70 Top-Rated Desserts Everyone Should Make At Least Once In our opinion, no meal is complete without dessert. By Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 17 years of experience in food, lifestyle, travel, and health content. She is an Editorial Director for Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 21, 2025 Close Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley In our opinion, no meal is complete without dessert, and this luscious collection of dessert recipes is so delicious you'll definitely be tempted to eat your desserts first. Our best desserts have solutions for hurried hosts, as well as recipes for impressing your next dinner party guests like layer cakes, pound cakes, pies, and tarts. Whether you're craving homemade ice cream or fixing a fruit pie, we have you covered. Now, you've just got to make sure to leave enough room for dessert! Never Lose a Favorite Recipe Again With MyRecipes, your personal recipe box, you can save and organize your Southern Living favorites and thousands more in one place. 01 of 70 Mary Ada’s Smith Island Cake Credit: Photographer: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Maryland’s Smith Island Cake has a sweet history, but you don’t have to be from there to enjoy this multi-layer beauty. Though it looks stunning once you cut into it, this cake recipe from Smith Island local Mary Ada Marshall actually starts with a box of mix. Get The Recipe Save 02 of 70 McLeod Farms' Fresh Peach Pound Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you want the best peach pound cake recipe, go straight to the source, South Carolina peach farmers. It includes fresh peaches in the batter and a gorgeous peach glaze. Get The Recipe Save 03 of 70 Mahogany Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you’re a red velvet fan, you have to try the original. This chocolate cake is true old-fashioned baking at its best, and every baker should make the fluffy, cooked Ermine Frosting at least once. Get The Recipe Save 04 of 70 Peanut Butter Fingers Credit: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen This vintage recipe from the Southern Living archives is one of Senior Producer Ivy Odom’s favorite desserts to make. One five-star review agrees: “These are amazing! Great for packing in lunches. They're soft, chewy, rich and perfectly balanced!” Get The Recipe Save 05 of 70 Pecan Pie Brownies Credit: Molly Bolton If you need a Thanksgiving dessert that will feed a crowd, these Pecan Pie Brownies are so much easier to make and serve than fussing with pie crust. While we’re not too proud to use a box of brownie mix every now and then, this is one recipe where baking from scratch pays off. Get The Recipe Save 06 of 70 Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner You know a recipe is going to be a success when you see it was developed by Southern Living Test Kitchen legend Pam Lolley. This summery icebox cake is even more beautiful once you cut into it to reveal its layers. Get The Recipe Save 07 of 70 Texas Trash Pie Credit: Jessica Furniss You should absolutely travel to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas, for its famous antiques festival and a slice of the original Texas Trash Pie from Royers Round Top Café, but until you get your road trip planned, make this sweet dessert from home. Get The Recipe Save 08 of 70 Éclair Cake Credit: Molly Bolton This easy no-bake recipe is a favorite of Associate Editorial Director Kimberly Holland. “It was so well received the first time I made it that my family requested that I immediately make it again for our next meal together, and I've been informed I must make it for every Easter from here on out,” she writes. “Otherwise, I don't think they'd let me stay the night.” Get The Recipe Save 09 of 70 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley If you have a Southern grandmother, we’re willing to bet she’s made this recipe before. “I've made this fudge for over 30 years and have never found a better recipe,” writes one reviewer. “In my opinion, you must be sure to add the nuts. My mom used walnuts. I use pecans. People request it every year and what's left over, I take to work. It disappears quickly with people talking about how great it is.” Get The Recipe Save 10 of 70 Best Carrot Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox There are probably a lot of recipes on the Internet called “Best Carrot Cake,” but you’re going to have to trust us here: This recipe is the true best. Why? It’s all in the buttermilk glaze that’s brushed onto each cake layer. Don’t believe us? Just check the countless reviews. Even cookbook author Chrissy Teigen raves about this recipe. Get The Recipe Save 11 of 70 Chocolate Mousse Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Chocolate Mousse is a nostalgic treat that’s simply crowd-pleasing. From china teacups to tall martini glasses, you can have a lot of fun with its presentation to match your event. Get The Recipe Save 12 of 70 German Chocolate Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Despite the name, German Chocolate Cake was actually created in Dallas. This Southern confection is all about the coconut-pecan frosting. If you want thick ribbons of frosting between cake layers, go ahead and double the frosting recipe. Get The Recipe Save 13 of 70 Strawberry-Pretzel Salad Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Even though it’s called a “salad,” we all know that Southerners get very loose with the definition of that word! This retro recipe is salty-sweet perfection, and anyone will recognize it from family reunions of the past. Get The Recipe Save 14 of 70 Key Lime Pound Cake Credit: Dotdash Meredith Though Key lime pie is the real famous dessert, our pound cake version has had readers hooked for years. There are multiple five-star reviews to back us up, like this one: “Love this cake. It baked beautifully and the flavor is wonderful. I brought it to work and it did not last long! I will definitely make this again.” Get The Recipe Save 15 of 70 Easy Skillet Apple Pie Credit: Photographer: Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This Easy Skillet Apple Pie might be one of our most popular dessert recipes of all time, and it even uses refrigerated pie crusts! There are so many things your cast-iron skillet is good for, including achieving perfect pie crust texture. Get The Recipe Save 16 of 70 Easy Crème Brûlée Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Topped with a gorgeous sugar crust, crème brûlée is one of those desserts every baker should make at least once (even though it’s not Southern). The ingredient list is extremely simple, but it’s all in the technique with this beauty. Get The Recipe Save 17 of 70 Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton From salads to “weird” sandwiches to desserts, there’s no shortage of ways Southerners use mayonnaise in the kitchen. Our Test Kitchen swears it’s the best way to achieve a moist chocolate cake, and you’ll just have to try it for yourself to find out. Get The Recipe Save 18 of 70 Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Every Southern baker needs to make classic strawberry short cake at least once, but this sheet pan version might be our most popular strawberry short cake recipe of all time. Not only does it feed a crowd easier than the original recipe, but it looks beautiful, too. Get The Recipe Save 19 of 70 Lemon Lush Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Similar to the popular layered desserts often dubbed “delights,” this citrus version is as pretty as it is delicious. Don’t rush the process of freezing the layers if you want nice, even results. Get The Recipe Save 20 of 70 Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely This decadent cake is just what we want with a cup of coffee at book club. Be sure you’re able to dedicate your full attention to the frosting portion of this recipe. Once you start frosting the cake, you need to move quickly! Get The Recipe Save 21 of 70 Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle Credit: Iain Bagwell Trifles are longtime favorites of Southern hosts because they’re surprisingly easy to make but yield photo-worthy results. A trifle dish is practically a required kitchen tool for Southern bakers. This festive recipe has been a go-to of Southern Living readers for over a decade. Get The Recipe Save 22 of 70 Little Layer Chocolate Cake Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Similar to Smith Island Cake, this towering delight is popular in South Georgia. “This cake is the cake I ask for every year for my birthday,” says Senior Producer Ivy Odom. “My great-grandmother used to make this cake for my mama and her brother every single year.” Get The Recipe Save 23 of 70 Hello Dolly Bars Credit: Courtney West Whether you call these treats Hello Dolly Bars, Magic Cookie Bars, or Seven-Layer Cookies, you’ve probably made a batch before. “These are some of my favorite Holiday treats! I've been making them since I was a child in the late '60s,” wrote one reviewer. “They were very easy for a child to make which is probably why they've been a favorite of mine. I still make them every year, and they are a part of the treat baskets I give to friends and family. Love them!” Get The Recipe Save 24 of 70 Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle,Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This famous recipe for Cowboy Cookies is chock-full of add-ins that make them perfectly sweet, crunchy, salty, and gooey. The five-star reviews are countless on this recipe, with one reader writing, “These are the best cookies I have ever baked.” Get The Recipe Save 25 of 70 Banana Pudding Pie Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Don’t tell Grandma, but this decadent pie knocks her banana pudding out of the park. From the Brown Butter-Vanilla Wafer Crust to the Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream topping, it has so much more flavor. Get The Recipe Save 26 of 70 Hummingbird Cake Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman 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. get the recipe Save 27 of 70 Atlantic Beach Pie Credit: Brittany Conerly; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Often referred to as the easiest pie ever, this citrus pie from North Carolina Chef Bill Smith is just the dessert hot summer days need. One reviewer claimed it is the best lemon pie they've ever eaten. get the recipe Save 28 of 70 Cakey Strawberry Cobbler Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Fresh strawberries and cake-like filling bake together to create this delicious batter cobbler. You can substitute sliced stone fruit, like peaches, for the strawberries if you prefer, but we love the taste of strawberries and a dash of lemon zest in this cobbler. You can easily refrigerate the leftovers, but don't expect to have any! get the recipe Save 29 of 70 Easy Peach Cobbler Credit: Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle We can't get enough of fresh peaches—especially in a warm cobbler with a gorgeous, golden brown crust. If you're going to try a new recipe for a peach dish this season, make it this one. get the recipe Save 30 of 70 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Credit: Molly Bolton This anytime hit is good enough to make Grandma proud. What's the trick? Browning butter. This simple step gives that classic cookie dough its signature taste and chewy, crisp texture. It's a quick, extra step worth taking every time. get the recipe Save 31 of 70 Chocolate Cobbler Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A simple list of ingredients that you probably almost always have on hand in your pantry is used to create a decadent chocolate dessert that can be described as a mix of cake and pudding. If there's one tip we have for you, it's that no matter how tempted you may be, absolutely do not stir the cobbler after pouring the water over the chocolate mixture. This helps create the pudding pockets while it's in the oven. get the recipe Save 32 of 70 Egg Custard Pie Credit: Monica Farber / Southern Living We think this old-fashioned pie still deserves a spot on dessert tables today. You may be surprised to learn that you just need a handful of ingredients to pull together a dessert that guests of all ages will enjoy. get the recipe Save 33 of 70 Shaker Lemon Pie Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly Straight from the pages of the Junior League of Charleston, West Virginia's Mountain Measures cookbook, this old-fashioned pie deserves a comeback. Made with thinly sliced whole lemons—peels and all—this incredibly easy citrus dessert only calls for four ingredients. get the recipe Save 34 of 70 Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This cake may well be the ultimate in layer cake decadence. While these tender cake layers taste divine, it's the caramel frosting that really wows. It's outrageously rich—and doesn't require the use of a candy thermometer. In this recipe, you'll see that the rumor is true: Salt really does bring out, enrich, and enlarge the flavor of the sweet caramel. get the recipe Save 35 of 70 Cream Cheese Pound Cake Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke 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. get the recipe Save 36 of 70 Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Is there anything more comforting or indulgent than a bread pudding? Maybe, but taking one look at this buttered pan of bread pudding, we can't think of anything we would rather nibble on a chilly fall evening. Though you are free to make this dessert in summer if you have a craving for a rum dessert. get the recipe Save 37 of 70 Wacky Cake Credit: Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee The batter for this chocolate cake is mixed together right in the pan, so there's no dirty mixing bowl in the sink. Originally created to make during leaner times, it also doesn't call for any eggs or milk. We top the simple cake with a layer of fudgy icing sprinkled with toasted pecans for an even sweeter finish, get the recipe Save 38 of 70 Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake You can assemble this recipe for Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake up to two days ahead of time, minimizing prep time—which we love. Be sure to store at room temperature. Also, you can freeze cooled layers for up to a month in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, ensuring that you are always ready to assemble a layer cake for impromptu parties and get-togethers anytime during the day or night. get the recipe Save 39 of 70 Mississippi Mud Cake Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke 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. get the recipe Save 40 of 70 Classic Chocolate Pound Cake Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar This moist, classic chocolate cake is dusted with powdered sugar to create a slice that chocolate lovers will dream of for days. Plus, with just 30 minutes needed, this traditional cake is a great recipe for experienced and novice bakers alike. get the recipe Save 41 of 70 Red Velvet Brownies Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners This scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth treat combines two things almost everyone loves: red velvet and brownies. Our red velvet brownies are a bite-size version of the classic cake. Top them with a decadent cream cheese frosting for the ultimate dessert. 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. get the recipe Save 42 of 70 Classic Chess Pie Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly It may be simple, but that doesn't make this classic dessert any less impressive. We use refrigerated pie crust to help pull together this old-fashioned pie recipe with ease. get the recipe Save 43 of 70 Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie Credit: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless 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. get the recipe Save 44 of 70 Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Next time you think you need to run to the grocery store before a summer party for a premade, store-bought dessert, think again. Set aside some time to practice your cooking skills and make this Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake. With its medley of flavors and infusion of fresh seasonal peaches, it will be leagues better than anything you find covered in plastic in a bakery section. Garnish with a drizzle of homemade glaze for a pretty, party-worthy finish. get the recipe Save 45 of 70 Red Velvet Cake Balls Credit: Courtney West 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 but festive cake balls recipe. Plus, the frosting and sprinkles are a scene-stealer. This tasty creation is made out of red velvet cake that is bonded together with homemade cream cheese frosting and coated in white chocolate for a combination you can't pass up. Don't take our word for it. You've got to taste it for yourself. get the recipe Save 46 of 70 Fresh Peach Ice Cream Credit: Emily Laurae/Southern Living 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 seven-ingredient mixture requires no cooking, just stirring. get the recipe Save 47 of 70 Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Did you think eggnog was just for December holiday parties? Think again. This light and fluffy Bundt 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 Bundt cake couldn't get any better—eggnog and nutmeg raise the bar. get the recipe Save 48 of 70 Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies Credit: Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Fudgy and flourless? It's possible, and this simple chocolatey recipe is proof. Thanks to whipped egg whites, the cookies are airy and crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, like a brownie in cookie form. get the recipe Save 49 of 70 Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake Credit: Jennifer Causey The ultimate patriotic dessert for a Fourth of July celebration, this cake has everything: bursting berries, rich mascarpone frosting, and fresh fruit filling. It has red, white, and blue to spare. Our patriotic spin on poke cake is the coolest dessert of summer. With a cake this pretty and patriotic, it serves as decoration and dessert all at once. get the recipe Save 50 of 70 The Ultimate Carrot Cake Credit: Alison Miksch 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. 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. get the recipe Save 51 of 70 Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Here, five ingredients come together in a swirl of cookies and cream. All you need is your electric ice cream maker and a little freezing time. This combination elevates a typical summer afternoon ice cream treat to a memorable experience—certainly a moment to savor. For a party, we like to showcase scooped cones in decorative glassware for a personal touch. get the recipe Save 52 of 70 Caramel Apple Cake Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez 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. 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. get the recipe Save 53 of 70 Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox This frozen dessert comes together quickly. After mixing, this ice cream cake recipe just needs a little time to set in the freezer. It's an ideal blend, with its depth of flavor enhanced by fresh berries on top. Plus, its red, white, and blue layers make it the perfect treat to pull out of the freezer after a Fourth of July feast. get the recipe Save 54 of 70 Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall As cute as they are addicting, it may be hard to eat just one. These colorful cookies are perfect for a gift box of holiday treats, and you can use different colored sprinkles throughout the year to celebrate the seasons, your favorite school's team, or any special holiday. With two cookies sandwiching together vanilla buttercream, what's there not to love? get the recipe Save 55 of 70 Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner 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. get the recipe Save 56 of 70 Dr Pepper Texas Sheet Cake Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner 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. Better yet, this cake takes its cues not only from the classic, but also from the beloved flavor of Texas-made Dr Pepper too. 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. get the recipe Save 57 of 70 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Inspired by the classic North Carolina cherry-flavored soda, these cupcakes are the cherry on top for any event. This recipe lets you transform your favorite way to bake a cake into a cherry treat. Whether you combine the bubbly drink with a recipe for homemade white cake or pound cake or a packaged cake mix, the result is a pale pink crumb that tastes of almond extract and mild cherry. get the recipe Save 58 of 70 No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hilegas Zesty is the perfect word for this refreshing citrus dessert. It is completely invigorating on a hot summer day. And, lo and behold, there's no baking involved. With just 15 minutes of hands-on time, you'll have a gingersnap-based crust that's prime for freezing. After freezing, pile in the cool, creamy filling, and you're ready to serve. get the recipe Save 59 of 70 Homemade Pralines Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Torie Cox As Southern as they come, making your first batch of Homemade Pralines is like a right of passage. One of the many dazzling and flavorful things to hail from New Orleans, these sweet and creamy treats have become a holiday tradition for many across the South. They make wonderful food gifts anytime of year, but there's something delightful about in baking a batch just to have at home too. get the recipe Save 60 of 70 Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake Credit: Alison Miksch 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. get the recipe Save 61 of 70 Fresh Apple Cake Credit: Hannah Zimmerman 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. get the recipe Save 62 of 70 Fudge Pie Credit: Iain Bagwell This Fudge Pie starts with semi-sweet chocolate and pecans and ends with a dollop of ice cream on top. To keep things easy, it calls for a frozen pie crust, but the end result is so tasty, anyone who cuts a slice may swear it's fully from scratch. Delicious doesn't even begin to describe it. get the recipe Save 63 of 70 The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez 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. get the recipe Save 64 of 70 Easy Blackberry Cobbler Credit: Hannah Zimmerman 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. get the recipe Save 65 of 70 Strawberry Dream Cake Credit: Photo: Greg Dupree 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. get the recipe Save 66 of 70 Coconut Chiffon Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox 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. get the recipe Save 67 of 70 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez When served in a dish, strawberries and cream are a favorite English dessert and traditional teatime accompaniment. This strawberries and cream riff on the sheet cake will have your guests fawning over a new way to enjoy the fruit and cream mix. One of the most versatile desserts, strawberries and cream is always appropriate—it's delicate and luscious, a dulcet harmony of flavors that we can't get enough of. The fruity thrill of strawberry, the cooling comfort of cream—it's great any time. Taking that idea and transforming it into the ultimate berry sheet cake was no small feat. But we did it, and with the help of this fantastic recipe, you can too. get the recipe Save 68 of 70 The Lane Cake Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen 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. get the recipe Save 69 of 70 Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Moist, delicious, and surprisingly easy, this upside-down cake may become your go-to recipe for entertaining. After you try it for the first time, you'll wonder how you ever got on without this recipe card in your life. get the recipe Save 70 of 70 Chocolate Delight Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely No matter what you call it, this chocolate dessert with layers of pudding and whipped topping is sure to delight. We bet the first bite will bring back memories of summers past. Frequently Asked Questions What are some of the most popular desserts in the South? It wouldn’t be a Southern party without slices of classics like Bundt cake, Hummingbird Cake, pound cake, or red velvet cake. You’ll find peach cobbler or pie in Georgia, Key Lime Pie in Florida, and Derby Pie in Kentucky. Cakes in all flavors and sizes line every Southern dessert buffet. The top flavor in the South, according to Shane Co., is strawberry cake. What are the South’s iconic desserts? Some of the South’s most widely known desserts hold long histories. The Lane Cake earned the winning title in the Columbus, Georgia, county fair more than a century ago. The popular fruit-studded Hummingbird Cake has been a Southern Living favorite since the late 1970s. Other iconic Southern desserts include buttermilk pie, coconut cake, and pecan pie. Explore more: Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit