Top-Rated Dessert Recipes

Recipe: Grilled Peach Cobbler

The fire gives this classic an extra smoky, caramelized flavor that, we're willing to bet, you won't be able to resist. Serve hot off the grill or at room temperature. Crown the cobbler with a scoop of vanilla for an extra sweet touch. This dish is infused with smoke, creating a luscious mixture of textures. Just the right blend of gooey and crisp emerges as the soft slices of caramelized peaches sink underneath the crisp sweet biscuit crust. Pick up a basket of peaches at the farmers’ market in the morning, make this gooey treat, and we guarantee that your afternoon will be smoky and sweet.

Recipe: Coconut-Banana Pudding

The fire gives this classic an extra smoky, caramelized flavor that, we're willing to bet, you won't be able to resist. Serve hot off the grill or at room temperature. Crown the cobbler with a scoop of vanilla for an extra sweet touch. This dish is infused with smoke, creating a luscious mixture of textures. Just the right blend of gooey and crisp emerges as the soft slices of caramelized peaches sink underneath the crisp sweet biscuit crust. Pick up a basket of peaches at the farmers’ market in the morning, make this gooey treat, and we guarantee that your afternoon will be smoky and sweet.

Recipe: Mini Strawberry Tarts

These sweet strawberry treats start with a pistachio crust, an unexpected, nutty, and subtle twist on the form. 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. These miniscule desserts are almost too pretty to eat…almost. They are elegant and accessible, and they pack major flavor in tiny tart form, so they are perfect for dinner parties, when you want to impress but don’t want to skimp on taste. 

Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake

This Strawberry Dream Cake is an elegant and eye-catching surprise! It’s sure to astonish at any prince themed birthday party. The fluffy whipped frosting and upright strawberries make for a stunningly beautiful display.

Recipe: Praline Bread Pudding

Talk about comfort food. We were, weren’t we? This dish oozes sweetness, the perfect Southern indulgence. It’s no typical bread pudding, though. We gave our favorite bread pudding a Louisiana-style revival with the addition of an oh-so-decadent homemade Praline Sauce. Our Test Kitchen recommends using stale, day-old bread—better for soaking up the sweet custard. So once your bread has graced your shelf just a day too long, you’ll know it’s time to whip up this sweet treat. We love dipping generous helpings into petite clear dishes—which are all the better to showcase the layers of gooey praline goodness that await you during the dessert course.

Recipe: Hummingbird Cake

If you love Southern Living, you’ll know how proud we are of our Hummingbird Cake. We celebrate it every chance we get. It’s not just pretty. It’s not just tasty. It’s a wonder. Thanks to Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina, this pineapple-banana spice cake with cream cheese frosting became one of our most requested recipes. Decades after it graced the pages of our magazine, we still stand by Mrs. Wiggins' original, indulgent creation. It is just as delicious, relevant, and crowd-pleasing today as it was when Mrs. L.H. Wiggins first whipped it up. Try this one. Thank us later.

Recipe: Brennan's Bananas Foster

Throughout culinary history, flambéed desserts have had a storied life. Decades ago, they had moments as a must-have, much-loved tableside sensation both at restaurants and at home. We have to admit: We still love them. This recipe is one we’ll never let go. It originated at Brennan's in New Orleans, and the recipe is just as delicious now, whipped up at home with store-bought bananas, as it was when Brennan’s experimented and invented it more than 60 years ago. Beyond the bananas, brown sugar, cinnamon, banana liqueur, and rum create an unstoppable combination. You’ll be asking for seconds with this dish.

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. Light, sweet, and tart: It’s a beguiling blend. The curd is smooth, a bright citrus explosion within a sweet cheesecake concoction. It’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted. The Lemon-Orange Buttercream frosting coats the exterior of the cake like a sweet, thick veil. It opens to the lemon curd-interior and doubles, nay, triples the citrus flavor. Perfect for summer, this sweet cake is best served outside, under a starry sky, surrounded by glowing candles and light, fresh cocktails.

Recipe: Cream Cheese Pound Cake

You can’t go wrong with a cake so beloved. Look no further for the perfect pound cake recipe. This traditional cake is extra-rich. It’s also sturdy and substantial because of the cream cheese, and it is always, always in style. Fourth of July? Perfect. Thanksgiving? Ideal. Christmas? Nothing better. Half-birthdays? Yes. We’ve even been known to dream up holidays on random Wednesday afternoons just to get in the kitchen to make this beauty. Garnish this versatile cake with seasonal fruits and you’ll ensure that it’s appropriate year-round. Get creative: The decorating opportunities—with berries, stone fruits, and glazes—are truly endless.

Recipe: The Red Velvet Cake

This cake requires an article before the title. It’s not just any red velvet cake. It is The Red Velvet Cake. For good reason: Red velvet cakes are almost universally loved. When you cut into a cake and realize it’s red velvet, not just vanilla or chocolate, euphoria sets in. It’s a very special cake. Red velvet has even been celebrated in film, memorialized in comedic form.  In 1989, an armadillo-shaped groom's cake in Steel Magnolias kicked off a cult following for red velvet. The craze has continued for decades, fueled in part by the red velvet cakes that have graced the Southern Living Christmas cover three times.

Recipe: Chewy Peanut Bars

Bite-sized and nutty, these bars are great for tucking into lunch boxes or for sweet and indulgent after-dinner treats. This recipe also has a surprising origin. We weren't exactly excited to test our old microwave column recipes again, but these chocolate-peanut blondies truly surprised us. We whipped them up and had to immediately make another batch. They’re easy, the perfect combination of homemade and crowd-pleasing. If you want even more peanut delight in your life—and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want as much peanut delight in their lives as possible?—try our quick and easy peanut butter cookies, too.

Recipe: The Jam Cake

Bite-sized and nutty, these bars are great for tucking into lunch boxes or for sweet and indulgent after-dinner treats. This recipe also has a surprising origin. We weren't exactly excited to test our old microwave column recipes again, but these chocolate-peanut blondies truly surprised us. We whipped them up and had to immediately make another batch. They’re easy, the perfect combination of homemade and crowd-pleasing. If you want even more peanut delight in your life—and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want as much peanut delight in their lives as possible?—try our quick and easy peanut butter cookies, too.

Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie

We’re Southerners. We know our pecan pie, and this twist on a regional favorite has us wishing for pecan harvest. We’ll spend days picking up pecans in the orchard if it means we can conjure this chocolate-bourbon concoction in the kitchen. We have also gained a new appreciation for whiskey. The liquor goes way beyond drinking and finds its way into sauces, braises, and especially desserts. There is a sophistication to adding bourbon that is tempered by the accessibility, everyday decadence of chocolate. We believe that bourbon and pecan pie fit together like peanut butter and jelly or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. That sounds like a perfect fit to us.

Recipe: The Coconut Chiffon Cake

White as a Sunday glove, coconut is the doyenne of Southern layer cakes, a masterpiece of home cookery that has crowned dining room sideboards for more than a hundred years. Is there anything as delicate as Coconut Chiffon? It’s an almost diaphanous mixture, flavorful and dainty and sweet. We see it gracing the dessert tables at showers, weddings, luncheons—anywhere that calls for casual elegance and a pretty (impressive) dessert. It doesn’t call attention to itself, though—this is no red velvet cake—but it is such a beautiful, comfortable addition to any event that, no doubt, all of its slices will disappear on cocktail plates to be smiled at and savored.

Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing

Everything is bigger in Texas. Everything is more decadent there too, it seems. Somehow, Texas claimed the sheet cake as its own in the mid-20th century, perhaps because of the pecans, an ingredient that grows in abundance throughout the Lone Star State. The defining element is its shape—and, of course, the icing, which has to be heated and poured on the warm, just-out-of-the-oven cake. The result is a rich, chocolaty treat that's iconic in Texas. It will become your go-to too, we assure you. There’s something unforgettable about the pecans and the icing—the luscious blend of savory and sweet. It’s big and show stopping, just like the state that gave it to us.

Recipe: The Lane Cake

In March 1966, Southern Living featured a recipe for Lane Cake in its second issue. Our latest twist? Dried peaches (finely diced and ridiculously delicious) stand in for raisins, and the traditional meringue frosting gets a spirited makeover with—get this—a triple shot of peach schnapps. This is your summer cake. The levity of meringue plus the playful taste of peach schnapps makes this cake a fruity cocktail of a dessert. We love it at summer parties, and the meringue frosting creates a dramatic visual, sweeping and soaring and inviting guests to partake in a party of a cake. It’s covered in clouds but it’s a substantial sweet. It’s a dessert that defies gravity.

Recipe: Ginger Shortbread Cookies with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting

Classic shortbread cookies get a flavorful, singular update with the addition of ginger, lemon, and cream cheese. We added extra flavor to these lemony shortbread treats without sacrificing creativity or taste. Crystallized ginger takes on exciting new dimension when it’s paired with bright lemon zest. It creates a zippy mixture that is ideal for parties (or, let’s be honest, any time you need a sweet treat). Ginger has a life far beyond ginger ale, though we do love the beverage. Aromatic and spicy, ginger punches up classic dishes with bold, fresh flavor. You won’t want to miss these special ginger shortbread cookies. 

Recipe: Caramel Apple Cake

It’s the kind of dessert that seems to conjure autumn just by baking it. Cinnamon, caramel, and apple scents will waft into every crevice of your kitchen. Looking out your window, you may imagine the leaves changing green to red to gold as you smell fresh apple cake baking in your oven. It’s irresistible. We would bake this dessert any time of year just to imagine the arrival of autumn, but it’s true that this cake is at its best in September, October, and November, when fresh apple harvests send crisp, sweet, freshly-picked apples dripping with flavor into our fruit baskets. It’s tempting to bite into those apples, crunching them for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner, but save a few for this dessert. It’s autumnal and delicious. It’s also topped with sautéed apple slices and drizzled in a delicious Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce.

Recipe: Ginger-Peach Shortbread Cobbler

Whew. This dessert packs a lot of concepts into a small(ish) skillet. Ginger and peach dance their way into a shortbread cobbler, a gooey mixture topped with crisp, buttery shortbread. It’s also easy as pie—er, cobbler—to make. Any peaches will do, but we used ‘Elberta’ peaches in the version made in the SL Test Kitchen. We have to confess: this cobbler didn’t last long. Everyone had to taste it, and then, after seconds were had, we realized what an impact this dessert had on us. It celebrates peaches so boldly that we fell in love with peaches all over again…just in time for summer harvest. We’re going to give you a tip: Put down your peeler. This brilliant dish is our easiest peach cobbler ever. 

Recipe: Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake

A glossy buttermilk glaze lends the perfect sweetness to a cherry-studded sheet cake. Sweet-but-not-too-sweet, the addition of cherries to this dessert offers a tart juiciness the likes of which you don’t often find in desserts of this kind. The buttermilk glaze is an especially nice touch. It works to elevate the basic sheet cake with an unexpected and welcome flavor. This dish is perfect for brunches. In fact, it is so versatile that it can transcend breakfast and brunch and stand on its own as a substantial, filling dessert to follow to lunch or dinner. Stop by your local farmer’s market for the best, ripest cherries you can find.

Recipe: Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

We know, we know. Mayonnaise? It takes some convincing to get anyone to add mayonnaise to cake. But we promise, this cake is all the convincing we need. We were surprised, but the addition of mayonnaise—yes, run-of-the-mill, grocery-store mayonnaise—tempers the sugary dominion of chocolate in this cake. If you've never known the glory of a mayonnaise cake, you're in for a treat. The staple ingredient yields an ultra-moist crumb and keeps the sugar from assaulting your taste buds. It’s a productive blend, a delicious one, and creates a cake not soon forgotten. You’ll also need to make the chocolate-cream cheese frosting. It’s the ideal topper for this magnificent mayonnaise cake.

Recipe: Orange-and-Basil Macerated Cherries

When cakes are too traditional and cookies too casual, try a fancy fruit dish. In these Orange and Basil Macerated Cherries, cloud-like ricotta is the perfect complement to juicy cherries infused with herbal-citrus zing. Truly, juicy doesn’t even begin to describe this dish. The cherries burst with fruity flavor and the light ricotta blend balances it all with subtle sweetness. If you’ve never thought to pair cherries and orange zest, we encourage you to try this recipe. The citrus—and the cherries—really pop. You’ll need a pound of fresh cherries for this recipe, so be sure to bookmark this dish for cherry season.

Recipe: Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake

It’s a heavenly trifecta. Apple and pecan, a decidedly autumnal pairing, gets a fresh, bright update with the addition of carrot cake. This cake has substance, but it also has zing. As you can see, a doubling of layers here creates a stunning centerpiece of a cake. We recommend topping a show stopping crown of Mascarpone Frosting with swirls of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce and a scattering of salty-sweet Spiced Pecans, which can do double duty as a snack or be mixed up in a dish of nuts for an addition to the appetizer table. For this cake, caramel sauce, rather than frosting, sandwiches together the moist cake layers, creating an indulgent sandwich of dense, sweet cake.

Recipe: Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake

We took the traditional pound cake recipe and raised it a stunning, triple-chocolate twist. This cake means business. A duo of glazes—one creamy chocolate, the other subtle buttermilk—comes together atop this dreamy confection. It’s indulgent and, we admit, so much fun to eat and serve. Chocolate enthusiasts will be over the moon for this recipe, but it has enough unexpected flavor—thanks to the addition of the buttermilk glaze—that you’ll also win over the harder-to-please dessert eaters at the table. Warning: You—and they—won’t be able to resist a second slice. Go for it. We won’t tell.

Recipe: Nectarine Tarts with Honey

If you’ve seen sweet, plump nectarines at your local grocery store but have refrained from buying them because you wondered how best to use them, look no further than this fresh, French-inspired recipe for nectarine tarts with honey. A drizzle of honey—we recommend sourcing local honey, if you can get it—gives these quick and easy 15-minute tarts the look of fine pâtisserie. Slices of nectarine on top of the tarts imbue the dessert with a rustic elegance that we think is always appropriate. So next time you see nectarines in the fruit aisle, pick up a few—two pounds, actually—and try out this delectable recipe.

Recipe: Buttermilk-Plum Ice Cream

Haul out the ice cream churn this summer season—we have the perfect recipe for you. Here, buttermilk ice cream gets its ruby-colored swirls from fresh plums, specifically chopped black plums (we recommend a variety such as 'Methley'). We have to warn you: This is no store-bought vanilla cone. This lovely combination elevates a typical summer afternoon ice cream treat to a memorable experience—certainly a moment to savor. The addition of swirled plums to this ice cream is not only beautiful; it is tasty, fruity, and sweet. For a party, we like to showcase scooped cones in decorative glassware for a personal touch.

Recipe: The Ultimate Carrot Cake

A classic at the pinnacle of its powers, our recipe for The Ultimate Carrot Cake is a multi-purpose, always-appropriate star of the dessert table. It is dense and moist, an ideal no-fail recipe for when you need a reliable go-to cake. This is a great recipe for bake sales and impromptu weekend desserts alike. We went for three thick layers plus a creamy brown sugar-cream cheese frosting. For additional edible decoration, try our recipe for candied carrot curls, pretty helixes that add something special to the display. It’s a traditional cake, but with a few thoughtful touches, it feels brand new. Be sure to use caution while de-panning: These layers are tender, so remove from pans carefully!

Recipe: Mixed Stone Fruit Pie

Summer stone fruits are the stars of this delicious seasonal pie. Far from a cacophony of fruit, this pairing of fruit and filling blends together seamlessly. In fact, this is a no-cook filling. It makes an ideal dreamy base for this icebox pie piled with freshly cut fruit. The fruit mixture topping is customizable, so choose your favorite summer stone fruits and make the pie your very own. This dessert feels fresh any time, but none more so than in summer, when nectarines, cherries, mangoes, apricots, plums, and peaches fill Southern orchards, weighing tree limbs with their gorgeous, seasonal bounty. Get picking.

Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake

This classic is so fresh and substantial that it can stand on its own. Thinly sliced fresh apples (the recipe calls for two and a half pounds of Granny Smith apples) create rich, moist, irresistible layers of fruit within the cake. This cake can truly do it all. Go simple or adorn it if you’d like to take the recipe a delicious step further. Take your pick of your favorite topping, and cover the apple cake with your choice of Browned Butter Frosting, Cream Cheese Frosting, or Dark Chocolate Frosting. You can’t go wrong with your choice. It’s just that good.

Recipe: Double Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust

There’s nothing as American as apple pie, unless it’s a double apple pie with cornmeal crust. This recipe is doubly—maybe even triply—American, and we think it has a lovely Southern infusion, too. The sweetness of apple pie mingles with the crisp lightness of this well-formed cornmeal crust. Thick layers of sliced apples give some textural complexity to the dish. Decorate the top of the crust with a crisp apple leaf or other shape—just use a cookie cutter with any extra crust, and you’ll have a beautiful decorative addition to your crust. This is, after all, double apple pie with cornmeal crust. It deserves a little adornment. 

Recipe: Mocha Java Cakes

You know those desserts that make everyone go “Wow!” when they bite into it? This is one of those desserts. It will be hard to have just one bite of this decadent dessert. The rich melted chocolate center and moist chocolate is beyond perfection for chocolate lovers. Since this dessert is formed into individual cakes, this mocha java concoction is perfect for dinner parties. With a thick dusting of powdered sugar, it mixes substantial chocolate with a delightful, dainty presentation on the plate. For chocoholics, this one can’t be beat, and the fun liquid center gives added dimension to a moist, spongy exterior.  

Recipe: Blackberry-Apple Upside-Down Cake

This cake upends expectations by adding blackberry and apple to a traditional upside-down cake. Moist, delicious, and surprisingly easy, this upside-down cake may become your go-to recipe for entertaining. Sweet and tart, it calls for two large apples. You can use fresh or frozen blackberries—we recommend fresh if you’re whipping it up during blackberry season and frozen if you’re making it during apple season. Either way, it is a delicious creation. If you do decide to use frozen berries, be sure add them directly from the freezer—no thawing allowed—so that they hold their shape in the cake mixture.

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

A favorite of Southern showers everywhere, lemon bars are a dainty and delectable treat. They combine the best of both worlds: a creamy citrus inside and a crisp pastry-esque exterior. The flaky crust and gooey lemon center are the perfect pair in this best-ever traditional lemon bar recipe. The acidity of the lemon—a bright citrus focus—is beautifully balanced in this recipe, which brings the lemon flavor to a delicious height, somewhere between a sweet lemonade and a pure lemon zest. It s best served cooled and sprinkled with delicate powdered sugar for a light touch of added subtle sweetness.

Recipe: Lemon-Lime Pound Cake
Watch: Lemon-Lime Pound Cake

If you can’t get enough citrus in your life, you may want to try this Lemon-Lime Pound Cake recipe. With one bite, it will transport you to the breezy tropics, or at least a sunny nearby lemon or lime grove. 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. Also try our lemon-lime glaze and, for added effect, candied lemons—they taste great scattered atop the cake.

Recipe: Praline Pull-Apart Bread
Watch: Our Best Praline Pull-Apart Bread

As Southern as they come, Praline Pull-Apart Bread is a versatile dessert. It’s indulgent, but you could pass it off as a brunch dish on a special occasion. This bread tastes as good as it looks. Heed our words, though: Don't skip the quick step of whipping the cream before stirring in the brown sugar—that's the secret to the smooth texture of the caramel-flavored sauce. And what a sauce it is. Thick, viscous, and delicious, this sauce elevates the pull-apart bread to dessert level. But like we said, it’s just as tasty at brunch. No dessert guilt here. We’re enjoying it.

Recipe: Strawberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

Building on the current ubiquitous state of buttermilk—truly, it seems like buttermilk is everywhere these days, combined with everything from chicken to chocolate—we paired it with strawberry for a special sherbet blend. To recreate this dessert, 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. In no time, you’ll have an icy cold sweet treat. Get your glass bowls ready and call everyone to the table. Summer has begun, and we’re going to celebrate in sherbet style.

Recipe: So-Good Brownies 

We know that we don’t need to convince you to try a new brownie recipe, but we’re still going to gush about how much we love this one. They are called So-Good Brownies for a reason. That reason is: They are so good. No surprise there. This basic brownie recipe is great on its own, or we encourage you to try it with some of our quick stir-ins and stellar toppings for out-of-this-world chocolate brownies! They are fudgy—with an accessible, comfortable depth of flavor—and the variations on this recipe are truly endless. Don’t let this recipe pass you by.

Recipe: Buttermilk Breakfast Cake

You know those mornings when you have to play hostess? You have company over, and you’ve stayed up nearly all night talking. Everyone collapsed into deep sleep at night’s end, and then you awake only to realize that you haven’t prepped anything for breakfast. Your guests come padding into the kitchen in their pajamas, rubbing eyes still hazy with sleep, and a stomach growls. Don’t be a panicked host. Instead, be prepared for this morning moment with a crowd-pleasing Buttermilk Breakfast Cake. It pairs perfectly with a steaming mug of coffee and it’s substantial enough to keep everyone full until lunch. The best part? There will be leftovers for many mornings to come, and your houseguests will sing your praises.

Recipe: Peach-and-Toasted Pecan Ice Cream

We have to admit: This is one of our favorite ice cream recipes. It combines two quintessential Southern ingredients—pecans and peaches—into a creamy, icy blend. Did you know: Georgia and South Carolina produce more peaches than any other states in the South? If you drive through the states, you’ve probably noticed a few peach-shaped water towers. They’re painted just like the fruits, some even have leaves perched atop their water-holding spheres. We do love our Southern produce. We also love to celebrate it. Make the most of this season’s peaches with a refreshing, cool treat on hot and humid summer days in the South.

Recipe: Rustic Plum Tart

There is something so lovely and cozy about a rustic tart. Its warm, just-from-the-kitchen sensation fills plates—and stomachs—with comforting familiarity. The fruit bursts subtly; it is encased in a light, crisp, buttery tart shell, wrapped up as if in a snug, edible blanket—emphasis on edible. In this recipe, flaky, delicious pie crust envelops luscious, fresh-picked plums for a crisp yet juicy dessert. The addition of plum preserves boosts—doubles, really—the rustic tart’s fruity flavor while allspice and vanilla give it a perfect hint of spiciness. Plus, this recipe sends a wave of smooth vanilla coursing through the delectable dish.

Recipe: Chocolate Marble Sheet Cake

Perfect for birthdays, this sheet cake is just asking for decoration—a little sleight of decorative hand. Homemade icing can be customized in any color, just pipe it onto the top of the frosting, and you are ready for any celebration with a personalized dessert. The marbled effect is also quite special. Follow the recipe and swirl chocolate and yellow cake batter together to create this marbled effect. When you top the recipe with a rich mocha frosting, the final result can’t be beat. Pretty and practical, this sheet cake stands up to transportation and decoration. A most reliable cake, it’s as sturdy as it is tasty.

Recipe: Caramelized Banana Pudding

The kid-favorite dish gets a sophisticated update in our recipe for Caramelized Banana Pudding. There’s certainly nothing juvenile about this wafer-adorned dish, no matter the connotations. This dressed-up banana pudding features bananas caramelized in brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Comforting and special, it dresses up for dinner parties in individual ramekins or clear glass dishes, topped with sophisticated browned meringue. And for emergencies, it tastes just as good straight out of the refrigerator. We’ve been known to keep bananas on hand just for impromptu caramelized banana pudding nights. Also, just because it’s not out of a plastic tub doesn’t mean kids won’t eat it. We guarantee it’s the ultimate dessert crowd pleaser.

Recipe: Easy Blackberry Cobbler

Make the most of summer’s blackberry bounty with this recipe for blackberry cobbler. Our farmers’ markets and grocery stores are filled with blackberries for sale, and we’ve already picked up more than one container. This versatile, deep-purple hued berry is a winner. A winning fruit demands a top-notch recipe, which we provide here. This recipe for blackberry cobbler is so simple that it only uses six ingredients. Six! Easy to make on even the most harried of nights, you can make it special by topping it with whipped cream and garnish with sprigs of fragrant mint. Confession: We planted an herb garden last spring in anticipation of just this sort of recipe. There’s nothing quite like a garnish of fresh herbs in a flavorful summer dessert.

Cooking Video: Make Easy Blackberry Cobbler

Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

You would be hard pressed to find a cuter or nuttier dessert than these mini pecan pie bites. The adage is true: 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. You can also tie them up in a cute take-away bag and hand them out as party favors. To help you imagine this dish: It’s like a full-sized pecan pie was zapped down into a teeny, tiny, tasty mini form. We can’t think of anything nicer for a party. Place them on a refreshments table with other tiny desserts and appetizers, and you have a sweet, mini theme.

Recipe: Apple Upside-Down Pie

We know what you’re thinking: “Now, I’ve heard of upside-down cakes, but upside-down pie?” It’s a revelation of a dessert, we promise. Let us convince you of its merits. We think it’s going to be a new classic. A buttery mix of brown sugar and pecans caramelizes as it bakes beneath the bottom crust of Apple Upside-Down Pie, creating layer after layer of apple, pecan, and brown-sugar flavors. It’s a vortex of autumnal flavor, and it looks great on top of a seasonal tablecloth (try yellow striped or red-and-white checked). With décor and dessert, that’s almost enough for a fall party.

Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Is there anything more comforting or indulgent than a bread pudding? Maybe, but taking one look at these mini crocks of bread pudding, we can’t think of anything we would rather nibble on a chilly fall evening. Oozing caramel and fluffy, light bread pudding offers an autumnal escape in a tiny tureen. It’s true, This pumpkin bread pudding is perfect for any chilly evening. Though you are free to make this dessert in summer if you have a craving for caramel, pecan, pumpkin, or bread pudding. It checks all the boxes. Whip up one large dish for customizable scooping, or serve it in perfectly portioned ramekins for evenings when you have company.

Recipe: Zesty Lemon Pie

Zesty is the perfect word for this refreshing citrus dessert. It is completely invigorating on a hot summer day. And, lo and behold, it is easy to make. Three simple ingredients make the yummy filling in this lemon pie. You probably already have them on hand in your refrigerator or in your pantry. You can either make your own graham cracker crust or buy a pre-made crust to make this recipe even easier. It’s a snap, and your guests will never guess that it only took you a short while to master. This pie does need 4 hours of chill time, but after such a zippy prep, you can sit back, relax, and anticipate the zing of chilled citrus in a sweet lemon pie.

Recipe: Eggnog Pound Cake

Did you think eggnog was just for December holiday parties? Think again. This light and fluffy pound cake makes eggnog accessible all year round—in warm weather and in cool weather—though we have to admit, it is still perfect for family gatherings around the holidays. 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 for an indulgent brunch option or after-dinner treat. Also check out our festive eggnog pound cake step-by-step video, linked below, for a tutorial on how to concoct this delicious, festive-all-year-round dessert creation.

Step-by-Step Video: Festive Eggnog Pound Cake

Recipe: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

The lattice on top of this cobbler—with cute, zig-zag edes—is really a showstopper. It’s the perfect pairing for the tasty cobbler inside—which is just as winning. Here, we showcase two of the South’s most beloved products—peaches and pecans—in this old-fashioned peach cobbler recipe. Georgia grandmothers everywhere know that peaches and pecans aren’t just great on their own, they also pair together seamlessly. They create a combination of nutty and sweet flavors that we can’t get enough of—especially in a warm cobbler with a gorgeous, crisp and flaky lattice top. If you’re going to try a new recipe for a peach dish this season, make it this one.

Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

This scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth treat combines two things almost everyone loves: red velvet and brownies. If you want to elevate your bake sale game, try this recipe. 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. It is just special enough—a few degrees beyond a traditional chocolate brownie—and it can be dressed up so easily with a beautiful topping of frosting, icing, cream cheese, or whipped cream. So succulent are these brownies that you will be returning for seconds. Give them away, keep them, but definitely make them—these red velvet brownies are so pretty and so delicious that they are sure to provide good vibes all around. This is a recipe you’ll want to add to your collection.

Step-by-Step Video: Red Velvet Brownies

Recipe: Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

This cheesecake is a stunner. We think our favorite Floridians, the Golden Girls, would approve. For autumn holidays in Miami—or anywhere, really—this cheesecake provides sweet caramel and crunchy apples, which are sliced and layered on top for a gorgeous, grand topper. Caramelized apples are artfully arranged on top of this rich and delicious cheesecake for a perfect dessert. We created a rosette pattern with the apple slices, but feel free to get creative and create the apple topper decoration of your dreams. It looks great. So spectacular is the effect, you may not want to slice into this beauty. But we encourage you to make the leap. The cheesecake within is not to be missed.

Recipe: Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

You don’t have to travel to England for a lovely teatime. Try a Southern spin on traditional tea time with this Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake recipe. Perfect with your afternoon tea—or breakfast, or after dinner, or snack time—the Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake is soaked in a hot amaretto glaze, giving it a delicious flavor. Far from boring, this glaze is perfectly balanced between flavor and texture. It coats the succulent cake with a divine, delectable veil of amaretto flavor. With it, amaretto brings a heady sweetness to the cake that is reminiscent of languid afternoons reclining on Italian balconies. The flavor will transport you. Savor it.

Recipe: Chocolate Cake IV

Three moist layers of chocolate cake are held together with the loveliest filling imaginable. 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. Double, triple, quadruple chocolate—we lost count, so we put the number in the title of the recipe: IV. Four parts harmonious, sugary sweet chocolate. It’s not overwhelming, though. It’s a sophisticated blend of flavors: pure, clear waves of chocolate sensation, plus infusions of mocha in the cream filling and coffee liqueur in the creamy Ganache icing.

Recipe: Tres Leches Cake

This exceptional dessert takes a little extra effort to make, but it's beyond worth it. The combination of textures–tender cake, fluffy frosting, and a pool of creamy sauce–will delight your family and friends. We recommend using a double boiler to make the tres leches frosting, but since we understand that it might not be a staple in your kitchen, you don't have to have a double boiler to make the frosting. Instead, you can use a metal mixing bowl placed over a saucepan to mimic the effects of a double boiler. In either case, the result is delectable. Well worth the effort.

Recipe: Coconut Sheet Cake

A tropical version of a classic, this sheet cake showcases the humble coconut. In fact, this recipe takes the coconut cake and simplifies it. Coconut cake just got a whole lot easier. Make a sheet cake instead of a layer cake for a dessert that's as simple to make as it is delicious to eat. Top with cream cheese icing and a sprinkle of coconut for a cool, delicious dessert that transports you to a tropical forest. We’ll give you a tip: The fresher the coconut, the more effective the escape. Our recipe for coconut-cream cheese frosting is the…well, the icing on the cake.

Recipe: Banana Pudding Pie

Treat your family to a delicious and easy dessert tonight. Use ripe bananas in this pudding recipe for the sweetest flavor. We think that this cool, creamy, dreamy dessert is a creative twist on traditional banana pudding. For this fruity fusion, use ripe bananas for the ideal sweet flavor, and don’t you dare throw away those egg yolks. Our recipe for vanilla cream pie filling—which creates the silky interior for this picture-perfect pie—calls on you to add yolks. Crumbled vanilla wafers are also a must—on top, they create a cheery, crunchy contrast to the pie’s smooth, smooth center.

Recipe: Chocolate-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Get your chocolate fix early in the day with a coffee cake that incorporates our favorite Chocolate Velvet Cake Batter. It sure beats a bowl of cereal. Pair this with a mug of hot coffee for a very special breakfast treat. Crumbly coffee cake gets a glamorous update with the addition of chocolate and cream cheese. It’s rooted in traditional coffee cake beginnings—the spirit of coffee cake definitely roots this recipe—but the panoply of other flavors blends together so seamlessly that a slice of this cake feels filling and indulgent at the same time. So pour a cup of coffee and sit awhile. This is one to savor.

Recipe: Lemon Tea Bread

This yummy, cake-like tea bread has a light lemon taste and is drizzled with a sweet citrus glaze. It offers a cheery explosion of citrus flavor and a fragrant dessert for tea time or a luncheon dessert table. This lemon creation provides a tender cake-bread hybrid that, you’ll see, is irresistible, especially when paired with a teacup full of Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea. A bold, full-bodied black tea is the perfect companion to this light, citrusy bread. It is elegant and sophisticated, an aromatic addition to any special occasion, but the best part about this bread is its versatility. So try it out—we think it’s great at any time of day.

Recipe: Praline-Apple Bread

This bread has a secret ingredient. Can you guess? The praline and apple dance together in a moist autumnal dish, but they’re accompanies by something special. What is it? Sour cream. Sour cream is the secret to the rich, moist texture of this praline-apple quick bread recipe. There's no butter or oil in the batter—only in the glaze. It’s delicious and it’s quick, a good, reliable recipe to construct in a hurry. The glaze dresses it up a bit, like pinning a glittering brooch on a sensible dress. The dress is perfectly nice on its own, but we like to add a special touch for the occasion—no matter the occasion.

Recipe: Bananas Foster Upside-Down Coffee Cake

This decadent coffee cake recipe is inspired by the classic New Orleans dessert and features sautéed bananas, pecans, and a splash of rum. The recipe for Bananas Foster was concocted by the Brennan family in the 1950s in New Orleans. It was an immediate menu favorite at the Brennan’s family restaurant, appropriately named Brennan’s, which they operated in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Brennan’s is still located on Royal Street and has been a New Orleans’ stalwart since 1946. Get your fill of Brennan’s famed dessert with our version—traditional Bananas Foster flavors put in an unforgettable, upside-down coffee cake form.

Recipe: 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. Tiny and sweet, they pack a big punch of sweet potato and caramel flavors. In an autumnal harmony, the sticky caramel-pecan sauce provides a waterfall of sweetness to the moist, well-proportioned sweet-potato cakes. It’s a filling dessert, one rooted in the earthiness of sweet potato but elevated by the touches of subtle toppings and sauces that are anchored in quintessential autumn pairings, especially the dulcet blend of caramel and pecan. Here, the thickness of a sticky caramel sauce pairs perfectly with the sturdy substantiality of sweet potato.

Recipe: 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. Mississippi is known for many things, but a Mississippi Mud Cake is one of the tastiest things we can trace back to the great state of Mississippi. Just saccharine enough, this harmony of chocolate isn’t anywhere near mud, but the combination of ingredients gives you a sense that we’ve included everything but the kitchen sink. Decadent doesn’t even begin to describe this creation, but it approaches adequately describing the indulgence you’ll feel biting into this chocolate, pecan, marshmallow combination. Make it quick, or try the cupcake version.

Recipe: 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. You can use any number of similar colas, but since Coca-Cola is the quintessential Southern beverage—first blended in Atlanta (where the ever-popular Coca-Cola factory welcomes visitors to this day) in the early 20th century, then disseminated in mid 1900s soda fountains across the country—we created the ultimate Cola Cake. It’s a sheet cake with a rich syrup, and it certainly lives up to the Southern beverage that anchors it.

Recipe: Irish Strawberry-and-Cream Cheesecake

Swirled with strawberry preserves—that much better when they are blended and canned in your own kitchen—and flavored with Irish cream liqueur, this cheesecake will be a hit at any get-together. For testing, we used Bailey’s Irish Cream, but any Irish cream liqueur will do to give the cake an infusion of creamy flavor. A pile of juicy strawberries on top seals the deal. We think you can see, this is no ordinary cheesecake. It’s a great, surprising alternative to pull out of the refrigerator after dinner. Best of all, your leftover strawberry preserves will be a great addition to the next morning’s breakfast—spread generously atop muffins, breads, or scones. 

Recipe: Praline Bundt Cake

No one can quite pin down the origin of the sugary treat known as the praline—some think it was named for a 17th century French diplomat, César, duc de Choiseul, comte du Plessis-Praslin. The diplomat’s personal chef supposedly created it. Southerners have wholeheartedly adopted the praline, and no matter where it first originated, it is a perfect addition to this bundt cake recipe. 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.

Recipe: Buttered Rum Pound Cake with Bananas Foster Sauce

Who says pound cakes are boring? No us, that’s for sure. We love a pound cake: plain, fancy, flavorful, creative, star of the show, or supporting player. No matter the pound cake, we love them all. But we do have to say, this pound cake has a special place in our hearts—and in our stomachs. This pound cake is delectable: this is a beyond buttery pound cake topped with a Buttered Rum Glaze that is slippery and sweet. It is also topped with an amazing Bananas Foster Sauce. Where has this been all our lives? We don’t know, but we’re sure glad that it’s here to stay.

Recipe: Summertime Peach Ice Cream

When peach season rolls in—in the South, any time from May to September—we’re out in the orchard, picking plump, sweet ingredients to churn into this sweet mixture, which is one of our absolute favorite ice cream recipes. We guarantee that your family will ask for this chilly treat over and over again. Best of all, the six-ingredient mixture requires no cooking, just stirring. “What?” you may ask. It’s true. This dessert is as easy as can be. It is just as nice as a perfect pound cake topper as it is as a cold and sweet treat in an ice cream cone.

Recipe: Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes

When we think of velvet, we think smooth, luxurious, elegant, beautiful, indulgent. And it’s true: all of those words can be used to describe this decadent cupcake recipe. When all is said and done in the kitchen, you’ll be left with glorious 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. The frosting is a scene-stealer, and its perfectly paired with the chocolate cake cupcake. A tender blend of browned butter, cinnamon, and cream cheese adorns each cupcake. It is certainly a trifecta of yum. But you’ll have to taste it for yourself.

Recipe: Lemon Curd Pound Cake

Forget what you think you know about curd. Some people’s idea of curd extends to the nursery rhyme “curds and whey” reference, but one taste of this picture-perfect Lemon Curd Pound Cake, and you’ll forget all about Miss Muffet. This curd is a fantastically smooth blend of citrusy lemon blended into an elegant glaze. For this concoction, we do have one tip from our test kitchen to yours: Wait to prepare the Lemon Curd Glaze until the cake comes out of the oven so it will still be warm when spread over the cake. This timing ensures that the glaze texture is ideal for pouring.

Recipe: Caramel-Pecan Pie

If you want to translate your go-to pecan pie into a dessert that guests will fawn over for years to come, create this rich, gooey caramel pecan pie for your family and friends. It is a perfect special occasion pie. This pie gets a boost from caramel and the perfect subtle garnish: chocolate dipped pecan halves. You may even want to place some extra chocolate dipped pecan halves in decorative bags so that guests can take them home and nibble on them later. It’s an easy gift bag and it will evoke the pie guests had earlier in the night—the ooey, gooey caramel pecan pie recipe that they’ll call you for later.

Recipe: 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. This shortbread cookie crust represents everything we love about traditional shortbread—it’s a cookie-bread hybrid with subtle sweetness and soft, crumbly texture. The brown sugar-and-honey topping is just syrupy enough, but certainly not overwhelming. It pairs well with teatime beverages, any dessert coffee, or after-dinner drinks. It will encourage guests to linger and luxuriate, soaking in after-dinner moments munching the Caramel-Pecan Tart and savoring the shortbread creation. Try this one out—the easy recipe belies the delicious result that will wow guests.