Summer On a Plate: 23 Southern Desserts You’ll Find Below the Mason-Dixon Line

Some of the best desserts in the country come straight from Southern kitchens, where recipes are full of history, heart, and a whole lot of sugar. Down below the Mason-Dixon line, Southern desserts are in a league of their own—rich, nostalgic, and made to be shared. Whether it’s a slice of chess pie or a warm peach cobbler, these are the kind of sweets that stick with you.

Pecan Pralines

These melt-in-your-mouth candies are rich with brown sugar, butter, and crunchy pecans—a hallmark of Southern hospitality. A staple in gift tins and roadside shops throughout the Deep South.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pralines

Buttermilk Pie

Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

Tangy, custardy, and simple, this pie has stood the test of time in Southern kitchens. It’s one of those regional desserts USA proudly claims with every flaky, sugary bite.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Pie

Peaches and Cream Pie

A peach custard pie topped with whipped cream. — Peaches and Cream Pie. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fresh peaches baked into a creamy filling capture everything we love about a Southern summer dessert. It’s the kind of pie that makes you linger for one more bite under the porch fan.
Get the Recipe: Peaches and Cream Pie

Candied Pecans

Roasted pecans in a skillet with the sugar and spices. — Candied Pecans. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crunchy, sweet, and a little spiced, these pecans are the snack bowl favorite at every Southern holiday party. Perfect for gifting—or for not sharing at all.
Get the Recipe: Candied Pecans

Key Lime Pie

Zippy and refreshing with a nutty crust, this gluten-free take on a Southern classic doesn’t skip a beat on flavor. Ideal for hot days and cool slices, it’s a bright twist on old-fashioned Southern sweets.
Get the Recipe: Key Lime Pie

Chocolate Chip Biscuits

Chocolate covered biscuits on a plate with a fork. — Chocolate Chip Biscuits. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Soft and buttery with just a kiss of chocolate, these biscuits are a uniquely Southern spin on a beloved classic. They’re the kind of treat you’ll find on a biscuit bar at a Southern brunch or baby shower.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Biscuits

Blackberry Cobbler

A bowl of dessert with blackberries and a spoon — Blackberry Cobbler. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Sweet-tart blackberries nestled under a golden crust make this a must-have during berry season in the South. This dessert tastes like a warm memory of summer evenings and front porch swings.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Cobbler

Possum Pie

A close-up of a slice of chocolate cream pie, inspired by desserts around the world, with whipped cream on top, a rich chocolate filling layer, and a crumbly pie crust, being lifted from a glass pie dish. — Possum Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Despite the name, there’s no critter in sight—just layers of chocolate, cream cheese, and whipped topping in this Arkansas-born favorite. A quirky but beloved treat that’s pure Southern charm from crust to topping.
Get the Recipe: Possum Pie

Coca-Cola Cake with Marshmallows

A glass baking dish filled with chocolate sheet cake topped with rich chocolate frosting and chopped pecans, with a cake server nearby on a gray surface. — Coca-Cola Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This retro chocolate cake gets a fizzy upgrade from cola and a gooey richness from mini marshmallows. It’s a true Southern summer dessert that makes appearances at reunions, picnics, and potlucks alike.
Get the Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake with Marshmallows

Banana Pudding

This version brings extra creaminess with a scratch-made custard and layers of sliced bananas and cookies. If you’re looking for the real deal from below the tea line, this one delivers old-fashioned flavor in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding

Coconut Layer Cake

A close-up, top-down view of a frosted layer cake with several slices cut, revealing the creamy white icing on top. The cake sits on a dark plate against a blue surface. — Coconut Layer Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

With tender white cake and a cloud of coconut frosting, this beauty graces countless Sunday tables across the South. It’s a time-honored dessert that Southern grandmothers have been baking for generations.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Layer Cake

Chocolate Pecan Pie

A close-up of a pecan pie with a golden crust, showing one slice being lifted out. The dense, caramelized filling packed with chopped pecans makes this classic an irresistible choice for easy desserts. — Chocolate Pecan Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This gooey, chocolate-spiked version of pecan pie is a Southern twist on a classic that you won’t see at just any holiday table. It’s rich, bold, and unmistakably from the heart of Dixie.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pecan Pie

Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust

A black bowl of peach cobbler next to a cup of coffee. — Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Juicy peaches baked under a homemade pie crust—this version of cobbler is all about down-home comfort. It’s a staple of warm-weather cookouts and Southern Sunday suppers alike.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust

Hummingbird Sheet Cake

Tray of sliced sheet cake topped with creamy white frosting and sprinkled with chopped pecans, with a serving spatula partially under one piece and a knife resting beside the tray. — Hummingbird Sheet Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Loaded with banana, pineapple, and spice, this moist sheet cake is a treasured Southern favorite. It’s the kind of dessert that shows up at church potlucks and never lasts long.
Get the Recipe: Hummingbird Sheet Cake

Lemon Icebox Pie

A creamy pie with a golden brown graham cracker crust is partially cut, revealing its smooth texture. A slice of this delectable lemon dessert is placed on a white scalloped plate nearby, next to another plate holding lemon wedges and silver utensils. A grey napkin lies beneath the plates. — Lemon Icebox Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Bright, tangy, and chilled to perfection, this pie has Southern roots as cool as the fridge it sets in. It’s a refreshing finish to a backyard barbecue or fish fry down South.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Icebox Pie

Red Velvet Cake

Velvety layers and tangy cream cheese frosting make this cake a showstopper at Southern celebrations. It’s a signature sweet that speaks to deep traditions and bold flavor below the sweet tea line.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake

Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers

A glass bowl filled with layers of creamy dessert, likely banana pudding, showcases the irresistible appeal of layered desserts, topped with crumbled cookies or wafers. — Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Layers of creamy pudding, ripe bananas, and crisp vanilla wafers define this nostalgic treat. A true icon of old-fashioned Southern sweets, it’s found at every real Southern potluck worth its salt.
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers

Sweet Potato Pie with Condensed Milk

A classic thanksgiving pie with a golden crust, topped with eight dollops of whipped cream, sits on a black tray. Two slices have been cut and slightly separated from the rest, with two forks placed nearby. — Sweet Potato Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This pie is silky, sweet, and spiced just right—the ultimate expression of regional desserts USA. Sweet potato pie like this belongs on every Southern holiday table, right next to the ham and deviled eggs.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie with Condensed Milk

Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

A slice of chocolate cake on a plate. — Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Rich chocolate meets tangy cream cheese in this dense and decadent cake that Southerners love for its bold flavor. It’s a go-to for family gatherings when you want a dessert that feels both indulgent and familiar.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

Coconut Custard Pie

A coconut cream pie with a flaky golden crust, partially sliced, sits on a black dish. Perfect for thanksgiving pie recipes, it’s served with a small bowl of whipped cream nearby on a dark countertop. — Coconut Custard Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Simple ingredients come together in this creamy pie that’s sweet, nostalgic, and unmistakably Southern. You’ll find this one at church socials and grandma’s kitchen, right alongside banana bread and tea cakes.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Custard Pie

Peach Crisp

A round peach crumble topped with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, surrounded by sliced fresh peaches and a white napkin on a light surface. — Peach Crisp. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

With ripe, juicy peaches bubbling beneath a crunchy oat topping, this dessert captures the simple soul of the South. It’s the kind of dish served straight from the skillet and scooped with love.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crisp

Fried Apples

Sliced apples cooked in a glossy cinnamon sauce, with a spoon lifting some of the apples from the mixture. — Fried Apples. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Tender apple slices cooked in butter and sugar until golden—this dish tastes like something your Southern grandma made in her cast iron. A comforting companion to breakfast or dessert, it’s full of home-cooked charm.
Get the Recipe: Fried Apples

Old-Fashioned Peach Dumplings

A bite taken out of a peach dumpling. — Old-Fashioned Peach Dumplings. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

These Southern-style dumplings wrap fresh peach slices in buttery dough, baked until golden and syrupy. A comforting, nostalgic dessert that pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Peach Dumplings

Explore Recipes

MSN Slideshows