86 Top-Rated Desserts

This luscious collection of desserts was chosen by you! They're so delicious you'll definitely be tempted to eat dessert first.

Caramelized Banana Pudding

Photo: Jennifer Davick, Prop Styling: Annette Joseph, Food Styling: William Smith

Caramelized Banana Pudding

For the best flavor, choose firm, ripe bananas with brown speckles.

Fresh Apple Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Fresh Apple Cake

Thinly sliced apples create rich, moist layers of fruit within the cake. Top with your choice of Browned Butter Frosting, Cream Cheese Frosting, or Dark Chocolate Frosting.

Free-Form Strawberry Cheesecake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Free-Form Strawberry Cheesecake

This quick-to-put together recipe is just as delicious as it looks. Ready-to-eat cheesecake filling saves loads of time, helping you get this dessert on the table in 20 minutes!

Nutter Butter®-Banana Pudding Trifle

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Nutter Butter®-Banana Pudding Trifle

This homemade pudding tastes divine! Instead of using the traditional vanilla wafers for banana pudding, we used Nutter Butter® sandwich cookies to add even more flavor.

Double Apple Pie Recipe with Cornmeal Crust

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Double Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust

This pie is packed with apple flavor! Apple jelly adds richness to the filling, and apple cider packs even more flavor in the flaky cornmeal crust.

Mocha Java Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Mocha Java Cakes

It will be hard to have just one bite of this decadent dessert! The rich melted chocolate center and moist chocolate is perfection for chocolate lovers.

Blackberry-Apple Upside-Down Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Blackberry-Apple Upside-Down Cake

Moist, delicious, and surprisingly easy, this upside-down cake may become your go-to recipe for entertaining.

Luscious Lemon Bars

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Luscious Lemon Bars

The flaky crust and gooey lemon center are perfect in our best-ever lemon bar recipe!

Praline Pull-Apart Bread

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Praline Pull-Apart Bread

Make this delicious bread for special occasions. Frozen bread dough makes it an easy fix, and a caramel-flavored sauce poured on top makes it irresistible.

Strawberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Strawberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

Blend buttermilk with your choice of fresh or frozen strawberries to create this creamy springtime treat. This simple recipe only takes 15 minutes to prep before going into the ice cream maker.

So Good Brownies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

So Good Brownies

This basic brownie recipe is great on its own, or try it with some of our fast stir-ins and toppings for out-of-this-world brownies!

Buttermilk Breakfast Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Buttermilk Breakfast Cake

Buttermilk replaces sour cream in our twist on a not-too-sweet bundt cake.

Peach-and-Toasted Pecan Ice Cream

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Peach-and-Toasted Pecan Ice Cream

This homemade summertime treat is packed with two Southern favorites: refreshing peaches and nutty pecans. The sweet peaches add great texture, and the pecans pack in a crunchy bite to this ice cream recipe.

Rustic Plum Tart

Photo: Charles Walton IV

Rustic Plum Tart

Flaky piecrust envelops luscious plums for a crisp yet juicy dessert. Plum preserves boost the fruity flavor while allspice and vanilla give it a perfect hint of spice.

 

Chocolate Marble Sheet Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Chocolate Marble Sheet Cake

Chocolate Marble Sheet Cake is a treat for chocoholics. The rich, creamy frosting blends coffee with cocoa for a delightful mocha flavor.

Easy Blackberry Cobbler

Photo: John O'Hagan

Easy Blackberry Cobbler

This blackberry cobbler is so simple—it only uses six ingredients! To make it special, top with whipped cream and a mint garnish.

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Great things come in small packages! These pecan pie bites are small but full of flavor and just the right size for pass-along party desserts.

Apple Upside-Down Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Apple Upside-Down Pie

A buttery mix of brown sugar and pecans caramelizes as it bakes beneath the bottom crust of Apple Upside-Down Pie.

Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Photo: Jim Franco

Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

This pumpkin bread pudding is perfect for a chilly evening. Make one large dish, or serve it in perfectly portioned ramekins for company.

Zesty Lemon Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Zesty Lemon Pie

Three simple ingredients make the yummy filling in this lemon pie. You can either make your own graham cracker crust or buy a pre-made crust to make this recipe even easier.

Eggnog Pound Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Eggnog Pound Cake

Just when you thought pound cake couldn't get any better—eggnog and nutmeg raise the bar. Try toasting the slices and spreading them with your favorite jam or preserves.

Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Perfect your peach cobbler by topping it with a flaky pecan pastry. Serve warm or cold with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Red Velvet Brownies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Red Velvet Brownies

Our red velvet brownies are a bite-size version of the classic cake. Top them with a decadent cream cheese frosting for the ultimate dessert.

Ultimate Cheesecake

Ultimate Cheesecake

Looking for a go-to cheesecake recipe? You've found the one! This classic cheesecake is great on its own or with a simple Apricot Glaze.

Warm Fudge-Filled Cheesecake

Photo: Tina Cornett

Warm Fudge-Filled Cheesecake

A warm fudge center makes this cheesecake melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A homemade pistachio crust is worth the extra effort.

Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

Photo: Luca Trovato

Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

Everything about this cheesecake is delicious—from the cinnamon graham cracker crust to the apple jelly-glazed apples on top.

Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

Perfect with your afternoon tea, the Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake is soaked in a hot amaretto glaze, giving it a delicious flavor.

 

Fig Cake

Fig Cake

A delicious twist on our favorite Hummingbird Cake, this recipe is so simple to make you won't believe you started from scratch. Super-moist cake layers, flavored with fig preserves and a sprinkling of holiday spice, are paired with cream cheese frosting for an irresistible treat.

Chocolate Cake IV

Chocolate Cake IV

Coffee and chocolate lovers everywhere will find this cake to die for! Between each layer of chocolate cake is a delicious Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling, and it's topped with Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing.

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake

This exceptional dessert takes a little extra effort, but it's worth it. The combination of textures–tender cake, fluffy frosting, and a pool of creamy sauce–will delight your family and friends.

Coconut Sheet Cake

Coconut Sheet Cake

Coconut cake just got easier. Make a sheet cake instead of a layer cake for a dessert that's as easy as it is delicious. Top with cream cheese icing and a sprinkle of coconut for a cool, delicious dessert.

Strawberry Tart

Strawberry Tart

A flaky homemade crust, silky-smooth custard, and fresh strawberries make for a refreshing dessert.

Lemon Chess Pie

Lemon Chess Pie

You can’t get more basic than chess pie. Remarkable in its simplicity and timeless in appeal, chess pie is the ultimate Southern pantry pie.

Coconut Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Pie

When it comes to pie recipes, this classic coconut pie recipe takes the blue ribbon. A refrigerated pie crust makes it easy, and the whipped cream and toasted coconut make it stunning.

Banana Pudding Pie

Banana Pudding Pie

Treat your family to a delicious and easy dessert tonight. Use ripe bananas in this pudding recipe for the sweetest flavor.

Tiramisù Toffee Trifle Pie

Tiramisù Toffee Trifle Pie

Serve tiramisù as a pie topped with crunchy toffee bits. It has the same flavors of traditional tiramisù but with a little added crunch.

Elegant Pumpkin-Walnut Layered Pie

Elegant Pumpkin-Walnut Layered Pie

Flavorful pumpkin pie sits atop a toasted walnut mixture in this must-try fall dessert.

Apple-Gingerbread Cobbler

Apple-Gingerbread Cobbler

Whip up this top-rated dessert in a flash. The cobbler starts with gingerbread mix and apple pie filling, then calls for a few standard kitchen staples. Keep the ingredients on hand so you can make a batch for unexpected guests.

Praline Pull-Apart Bread

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Praline Pull-Apart Bread

Make this delicious bread for special occasions. It's easy to fix with frozen bread dough, and a caramel-flavored sauce poured on top makes it irresistible.

Chocolate-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Chocolate-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Get your chocolate fix early in the day with our Chocolate-Cream Cheese Coffee cake that incorporates our favorite Chocolate Velvet Cake Batter.

Lemon Tea Bread

Lemon Tea Bread

This yummy, cake-like tea bread has a light lemon taste and is drizzled with a sweet citrus glaze.

Praline-Apple Bread

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Praline-Apple Bread

Praline-Apple Bread is decadent enough to serve as a dessert. Sour cream is the secret to the rich, moist texture of this bread recipe. There's no butter or oil in the batter—only in the glaze.

Bananas Foster Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Bananas Foster Upside-Down Coffee Cake

You'll adore the new flavor of bananas foster in a familiar upside-down cake.

Baby Sweet Potato Cakes with Sticky Caramel-Pecan Sauce

Baby Sweet Potato Cakes with Sticky Caramel-Pecan Sauce 

These sweet potato cupcakes are made even more delicious with toasted pecans and a caramel sauce drizzled on top.

Mississippi Mud Cake

Mississippi Mud Cake

Imagine the richest, darkest, most indulgent chocolate dessert you’ve ever eaten. Now add some marshmallows, and you've got this decadent yet simple-to-bake cake.

Classic Cola Cake

Classic Cola Cake

Our cola cake is simply one of the best in the world. The magical brew of carbonated cola is the secret to the tender texture of the cake and chocolate frosting.

Irish Strawberry-and-Cream Cheesecake

Irish Strawberry-and-Cream Cheesecake

Swirled with strawberry preserves and flavored with Irish cream liqueur, this cheesecake will be a hit at any get-together.

Praline-Crusted Cheesecake

Praline-Crusted Cheesecake

Crumbled pralines and sugared shortbread make an out-of-this-world crust for classic cheesecake. Either make your own pralines or buy them to cut back on prep time.

Praline Bundt Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Praline Bundt Cake

A crown of Sugared Pecans adds a deliciously nutty crunch to this five-star cake. It freezes beautifully, feeds a houseful of guests, and travels remarkably well. Just don’t expect to bring back any leftovers.

Buttered Rum Pound Cake with Bananas Foster Sauce

Buttered Rum Pound Cake with Bananas Foster Sauce  

Who says pound cakes are boring? This buttery pound cake is topped with a Buttered Rum Glaze and an amazing Bananas Foster Sauce.

Million Dollar Pound Cake

Million Dollar Pound Cake

Just seven ingredients—and all of them common pantry staples—are all you need for this classic pound cake. Top with ice cream or seasonal fruits for a tasty combination.

Decadent Banana Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting

Decadent Banana Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting

Bananas and coconut pair perfectly in this delicious dessert. Top with toasted coconut and banana slices for an impressive presentation.

Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake

This is the ultimate recipe for Hummingbird Cake. It's the most requested recipe in Southern Living magazine history and frequents covered dish dinners all across the South, always receiving rave reviews.

Toasted Almond-Butter Cake

Toasted Almond-Butter Cake

This buttery, moist cake has the perfect hint of almonds and coconut. A sweet Cream Cheese Frosting makes it an even more outstanding way to end the meal.

Italian Cream Cake

Italian Cream Cake

This cake will surely win rave reviews in your home with its sweet coconut flavors and Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting

Summer Peach Recipes: Summertime Peach Ice Cream

Summertime Peach Ice Cream

Your family will ask for this creamy ice cream over and over again. Best of all, the six-ingredient mixture requires no cooking, just stirring.

Best Carrot Cake

Photo: Tina Cornett

Best Carrot Cake

We're not lying when we say this is the best. Layers of delicious carrot cake are moistened with a Buttermilk Glaze and topped off with a sweet Cream Cheese Frosting.

Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes

Velvety chocolate cake is topped with a to-die-for Browned Butter-Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting and pretty chocolate curls for an irresistible bite.

Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes

The classic coconut and pecan flavor combo gets and added indulgence with Creamy Caramel Frosting, making this the perfect after dinner treat.

Lemon Curd Pound Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Lemon Curd Pound Cake

Sweet-and-tart Lemon Curd Pound Cake is the perfect way to end a special meal. A Lemon Curd Glaze makes the pound cake extra moist and delicious.

Pecan Recipes: Caramel-Pecan Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Caramel-Pecan Pie

One bite of rich and gooey Caramel-Pecan Pie, and you’ll be thankful you tried this recipe.

Caramel-Pecan Tart

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Caramel-Pecan Tart

Surprisingly easy to make, our Caramel-Pecan Tart pairs the cookie-like crispness of shortbread with a buttery-rich brown sugar-and-honey topping.

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Photo: Luca Trovato

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

With a cream cheese filling and sweet praline frosting, this apple bundt cake is a must-try! Garnish with toasted pecans for a pretty finish and a little crunch.

Apple Hello Dolly Bars

Photo: Lyuca Trovato

Apple Hello Dolly Bars

Everyone loves the chocolate, coconut, and pecan layers of Hello Dolly Bars. But throw in a layer of chopped Granny Smiths and people will rave!

 

Lemon Mousse Tart

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Lemon Mousse Tart

Mounds of creamy lemon filling will delight all who taste this tart. The filling is a luscious mixture of white chocolate, cream cheese, lemon curd, and whipped cream. Plus, refrigerated piecrust makes for a super-easy tart shell. Drizzle Raspberry Sauce over the top, if you like.

Easy Mocha Chip Ice-Cream Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Easy Mocha Chip Ice-Cream Cake

Get your chocolate fix with chocolate-covered coffee beans as the finishing touch on this cool cake.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake

This crowd-pleasing cake is topped with whipped cream, crème de menthe chocolates, and, yes, chocolate ganache. If there was ever a time to eat dessert first, it's with this refreshing cake.

Strawberry Semifreddo Shortcake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Strawberry Semifreddo Shortcake

Marshmallow creme stirred into Strawberry Semifreddo Shortcake eliminates the traditional use of raw eggs in this light and luscious treat. Look for soft ladyfingers in the bakery section of the grocery store.

Mocha Ice Cream

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Mocha Ice Cream

This coffee-chocolate ice cream concoction tastes divine, and is great served with biscotti.

Strawberry-Lemon Shortbread Bars

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Strawberry-Lemon Shortbread Bars

Shortbread, strawberry preserves, and cheesecake make up the three layers in this delicious bar recipe. You can easily refrigerate the leftovers, but don't expect to have any!

Mississippi Mud Brownies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Mississippi Mud Brownies

Transform simple brownies into Mississippi Mud Brownies by adding toasted pecans and miniature marshmallows.

Lemon Coconut Pound Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Lemon Coconut Pound Cake

This pound cake recipe starts from scratch and is as good as it looks. Pair it with a sparkling wine, like a Prosecco, to complete your dessert.

Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake

Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake

Lavish amounts of semisweet chocolate and sour cream give rise to these luscious cake layers. No one will ever guess the recipe begins with a mix. A simple coating of coarsely chopped pecans and a handful of colorful berries will send this towering treat to the table in high style.

Cupcake Recipes: Mocha Latte Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Mocha Latte Cupcakes

Espresso-infused buttercream combines forces with dark chocolate cake for a perfect coffee-chocolate flavor. Garnish with chocolate shavings for a top-to-bottom chocolate experience in each bite.

Elegant Citrus Tart

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell, Food Styling: Angela Sellers

Elegant Citrus Tart

Topping our tart are Florida-grown Ruby Red grapefruit and navel oranges and the brightest red grapefruit you can buy—the Rio Star from Texas. You can make the dessert in either a rectangular or round tart pan.

Best Cookies Recipes: Chocolate Chunk-Mocha Cookies Recipes

Chocolate Chunk-Mocha Cookies

Fabulously rich Chocolate Chunk-Mocha Cookies are simple enough for the most novice of bakers. After the cookies cool completely, spread with Mocha Frosting.

 

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Chocolate lovers will swoon over this chocolate-filled, chocolate ganache-topped cheesecake. Plus, it's easy to make ahead and pull out of the refrigerator after dinner. Follow our instructions to make the festive snowflake topper.

Raspberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

Raspberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

Creamy buttermilk pairs perfectly with juicy summer raspberries in this fruit-filled sherbet.

Best Cookies Recipes: Pecan Squares Recipes

Pecan Squares

Use salted butter and bring the filling to a rolling boil before pouring it over the crust.

 

Christmas Dessert Recipes: Caramel Cream Cake

Caramel Cream Cake

Enjoy tender coconut-pecan cake layers filled with pecan pie filling. The top and sides of the cake are spread with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut and pecans for an impressive (but super-easy) finish.

Cupcake Recipes: Salted Caramel-Chocolate Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Salted Caramel-Chocolate Cupcakes

These cupcakes may well be the ultimate in cupcake decadence with cream cheese and butter in the cake batter, a chocolate toppping, and then a caramel-cream cheese frosting with flaked salt. You'll see that salt really does bring out the flavor of the sweet.

Best Cookies Recipes: Double Chocolate Brownies with Caramel Frosting Recipes

Double Chocolate Brownies with Caramel Frosting

These indulgent bars are filled with toasted chopped pecans and semisweet chocolate morsels, and topped with a warm Caramel Frosting. What more can you ask out of a brownie?

 

Blueberry Sherbet

Blueberry Sherbet

You don’t have to use an ice-cream maker for this flavorful dessert. It only calls for five simple ingredients, a standard freezer, and a blender.

Mocha Latte Ice Cream

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Mocha Latte Ice Cream

Mix coffee and semisweet chocolate into this dense ice cream. Add sliced almonds if you want to break up the richness of the mocha. Serve Pirouette Rolled Wafers as a cookie complement.

Best Cookies Recipes: Cappuccino Frosted Brownies Recipes

Cappuccino Frosted Brownies

These delicious little treats received our Test Kitchen's highest rating.

 

Best Cookies Recipes: Chunky Chocolate Gobs Cookies Recipes

Chunky Chocolate Gobs

These ultrachocolate cookies are, hands down, some of the best ever to come through our Test Kitchens.

 

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