9x13 Dessert Wonders That'll Seriously Wow Any Crowd

Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Try as we might, we've yet to find a handier sidekick in the kitchen than our 9x13 baking dish. From glorious breakfast bakes to hearty dinner casseroles, this pan shows off its skills on a daily basis. For Southern hostesses, the 13x9 is nothing less than essential when it comes to churning out delicious, crowd-pleasing dishes that make simple look intricate and easy look laborious.

Whether you're packing fresh summer berries and peaches into a warm, gooey cobbler, or frosting a moist single-layer sheet cake with envious ease, you always have a trick up your sleeve as long as you have a 13x9 on the counter. Our Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is always a fan favorite, and our Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies are a lovely seasonal treat. If you're in search of delicious desserts for a crowd or quick grab-and-go treats, then check out our easy 9x13 desserts that will wow at every occasion.

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

This strawberry-speckled sheet cake never disappoints, no matter the celebration. You'll be making it for every spring or summer soiree.

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Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake

a corner slice of Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake on a white plate with a fork
Jessica Furniss/Southern Living

Recipe: Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake

This two-ingredient dessert really couldn't be easier. It comes together in one bowl, bakes in a crowd-feeding 9x13-inch pan, and can be finished off with the simplest of toppings, such as whipped cream, powdered sugar, or fruit. If you keep the angel food cake mix and canned pineapple on hand, this easy dessert comes together at the drop of a hat.

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Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Pecan-Peach Cobbler
Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

It's just not summer in the South without a perfectly baked, bubbly peach cobbler, and this recipe gets an added nuttiness from pecans that perfectly cut the sweet and tart flavor. With this dish, there's plenty to go around—though it'll still be gone in a snap.

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

This old-fashioned delicacy uses our ever-versatile Duke's mayonnaise to make the fluffiest and most impeccably moist sheet cake ever. This transportable 13x9 recipe will make your life a little easier for your next potluck.

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Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

Fresh blackberries and juicy peaches come together in a grab-and-go version of a classic cobbler. The crunchy, streusel-like topping with roasted glazed pecans finishes off these summer bars.

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Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

Take a favorite refreshing Southern beverage, the Arnold Palmer, and let it head up the summer cookout dessert table. For festive events such as the Masters or Kentucky Derby, spin this into a tipsy cake by substituting up to two tablespoons of vodka or bourbon for the lemon juice in the frosting.

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Luscious Lemon Bars

Luscious Lemon Bars
Southern Living

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

This classic confection is always a favorite at luncheons, showers, and even barbecues. Even better: You can make this recipe up to one month ahead and freeze.

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Cream Cheese Brownies

Cream Cheese Brownies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies

A tray of brownies is always a crowd-pleaser, but these Cream Cheese Brownies are a surefire winner.

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Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

This vanilla-flavored cornmeal batter gives the perfect not-too-sweet base for the topping of fresh berries and plums. Top it with fresh whipped cream when serving for a light finish.

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Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding

Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding

This aromatic dessert is full of warm spices, butter, brown sugar, and rum, making it positively irresistible! If rum isn't for you, try substituting it with maple syrup.

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Coca-Cola Cake

Coca-Cola Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake

Coca-Cola, with its richly sweet syrup and magical bubbly brew, is the not-so-secret ingredient that gives this classic Southern cake its moist and tender texture.

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Heavenly Angel Food Cake

Heavenly Angel Food Cake
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake

Angel Food Cake might be the most versatile and delectable base for desserts aplenty. Cut into squares for tea-time petit fours, frost generously for a sheet cake, or bake in a round angel food pan to serve up with some strawberries and cream.

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Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake

Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake

A simple spiced cream cheese frosting topped with toffee bits makes this sheet cake taste as amazing as it looks.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Get festive this fall with these swirled brownies. Pumpkin and chocolate lovers alike won't have any complaints!

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Sara Evans' Missouri Dirt Cake

Sara Evans Missouri Dirt Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Sara Evans' Missouri Dirt Cake

This recipe only requires 6 ingredients, making it one of the easiest desserts ever and just as tasty.

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Cakey Strawberry Cobbler

Cakey Strawberry Cobbler in a casserole dish and bowl
Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Recipe: Cakey Strawberry Cobbler

This cross between a cobbler and a cake is one of our favorite warm-weather desserts. Serve with a dollop of your favorite vanilla ice cream.

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Death by Chocolate

Death by Chocolate
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Death by Chocolate

Chocolate cake + chocolate pudding + whipped cream? Sounds like a dream to us.

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Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh Apple Cake
Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake

Perfect for the fall, this cake is full of cinnamon, apples, and nuts to feed your crowd (maybe even dessert for breakfast?).

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Fresh Peach Cobbler

Fresh Peach Cobbler
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

Recipe: Fresh Peach Cobbler

When you have an overflowing basket of farmers' market peaches, the only thing to do is make cobbler.

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Chocolate Lasagna

Chocolate Lasagna
Southern Living

Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna

Pasta and red sauce? You won't find either of those ingredients in our sweet take on the savory staple.

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Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies

Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies

If you're a fan of dark chocolate, these brownies are calling your name.

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Winter Blackberry Cobbler

Winter Blackberry Cobbler
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Winter Blackberry Cobbler

This fresh-out-of-the-oven blackberry cobbler may work wonders for the soul during the summer, but in our opinion, it's just as good in the winter (be sure to freeze berries in the summertime for fresh flavor year-round). Between the lattice crust and sweet berry filling, we're not sure what will impress your guests more.

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Chocolate Delight

Ouida’s Chocolate Delight
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Chocolate Delight

Layers of vanilla and chocolate pudding and whipped topping are sure to delight, and we have a feeling the first bite will bring back memories of summer's past.

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