Food, like fashion or beauty, goes through trends. You know how you can look back at a certain piece of clothing from a few decades ago and wonder why, or how, anyone ever thought it was stylish enough to spend money on? The same can be said for certain recipes. Sure, plenty of our favorite foods were classics many, many years ago, but decades past had their fair share of dishes that look, well, kind of disgusting now. The 1970s is one decade to use as an example. Even though we got some great dishes out of the ’70s, there were some that are regrettable — including 1970s desserts.
The 1970s did, admittedly, give us some great desserts: carrot cake was huge during that decade, as well as things like tiramisu and the delicious Black Forest torte. We still enjoy these desserts, and for good reason! But then, there were the desserts that just seem like they were completely awful. For example: Jell-O molds and random Jell-O creations were still, unfortunately, very much a big thing. There were combinations that probably never should happened, and some desserts might sound okay, but they look pretty unappetizing. Here are a few of the awful desserts people actually ate in the ’70s:
1. The Watergate Salad was a very popular sweet salad.
Made of canned pineapple, whipped cream, marshmallows, and pistachio pudding, this strange combination of dessert foods was, for some reason, wildly popular.
2. This Green Angel Lime Cake might be better than it seems, but… doubtful.
This ad from 1978 shows cake mixed with lime Jell-O. Why? No one knows.
3. Jell-O spritz cookies were quite popular.
It just doesn’t seem like “Jell-O” and “cookies” should be mixed together. You know what we mean?
4. This Christmas chocolate log looks terrifying.
This was made with apricot jam, chocolate, and icing, and… we don’t know why.
5. Ham and bananas hollandaise is actually one of the worst things we’ve ever seen.
Is this a dessert? An entree? It’s impossible to know.
6. Flandango was apparently a thing.
This is a mixture of biscuits, crushed pineapple, lemon juice, and it’s just a lot to take in.
7. This Creamy Dutch Apple Dessert is probably the best thing on this list.
And that’s really saying a lot!
8. Holiday Praline Delight Pie is more proof that they would put Jell-O with anything.
Was there any ingredient other than Jell-O out there?
9. Crunchy Jumble Cookies were pretty odd.
Rice Krispies as cookies just doesn’t sound that appetizing.
10. The 7-Up Cake was so strange.
Why did anyone make a cake with 7-Up?! Why??
11. This Pineapple Alaska is so weird-looking.
Maybe it tastes better than it looks?
12. The Waldorf Crown Salad is horrific.
Why did anyone think it would be a good idea to mix Miracle Whip with marshmallows? And a Jell-O mold to top it all off? This is too much.
13. It’s impossible to tell if this Waldorf Wheel is dessert or not.
It’s made with mostly baking ingredients, like Jell-O, apples, and cinnamon, but then also… celery. No thanks!
14. This Emerald Cantaloupe looks truly disgusting.
What is this??? Why is it happening??
15. Figurines were diet cookies that look like bricks.
It’s hard to believe these tasted good.
16. The Jell-O Holiday Eggnog Ring is a mix that shouldn’t exist.
Eggnog and Jell-O? That doesn’t sound terrific!
17. These desserts all use mayonnaise as an ingredient.
Nope. Mayo doesn’t belong in cookies.
18. This Oil Pastry seems confusing.
Is it a pie crust? Is it a pastry? We don’t know, but we don’t like it.
