Food and Recipes Desserts 63 Fresh Spring Desserts That Will Delight All Season By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 2, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford When it's time for a party, we're planning every last detail. Our favorite part? The dessert. These delightful sweets are a tasteful final touch for your spring celebration. Springtime is full of color and wonderful scents, and it isn't just the flowers (although florals do inspire some of our favorite spring desserts). In addition to the fragrant roses, the spring season is full of fresh fruit and berries—accordingly, these gorgeous spring desserts are all about seasonal fruit. Make sure your sweet tooth is satisfied with everything from fudgy Bundt cakes to cupcakes for a crowd. Each of these spring dessert recipes is great for sharing with family, friends, and neighbors. Many of these recipes are inspired by our favorite spring beverages, from our Strawberry-Lemonade Cake to our Sweet Tea Bundt (of course, you'll have to serve this with a glass of Mama's signature sweet tea). And don't forget about the Easter desserts! 01 of 63 Strawberry-Lemonade Cake Jen Causey Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Cake You can assemble this glorious cake up to two days ahead; store at room temp. Also, you can freeze cooled layers up to a month in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. The sweet-tart Strawberry-Lemonade Jam and Strawberry Frosting make for a delicious finish. 02 of 63 Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake Serve this decadent spring dessert at your next ladies' luncheon and wow the crowd with edible flowers. 03 of 63 Classic Coconut Cake Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Classic Coconut Cake Look for packaged coconut shavings in your grocer's natural foods section. 04 of 63 Banana Pudding Cheesecake Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake This sinfully sweet dessert is the perfect blend of fresh bananas, creamy cheesecake, and crunchy vanilla wafers. 05 of 63 Key Lime Pound Cake Jen Causey Recipe: Key Lime Pound Cake Dress up traditional pound cake with a little lime zest and a homemade Key lime glaze for a deliciously tropical dessert. 06 of 63 Chocolate-Strawberry Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Recipe: Chocolate-Strawberry Cake This sweet-as-can-be stunner is essentially a chocolate-covered strawberry in layer cake form. 07 of 63 Heavenly Angel Food Cake Southern Living Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake The rich, moist texture of this divine angel food cake is unlike any other. Made from scratch in minutes, it's baked in a 13x9-inch pan and spread with frosting that's a lemon lover's dream. 08 of 63 The Ultimate Carrot Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: The Ultimate Carrot Cake Truly our best-ever carrot cake recipe, make this classic favorite for a crowd and you might not have any leftovers to bring home. 09 of 63 Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting Overestimated the amount of chocolate eggs your family could actually consume? Make use of the spares as cupcake toppers. 10 of 63 Classic Strawberry Shortcake Southern Living Recipe: Classic Strawberry Shortcake With juicy strawberries spooned over sweet and tender biscuits, old-fashioned strawberry shortcakes are the perfect dessert. If the berries are very sweet, decrease the sugar to suit your taste. 11 of 63 Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake There are a few things to note about this recipe before you start baking. First, the cream cheese is added after beating the butter and sugar. And, yes, you read the cooking instructions correctly—the cake bakes at a slightly higher temperature than usual. 12 of 63 Sweet Tea Bundt Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Sweet Tea Bundt Cake Spring marks the start of porch-sitting season across the South, and we're celebrating with this Sweet Tea Bundt Cake. 13 of 63 Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Candied pineapple adds a touch of whimsy to these fan-favorite cupcakes. 14 of 63 Coconut Pound Cake Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Coconut Pound Cake Bring a bit of tropical flair to the BBQ with this lightened-up pound cake. 15 of 63 Strawberry Icebox Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Recipe: Strawberry Icebox Cake If your warm childhood days were spent enjoying cool slices of icebox cake, this strawberry version of the well-loved treat will trigger a welcome wave of nostalgia. 16 of 63 Lemon-Orange Pound Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly Recipe: Lemon-Orange Pound Cake Combining the two icings gives this cake an extra-special finish. 17 of 63 Fried Bananas Foster Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton Recipe: Fried Bananas Foster Serve this fried sweet treat over butter pecan ice cream and top with caramel rum sauce. 18 of 63 Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Recipe: Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream Fresh strawberries and lime zest top off this delicious and easy slab pie. 19 of 63 Lemon Bar Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Lemon Bar Cake Make this luscious lemon dessert in the slow cooker. Serve it warm or let it cool. 20 of 63 Chocolate Bundt Cake Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake In the spring, we're all about the light, fruity desserts, but sometimes you just can't resist a nice, fluffy chocolate Bundt. 21 of 63 Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake Jennifer Causey Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake Bright lemon blueberry glaze makes this dessert a showstopper every time. 22 of 63 Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Micah Leal Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Make the most of that fresh spring produce and bake up a batch of these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes. 23 of 63 Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream Not only is this cake visually stunning, but it bakes in a sheet pan, ensuring it'll feed a crowd. 24 of 63 Blueberry Mini Cheesecakes Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Blueberry Mini Cheesecakes If you put a handful of blueberries in your cheesecake, that makes it healthy, right? 25 of 63 Mini Confetti Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Mini Confetti Cake These little cakes are so elegant, your guests will never expect that they were actually cut from one big sheet cake. 26 of 63 Grand Marnier Cakes Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly Recipe: Grand Marnier Cakes This recipe has been a standard in our Rolodex since its original publication in 1977—clearly, these mini Bundt cakes have stood the test of time. 27 of 63 Raspberry Crumble Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Raspberry Crumble Bars Warm weather means that picnic season has officially begun, and these Raspberry Crumble Bars are the mess-free, portable picnic treat you've been searching for. 28 of 63 Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake We've kicked Grandma's classic recipe up a notch with a dose of freshly grated ginger and an elegant lattice of pineapple. 29 of 63 Creamy Peach Icebox Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Creamy Peach Icebox Cake Layers of ice cream, pound cake, and fresh peaches? It doesn't get much sweeter than this. 30 of 63 Mini Strawberry Tarts Greg Dupree Recipe: Mini Strawberry Tarts These sweet treats start with a pistachio crust. A dreamy mixture of cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, and whipped cream are folded together before filling the individual tarts. Toss the fresh strawberries in sugar, just before topping the tarts, to give them just a hint of added sweetness. 31 of 63 Strawberry Dream Cake Photo: Greg Dupree Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake You'll fall in love with this too-good-to-be-true strawberry cake. Fluffy whipped frosting made with marscapone cheese, sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla and almond extracts is the perfect finishing touch. We love the presentation of cake slices with upright strawberries between the layers. When it comes down to the details, this sweet confection takes the cake. 32 of 63 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake Trust us: This simple and swoon-worthy sheet cake will be a keeper in your recipe box. File it under "Springtime Crowd-pleaser." 33 of 63 Key Lime Icebox Cake Photo: Hector M Sanchez; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Vanessa Rocchio Recipe: Key Lime Icebox Cake Layers of tangy-sweet Key lime custard and graham crackers stack up to make one quick and easy layer cake with just enough pucker to take the heat off summer. Add the lime juice once you've fully cooked the custard to let the cornstarch thicken the mixture properly. 34 of 63 The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake Expecting a twist on cheesecake? You're in for an even sweeter surprise. These layers are filled with a buttery rich lemon curd instead. 35 of 63 Lemon Bar Cheesecake Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Lemon Bar Cheesecake This indulgent recipe marries two delicious desserts: lemon bars and cheesecake. Using a dark springform pan ensures a golden brown crust on this tart dessert recipe without having to bake before adding the filling. 36 of 63 Lemon-Lime Pound Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Lemon-Lime Pound Cake This recipe is based on a classic Southern favorite called 7UP Pound Cake, which was created in the 1950s when the soda company suggested using its soft drink instead of other liquid in pound cake recipes. The result: one of the best, and simplest, cakes you'll ever make. 37 of 63 Lemon-Yogurt Crumb Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Lemon-Yogurt Crumb Cake We love the swirls of lemon curd in this cake, but it's also delicious without it. 38 of 63 Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting These citrus treats are too good to keep to yourself. Make an extra batch and bring to a friend for the sweetest surprise. 39 of 63 Rhubarb Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Rhubarb Custard Pie This dessert is pretty in pink! While it may not get all the love, rhubarb is the knowing baker's best-kept secret. The floral orange custard that hints at vanilla plays well with the tartness of the rhubarb, while the flaky pie dough holds everything together. 40 of 63 Basil-Lemon Bars Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Basil-Lemon Bars Yes, we know—these aren't grandma's lemon bars, and we're okay with that. The addition of basil gives the time-honored classic a sophisticated twist we just can't resist. 41 of 63 Grasshopper Pie Joy Howard Recipe: Grasshopper Pie With an electric green color, Grasshopper Pie adds a refreshing burst to any spring day. It's a no-bake dessert that you can throw together effortlessly for a party. 42 of 63 No-Bake Strawberry Pie Joy Howard Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Pie This is basically an icebox cake, which means you can't go wrong. Creamy filling sits atop a crunchy graham cracker crust, and fresh strawberries decorate the top in a jewel-toned crown that's sure to wow. 43 of 63 Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars If you loved the Good Humor bars from the ice cream truck as a kid, consider this the decidedly grown-up version that'll have memories flooding back. 44 of 63 Lemon Chess Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Recipe: Lemon Chess Pie The one sure way to make a chess pie fit for spring is to add a dash of sunny lemon. 45 of 63 Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes With these cheesecake cupcakes, you can be sure they'll wow at a party without causing undue stress beforehand. Simply make them up to two days ahead—they keep wonderfully. 46 of 63 No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Warmer spring weather calls for the first ice cream of the season. Dish up this bright, no-church ice cream in an ode to the Sunshine State—here's to wishing for good weather all spring long. 47 of 63 Peach Crumble Pie Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Peach Crumble Pie Take advantage of the late spring crop of peaches by making this two-for-one dessert. Packed with juicy fruit, pecans, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it won't take much to convince you this should be on your dessert roster for summer, too. 48 of 63 Hummingbird Cake Whoopie Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Hummingbird Cake Whoopie Pies Guests will love these individual servings of the beloved hummingbird cake, and the sandwich form ensures a perfect frosting-to-cake ratio. 49 of 63 White Cake with Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: White Cake with Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream Make this for your next garden party, luncheon, or shower. We use a boxed cake mix to keep things simple, and that way, you can focus on the frosting. 50 of 63 Mini Meringue Kisses Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Mini Meringue Kisses The one time you'll hear us say something might be better than chocolate. Delight guests with bowlfuls of rainbow mini meringues scattered on all the party tables. 51 of 63 Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Recipe: Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake A dynamic duo, chocolate and raspberry never disappoint. The tart fruit will cut through the richness of the chocolate, making for a truly dazzling dessert in every way. 52 of 63 Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies These delicate creations resemble roses—a perfect way to welcome spring. Sweet white chocolate and tart raspberry jam make up the filling. 53 of 63 Raspberry-Lemon Cheesecake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Raspberry-Lemon Cheesecake Tart, creamy, decadent—nothing says spring quite like a raspberry and lemon pairing. For a little flair, you'll want to swirl the jam in with a toothpick to create the signature swoops. 54 of 63 Strawberry-Rosé Snack Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Strawberry-Rosé Snack Cake With a vibrant pink hue and clear rosé flavor, this cake is sure to the be favorite of the grown-ups all spring long. 55 of 63 Lemon Drop Meringues Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Lemon Drop Meringues Sunny Lemon Drop Meringues will bring a smile to anyone's face. Plus, it's easy to make a big batch to have on hand for surprise company. 56 of 63 Strawberry Cheesecake Salad Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake Salad The best thing about deconstructed desserts is that they bring all the flavor and no fuss. Our Strawberry Cheesecake Salad is exactly what you need to elevate a spring weeknight dinner. 57 of 63 Lemon Meringue Roulade Micah A. Leal Recipe: Lemon Meringue Roulade Here's a gussied-up version of the lemon meringue pie. Lemon curd rolls up in a layer of chewy almond meringue, which is then topped with shortbread and whipped cream. 58 of 63 Raspberry Crumble Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Raspberry Crumble Bars Gooey and crumbly, these bars can do double-duty as an afternoon snack or dessert. 59 of 63 Orange Meringue Pie Micah Leal Recipe: Orange Meringue Pie Leave the lemons at home. Orange Meringue Pie is the new dessert on the block, and it's ready to help you wow at every spring shower and party. 60 of 63 Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Recipe: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake This dessert promises to bring dramatic flair to any table. Plus, chocolate-covered strawberries are always a winning combination. Putting them into a cheesecake only ensures everyone will want the recipe. 61 of 63 No-Churn Rhubarb-Raspberry Ice Cream Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: No-Churn Rhubarb-Raspberry Ice Cream The only drawback to rhubarb is its short growing season. If you've stocked your freezer with extra bounty for later, here's a recipe that'll make good use of it. 62 of 63 Strawberry-Rhubarb Skillet Coffee Cake Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Skillet Coffee Cake Cake for breakfast? Why, yes. When it's a coffee cake packed with spring's best fruits, we'll always take a slice. 63 of 63 Lemon Raspberry Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake If you're looking for a springtime recipe that will really steal the show, this two-layered Lemon Raspberry Cake has elegance written all over it. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit