F. 2. Mix the dry ingredients. 3. Cut in the cold butter until crumbly. 4. Stir in the buttermilk just until it comes together. 5. Pat 1 inch thick and cut straight down. 6. Bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden.