Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 25 Grandma-Approved Recipes to Take to Your Next Bible Study By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna is a Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and assigns content with a focus on email growth and commerce content. She covers a range of topics in the lifestyle space from holiday gift guides to new product launches to tips for cooking with your air fryer. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely From salty to sweet, no church gathering is complete without plenty of snacks. Whether you're hosting a group at your home or need a dish to bring along to your next bible study, these classic Southern recipes are reminiscent of what you would probably find perusing the pages of a vintage church cookbook. These are the recipes your Grandma refused to share with any of her church friends—they're that good. From simple recipes that even novice cooks can pull off to homemade desserts that'll blow everyone away, we've got options for anyone. This recipe collection is proof that sometimes, simple is really best. After all, nobody can resist a handful of Buttery Toasted Pecans—and our Buttered Saltines are known to be quite addictive. If you're looking to make something a bit more elaborate, our Million Dollar Pound Cake is always a winner, as is Gooey Butter Cake. These crowd-pleasing recipes have stood the test of time, so we know they'll please everyone in your bible study group. They also make great refreshment ideas for church events. 01 of 25 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers These crackers are so good that we recommend at least doubling this recipe. 02 of 25 Butter-Baked Saltine Crackers Southern Living Recipe: Butter-Baked Saltine Crackers Although this snack recipe couldn't be any more simple, we guarantee it'll still impress your guests. 03 of 25 Gooey Butter Cake Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Gooey Butter Cake Even though it's called cake this classic recipe is still easy to serve in squares without any mess. 04 of 25 Caramel Popcorn Balls Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Caramel Popcorn Balls Homemade popcorn balls can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week, so you can make them ahead of time if needed. 05 of 25 Buttery Toasted Pecans Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Buttery Toasted Pecans About as simple as it gets, but the perfect snack. 06 of 25 Mamau's Cheese Straws Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel; Food Styling: Pam Lolley Recipe: Mamau's Cheese Straws With a recipe this simple and delicious, you'll never serve store-bought cheese straws again. 07 of 25 Ham-and-Cheese Sliders Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Recipe: Ham-and-Cheese Sliders If you're looking for a more filling snack that's still easy to serve, these sliders will satisfy everyone's appetite. 08 of 25 Million Dollar Pound Cake Recipe: Million Dollar Pound Cake You're just seven ingredients away from getting this homemade cake on the table. 09 of 25 Classic Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese You can never go wrong with this Southern staple. 10 of 25 Luscious Lemon Bars Southern Living Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars This lemon bar recipe cab be prepared up to one month ahead of time and kept in the freezer, perfect to keep on hand for your weekly gathering. 11 of 25 Muddy Buddy Mix Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Recipe: Muddy Buddy Mix In addition to powdered sugar, we add some unsweetened cocoa to the coating of this classic snack. 12 of 25 Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Sausage Balls Sausage balls only need three ingredients, and great to serve at any time of the day. 13 of 25 Egg Salad Sandwiches Jen Causey Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches We're always looking for a reason to serve egg salad. 14 of 25 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Toasting the oatmeal gives classic oatmeal cookies an instant upgrade. 15 of 25 Cheese Dreams Iain Bagwell Recipe: Cheese Dreams You'll know they're ready to take out of the oven when they're golden brown. 16 of 25 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Southern Living Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge A no-bake dessert everyone will love? Yes, please. 17 of 25 Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars If you'll have a large group, this recipe makes 32 bars in one batch. 18 of 25 Party Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad These puffs are practically begging for a spot on the table of a lunchtime bible study. 19 of 25 Strawberry Pretzel Salad Southern Living Recipe: Strawberry-Pretzel Salad Be careful bringing this one around your bible study group, it may become your specialty that's requested every week! 20 of 25 Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad Southern Living Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad This simple old-fashioned recipe will keep everyone happy. 21 of 25 Cream Cheese Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies Cream cheese ensures that these brownies have an extra-gooey texture. 22 of 25 Smoky Snack Mix Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix The bowl will be empty before you know it, so you may want to double or triple this hard-to-resist mix. 23 of 25 Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate chip cookies will never disappoint. 24 of 25 Cocktail Meatballs Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Cocktail Meatballs If you'll be meeting during dinnertime and need a heartier dish, this classic recipe was made for company. 25 of 25 Warm Cheese Box Bites Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Warm Cheese Box Bites This classic community cookbook recipe is best when served warm. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit