Great Depression Recipes

Great Depression Recipes: Baking Cookies, 1934 (St. Louis Star and Times, via Newspapers.com™)

This collection features a selection of newspaper recipes that were published during the Great Depression (1929–1939), a time of widespread economic hardship in the U.S. and abroad. 

Since many people were living with reduced incomes, Great Depression recipes often focused on incorporating low-cost ingredients and leftovers. Meat was typically a more expensive item, so recipes from this era often required less of it (or less-expensive cuts) and sometimes used eggs and cheese as replacement sources of protein. 

To appeal to readers with tighter food budgets, newspapers of the time commonly used words like “economical,” “thrift,” or “low cost” to describe their recipes.

Learn more about Great Depression Recipes through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about Great Depression Recipes

6 recipes for "economical meat dishes" (Piquant Meat Loaf, Left Over Meat Loaf & more) 16 Jan 1931, Fri Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Newspapers.comRecipes for Creamed Fish with Vegetables & Stewed Tomatoes 18 Mar 1931, Wed Greenville Advocate (Greenville, Alabama) Newspapers.com4 recipes for "delicious egg dishes" (Egg Sandwiches, Spinach and Poached Eggs & more) 14 Apr 1931, Tue Evening Despatch (Birmingham, West Midlands, England) Newspapers.com7 "thrift recipes" (Cheese Fondue, Apple Tapioca, Savory Peas, Tomato Sauce & more) 14 Aug 1931, Fri The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com12 "thrift recipes" (Smothered Potatoes, Scalloped Tomatoes, One Egg Layer Cake & more) 21 Aug 1931, Fri The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.comRecipe for Spaghetti Salmon Loaf 30 Oct 1931, Fri Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) Newspapers.com4 "economical recipes" for "bake sales and church bazaars" (Date Cake, Brownies, Potato Buns & more) 13 Nov 1931, Fri The Waterbury Democrat (Waterbury, Connecticut) Newspapers.comRecipes for Rice and Raisin Pudding, Bran Muffins, Blushing Apples, Peanut Butter Soup 04 Feb 1932, Thu The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) Newspapers.com13 "economy" recipes (Spanish Rice, Kitty's Johnny Cake, Ginger Snaps, Nut Bread & more) 03 Nov 1932, Thu The Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, New York) Newspapers.comRecipe for Cheesed Eggs 28 Sep 1933, Thu Cedar Rapids Outlook (Cedar Rapids, Nebraska) Newspapers.com"Delicious depression recipe" for Frankfritters 12 Nov 1933, Sun The Journal Times (Racine, Wisconsin) Newspapers.comRecipes for Pork and Beef Loaf & Veal Loaf 22 May 1934, Tue The Indianapolis Times (Indianapolis, Indiana) Newspapers.comRecipes for Spring Aspic & Strawberry Chiffon Tarts 08 Apr 1935, Mon Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) Newspapers.comRecipe for Fudge Cake 24 Jul 1935, Wed The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.comRecipes for Carrot Custard Pie & Fall Casserole Dinner 29 Oct 1935, Tue Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Newspapers.comRecipes for Casserole Alaska & Grapenut Bread 28 Jan 1936, Tue Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Newspapers.comRecipes for Egg Chops & Baked Apples 12 Mar 1936, Thu Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Newspapers.comRecipes for One Dish Dinner & Applesauce Cake 27 Apr 1936, Mon Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Newspapers.comRecipes for Toasted Potato Rolls & Baked Buttermilk Custard 19 May 1936, Tue Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Newspapers.comRecipe for Swedish Meat Roll for Six 22 Sep 1936, Tue The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) Newspapers.comRecipes for Cottage Pudding, Caramel Sauce, Ham Loaf in Pepper Cases & Lamb Stew with Vegetables 21 Jan 1937, Thu The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com5 recipes for "cakes without butter or eggs" (Honey Cakes, Date Cakes, Apple Cake & more) 19 Apr 1937, Mon The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Victoria, Australia) Newspapers.com"Economical Recipe for Home-Made Candy" 22 Jan 1938, Sat Edmonton Journal (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) Newspapers.com6 recipes "from canned foods" (Celery au Gratin, Spaghetti Tidbits, Prune Custard & more) 09 Jul 1938, Sat The Perthshire Advertiser, etc. (Perth, Tayside, Scotland) Newspapers.com"Budget recipes" for Shepherds Pie, Savory Meat Pie, Planter's Pie & Tamale Pie) 07 Sep 1938, Wed The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) Newspapers.com"Economical recipes" for Banana Toast, Sardine Eggs & Savory Butter 01 Apr 1939, Sat The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Victoria, Australia) Newspapers.com