Your 5 Best Retro Recipes (Hint: Gooey Butter Cake Is Involved)

We asked and our community delivered. Here are your top 5 retro-inspired recipes with a modern twist!

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In our latest recipe contest, we asked you to share your best retro-inspired recipes that were updated with a modern twist. We had an absolute blast walking down memory lane and remembering some of our favorite "retro" recipes. From updated deviled eggs to new takes on chicken kiev, we loved your reimagined favorites and the stories that went along with the recipes.

It was a tough assignment, but we finally whittled down the standout recipes to our final five. From a Thai-inspired twist on the classic chicken Kiev to a mashup of Caesar and green goddess dressings, we hope you will have as much fun with these modernized "retro" recipes as we did.

1. Caesar & the Goddess by mrslarkin

mrslarkin brings us another knockout recipe with Caesar and the Goddess where anchovy and tarragon sing together to create salad dressing harmony. Paired with some classic garlic bread planks and seared shrimp, you should look no further for your next retro-inspired dinner party.

2. East of Chicken Kiev by Dan Carberg

Dan Carberg brings thoughtful techniques to his tasty, Thai-inspired play on classic chicken Kiev. We loved the crunchy peanuts in the compound butter filling and the crispy crust from the panko. Finish with a squeeze of lime and you are transported to the far east via kiev.

3. Crabmeat Maison by Carine Clary

This crabmeat maison is an elegant salad you should consider for your next dinner party. We loved the punchy remoulade sauce that you can increase or decrease as it suits your tastes. The grated lemon zest on top provided a lovely brightness for the entire dish.

4. Strawberry & Pretzel Shortbread Gooey Butter Cake by stephanieloo

Perfectly salty pretzel shortbread combined with sweet strawberries and a caramelized gooey butter topping made this dessert stand out from the crowd. We preferred this cake refrigerated or room temperature rather than frozen.

5. Cointreau Daffodil Cake by Pia Silver | The Inspirational Nook

This cake is an updated version of a classic sponge cake from the 1940s. We loved Pia Silver's triple shot of sunny orange in the cake: with orange extract, orange zest, and Cointreau. This elegant cake should be on your next retro-inspired menu (or any menu, for that matter).

Give one or all of these recipes a try in your kitchen and let us know your thoughts.

Voting for the final two will open July 1, 2021 at 12 p.m. EDT here. May the grooviest dish win!