Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Food and Recipes
  3. Desserts
  4. 18 Delicious Cast-Iron Dessert Recipes To Make Right This Second

18 Delicious Cast-Iron Dessert Recipes To Make Right This Second

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Skip gallery slides
FB
Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

For a Southern cook, a cast-iron skillet proves a most powerful tool in the kitchen, whether you're making cornbread how some call the "only correct way," cooking up a cowboy steak, or yes, baking up a crowd-pleasing dessert that is ooey, gooey, and waiting to be scraped clean in minutes. Classics like fresh apple pie, fudgy Texas skillet cake, and pineapple upside-down cake show just why the cast-iron skillet was made to turn out sweet, sweet masterpieces in ways a baking dish could never. Other creative cast-iron treats include a deep-dish chocolate chip skillet cookie that kids (and adults) go crazy for, a pecan pie cobbler that makes the most heavenly Southern dessert mashup, and a gingerbread pear upside-down cake that is ready to celebrate Christmas. One thing's for sure: These cast-iron dessert recipes are too good to pass up. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Easy Skillet Apple Pie
Credit: Photo: Luca Trovato

Recipe: Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Because the caramelized and heavily spiced apples and crispy golden crust of classic apple pie was made to be baked in a cast-iron skillet. This one's as easy as it gets. 

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Texas Skillet Cake

Texas Skillet Cake
Credit: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Texas Skillet Cake

If you're going to indulge, go all in on this fudgy and super dense chocolate cake made in the cast-iron skillet and topped with thick chocolate icing, toasted pecans, and scoops of vanilla ice cream—you know, for good measure. 

2 of 18

3 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits

Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits

An easy recipe for slow-cooker apple butter makes a tasty base for gooey apple filling bursting with spiced flavor and topped with a drop biscuit topping. 

3 of 18

Advertisement

4 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Everyone needs a classic upside-down cake recipe, and this one is sticky, sweet, and studded with maraschino cherries in the traditional way. Just a handful of ingredients that you likely already have at home is all it takes. 

4 of 18

5 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie

Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie

We do not take the name of this pie lightly—so you can expect an incredibly indulgent version of the perfect Thanksgiving pie that is ready to pop in the oven in ten minutes. A dash of bourbon (always optional) gives extra Southern flair. 

5 of 18

6 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bisquick Topped Blueberry Cobbler

Bisquick Topped Blueberry Cobbler
Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky

Recipe: Bisquick Topped Blueberry Cobbler

Sometimes a shortcut is just what we need to convince ourselves to make dessert on the fly. In this recipe, a sweet filling of fresh blueberries flavored with vanilla and lemon zest is topped with simple drop biscuits from a store-bought mix you might already have in the pantry. 

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fig Upside-Down Cake

Fig Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Fig Upside-Down Cake

This cake is seasonal, super pretty, and unique enough to head up any Southern celebration. Figs offer the perfect amount of fruity sweetness and keep just enough bite to top off a skillet cake in style. 

7 of 18

8 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dutch Baby Pancake

Dutch Baby Pancake
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Dutch Baby Pancake

While many are fond of serving this not-too-sweet puffy pancake for brunch with syrup, we are just as jazzed about topping it with berries, whipped cream, or chocolate chips for dessert—all three if you're feeling generous—while still hot from the oven. 

8 of 18

9 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Deep-Dish Skillet Cookies

Mississippi Mud Deep-Dish Skillet Cookie image
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Deep-Dish Skillet Cookies

Choose from five different recipes for a deep-dish skillet cookie: Pecan Praline, Mississippi Mud, Strawberry Shortcake, Grasshopper (with bourbon and chocolate mints!), and Hummingbird. All are amazing and deserve your attention. 

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake

Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake

Like your favorite pineapple cake, but fit for the fall baking season. Spice cake batter is made even more delicious with fresh apple slices, pecans, and brown sugar. 

10 of 18

11 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

The Big Cinnamon Roll

The Big Cinnamon Roll
Credit: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: The Big Cinnamon Roll

Serve this cinnamon-swirled and cream cheese icing-drizzled beauty from brunch to dessert, thanks to your trusty cast-iron skillet. 

11 of 18

12 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake

We took the retro recipe for pineapple upside-down cake and made it feel fresh and modern by using fresh pineapple cut any way you'd like and grated fresh ginger for extra zing. 

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pecan Pie Cobbler

Pecan Pie Cobbler
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Pie Cobbler

This might be our smartest mashup of Southern recipes yet. The gooey, sweet, crunchiness of pecan pie with warm and cakey cast-iron cobbler batter is a match made in heaven. 

13 of 18

14 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ginger-Plum Slump

Ginger-Plum Slump
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Ginger-Plum Slump

This old-fashioned Southern dessert—something akin to a cobbler with a drop biscuit topping—is gearing up for a comeback, starting with this recipe made with a jammy red and black plum filling flavored with fresh ginger. 

14 of 18

15 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Gluten Free Peach Cobbler

Gluten Free Peach Cobbler
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Gluten Free Peach Cobbler

Even the gluten-sensitive and carb-conscious folks can get in on the cast-iron celebration with this fresh peach cobbler recipe that caramelizes into melty heaven in the oven. 

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake

Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake

This most festive upside-down cake is perfect for your Christmas menu, with a spiced gingerbread batter and sweet tender pears. 

16 of 18

17 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Skillet Caramel Apple Pie

Skillet Caramel Apple Pie
Credit: Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Skillet Caramel Apple Pie

This dependable recipe is layered with seasonal sliced apples and topped with a double-crust pastry that makes you actually want to give up the store-bought stuff.

17 of 18

18 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Classic Apple Upside Down Cake

Classic Apple Upside Down Cake
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Classic Apple Upside Down Cake

This might look like a pineapple upside-down cake, but it sings like an autumn apple dessert. Out of all options, Honeycrisp apples tended to hold up most wonderfully. 

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18 Easy Skillet Apple Pie
    2 of 18 Texas Skillet Cake
    3 of 18 Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits
    4 of 18 Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
    5 of 18 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie
    6 of 18 Bisquick Topped Blueberry Cobbler
    7 of 18 Fig Upside-Down Cake
    8 of 18 Dutch Baby Pancake
    9 of 18 Deep-Dish Skillet Cookies
    10 of 18 Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake
    11 of 18 The Big Cinnamon Roll
    12 of 18 Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake
    13 of 18 Pecan Pie Cobbler
    14 of 18 Ginger-Plum Slump
    15 of 18 Gluten Free Peach Cobbler
    16 of 18 Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake
    17 of 18 Skillet Caramel Apple Pie
    18 of 18 Classic Apple Upside Down Cake

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    18 Delicious Cast-Iron Dessert Recipes To Make Right This Second
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.