Hey there, dessert lover! Get ready to brighten up your summer with a delicious assortment of 23 Southern desserts that are sure to impress. From creamy banana pudding to scrumptious cobblers, these sweet treats will keep you cool and satisfied all season long. Explore these mouth-watering recipes and bring a taste of Southern charm to your summer table!

The Easiest Banana Pudding With Vanilla Wafers

 

Banana pudding is a classic Southern dessert featuring layers of bananas, creamy vanilla pudding, and crunchy vanilla wafer cookies for a no-bake dessert that is as delicious as it is easy to make. Made with instant pudding mix, this simple recipe is perfect for both novices and experts in the kitchen. You can’t have a cook-out or BBQ without it.

Get the Recipe: The Easiest Banana Pudding With Vanilla Wafers

Creamy Strawberry Mousse With White Chocolate

This homemade Strawberry Mousse recipe has the dreamiest, creamiest texture. It feels like you’re scooping up little pink clouds! It’s thick, full of fresh strawberry flavor, and has a lovely white chocolate touch to take it over the top. Plus, this mousse doesn’t get weepy as it sits so you can make it up to two days in advance. 

Get the Recipe: Creamy Strawberry Mousse With White Chocolate

Fresh Custard Based Peach Ice Cream

This homemade peach ice cream recipe is a blissfully cold, creamy delight featuring one of the best summer flavors. Its custard-style base, gently cooked with egg yolks, sugar, and milk, has a super smooth texture that’s then studded with juicy chunks of peaches, so you get real peach flavor in every spoonful.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Custard Based Peach Ice Cream

Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Bite into these sweet and creamy strawberry cheesecake bars! With a classic buttery crust and rich strawberry compote, these little bars of heaven have all the best parts of cheesecake in a convenient handheld form. No need to worry about finding a plate and fork when these are on hand!

Get the Recipe: Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce

Enjoy the warm comfort of Peach Bread Pudding—a scrumptious dessert that combines soft, moist bread cubes with juicy peaches for a magical spin on a classic dessert. It’s baked to perfection and then drizzled with a simple white chocolate sauce for an easy recipe that screams summer. 

Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding

Blueberry Self-Saucing Pudding Cake

Make a self-saucing pudding by pouring boiling water over batter topped lucious blueberries, and you’ll have the most heavenly dessert. It creates a caramelized coating over the top of a cake-like filling surrounded by a warm blueberry sauce. It’s a little magical!

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Self-Saucing Pudding Cake

The Creamiest Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

This homemade custard-based strawberry ice cream recipe has been passed down by my family for generations. You make it on the stove, then transfer it to an ice cream machine for a creamy texture that store-bought strawberry ice cream dreams of.

Get the Recipe: The Creamiest Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust

This classic summer dessert gets an exciting makeover with pie crusts and pecans instead of biscuits. This Peach Cobbler is packed with sweet peaches, brown sugar, and warm spices and then baked until mouthwatering perfection. 

Get the Recipe: Homemade Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust

Light and Airy Strawberry Mousse Cake

A cake topped with strawberry mousse is a fabulous way to showcase fresh strawberries.  The creamy and airy texture of the mousse perfectly complements the moist vanilla cake. It’s not quite as sweet as frosting but still bursting with flavor.

Get the Recipe: Light and Airy Strawberry Mousse Cake

The Creamiest No Bake Coconut Cream Pie

Savor the scrumptious flavors of a no-bake coconut custard pie that’s not too sweet so you can enjoy the coconut flavor and creamy custard. A make-ahead pie that is perfect for any occasion.

Get the Recipe: The Creamiest No Bake Coconut Cream Pie

Banana Pudding Recipe with Cream Cheese 

A Southern banana pudding is a good old-fashioned classic dessert, and for good reason! The combination of sweet bananas, creamy pudding, and sweet and crispy vanilla wafer cookies is comfort food at it’s best. However, make this Southern staple even better by adding cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk for an over-the-top dessert.

Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding Recipe with Cream Cheese 

No-Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

This scrumptious no-bake strawberry cream cheese pie with fresh or frozen strawberries is a must for a summer get together. Creamy and rich it’s a no fail pie that will hold it’s shape even in the heat and make you the star at the next potluck or cookout.

Get the Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade Pie with Just 5 Ingredients

Strawberry lemonade pie is the ultimate dessert that can be served any time of year. It’s amazingly creamy and rich with a bright lemon flavor, and the addition of sweet, juicy fresh strawberry slices makes it even better.

Get the Recipe: Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade Pie with Just 5 Ingredients

Not So Classic Strawberry Shortcake with Frosting

This strawberry shortcake is a layered masterpiece of buttery cake, juicy strawberries, and slightly sweet frosting. Adding frosting makes it more of a layer cake than your typical strawberry shortcake with whipped cream topping. This beautifully rustic cake is perfect for special occasions or just to celebrate strawberry season.

Get the Recipe: Not So Classic Strawberry Shortcake with Frosting

No Bake Key Mousse Lime Pie with White Chocolate

At the end of a savory meal, there’s nothing better than a slice of key lime pie. When it’s a no-bake key lime pie, even better! My version uses real limes, cream cheese, and white chocolate to make a dreamy filling that tastes as creamy as a cheesecake – no oven required.

Get the Recipe: No Bake Key Mousse Lime Pie with White Chocolate

Flaky Peach Dumplings with Fresh Peaches

Southern peach dumplings made with fresh peaches and a homemade pastry are the essence of summer. The heavenly combination of ripe, juicy peaches enveloped in a tender flaky pastry and topped with a bourbon or vanilla glaze are the perfect ending to any meal. Easy to assemble with step-by-step photos.

Get the Recipe: Flaky Peach Dumplings with Fresh Peaches

Lemon-Lime Atlantic Beach Pie with Saltine Crust

Atlantic Beach Pie is a truly Southern beach pie. With a signature Saltine cracker crust and zesty citrus filling, this pie is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. Whether you’re enjoying it at the beach, or at home with your favorite seafood recipe, it’s the perfect summer dessert.

Get the Recipe: Lemon-Lime Atlantic Beach Pie with Saltine Crust

Southern Peach Cobbler Cake

Add sweet peaches to a buttery cake and create a scrumptious peach cobbler cake. A thin layer of butter on the bottom transforms a simple batter into a peach dessert you’ll be making over and over again.

Get the Recipe: Southern Peach Cobbler Cake

Red White & Blue Cream Cheese Squares

Blueberry Cream Cheese Squares are scrumptious, hand-held cheesecake bars that have a buttery crust made of caramel cookies, a creamy cheesecake filling, and a mixed berry cheesecake swirl on top made from real raspberries and blueberries.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Cream Cheese Squares

Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

Decadently sweet and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this moist chocolate Coca-Cola cake is made with the iconic soda, mini marshmallows, and unsweetened cocoa powder for extra rich chocolate flavor. It’s so chocolatey, you wouldn’t even know that there’s soda in it! 

Get the Recipe: Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

Simple Strawberry Cobbler Recipe with Biscuits

The easiest way to enjoy fresh strawberries is with a strawberry cobbler.  Strawberries baked with a slightly sweet biscuit on top are a Southern tradition. Throw it together in 20 minutes and enjoy the sweet taste of summer.

Get the Recipe: Simple Strawberry Cobbler Recipe with Biscuits

BEST Recipe for Blueberry Pie

As someone who is lives in a area with blueberry orchards and can eat their weight in blueberries, I know a little about this fruit. While I love a blueberry cobbler with ice cream, fresh blueberry pie should not be runny or gummy. The secret is to make a homemade jam and add fresh blueberries to it creating a Southern classic that you’ll be making all summer long.

Get the Recipe: BEST Recipe for Blueberry Pie

Fresh Strawberry Bundt Cake

A freshly baked strawberry bundt cake is an impressive dessert that is perfect for any occasion and easy to throw together. Made with juicy strawberries and a few basic ingredients, this cake looks amazing and tastes heavenly. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply craving something sweet, a slice of this scrumptious cake is sure to be a hit.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Bundt Cake