The 22 Southern Desserts That Take You Right Back Home

There’s just something about a bite of peach cobbler or a slice of hummingbird cake that hits different—it’s like getting wrapped up in a warm hug from home. These are the kind of southern desserts that take you home, no matter where you are or how long it’s been since your last family gathering. They’ve got that made-with-love magic, the kind that reminds you of sticky summer nights and kitchen counters dusted with flour. You’re gonna want to bookmark every single one.

Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie

A buttermilk pie that has been cut into slices. — Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Treat yourself to the creamy delight of Southern Buttermilk Pie. It’s a classic with a touch of cinnamon – pure yumminess!
Get the Recipe: Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie

Roasted Candied Pecans

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

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This recipe for candied pecans makes for slightly sweet roasted nuts that are just what you need for your next get together. A quick and easy snack you’ll love.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Candied Pecans

Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

A frosted hummingbird cake next to a knife. — Frost and sprinkle with pecans.

Cream cheese-frosted hummingbird cake is a simple and incredibly moist cake that uses pineapple and bananas for a tropical twist.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese (With Mascarpone Option!)

A baking dish of banana pudding with a serving spoon. — Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese (With Mascarpone Option!). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This banana pudding recipe with cream cheese (or Marscapone!) is even better than the classic. The yummiest, easiest homemade pudding recipe!
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese (With Mascarpone Option!)

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. — Southern Possum Pie With A Pecan Crust. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Layered Possum Pie with toasted pecans, tangy cream cheese, rich chocolate custard, and whipped cream is a must-try dessert!
Get the Recipe: Southern Possum Pie With A Pecan Crust

Chocolate Chip Biscuits

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

Warm, fluffy biscuits meet melty chocolate chips in this sweet-savory mashup. This is what happens when southern recipes break the mold in the most delicious way.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Biscuits

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

A slice of cheesecake topped with whole pecans and drizzled with caramel sauce sits on a white plate—a delightful addition to any pecan desserts spread. — Pecan Pie Cheesecake. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Caramel Pecan Pie Cheesecake is the perfect dessert! Cheesecake topped with pecans with warm caramel drizzled over! SO GOOD!
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Banana Pudding

This classic Southern banana pudding recipe is made with layers of crunchy Nila Vanilla wafers, freshly sliced bananas, and from-scratch creamy vanilla pudding.
Get the Recipe: Southern Homemade Banana Pudding From Scratch

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.

Simmered in butter, sugar, and cinnamon, these skillet-fried apples taste like the filling of your favorite pie—without the crust. They’re the kind of comfort you can only find in classic southern foods.
Get the Recipe: Fried Apples

Peach Cobbler Cake Recipe

A blue baking pan with peach cobbler cake covered with ice cream. — Peach Cobbler Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

No mixer is needed for this simple peach cake. Melted butter in the baking dish creates a fabulous crust.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler Cake Recipe

Moist Butter Pecan Pound Cake With Glaze

A bundt cake topped with a light glaze and chopped pecans, displayed on a glass cake stand with a stack of white plates and utensils in the background. — Moist Butter Pecan Pound Cake With Glaze. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This buttery Butter Pecan Pound Cake with brown butter frosting and pecans is a rich, comforting dessert perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Moist Butter Pecan Pound Cake With Glaze

Light And Fluffy Southern Caramel Cake Recipe

A frosted cake, perfect for Thanksgiving cakes, is sliced into portions and topped with pecan pieces on a white plate. A cake server and knife with frosting rest nearby on a blue surface. — Light And Fluffy Southern Caramel Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Soft butter cake with ground pecans, topped with creamy caramel cream cheese frosting. A Southern classic that’s rich, moist, and perfect for sharing.
Get the Recipe: Light And Fluffy Southern Caramel Cake Recipe

Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping

A square of cake with a bite taken out. — Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Try this buttermilk cake that is moist and topped with a delicious brown sugar praline topping for a simple and easy recipe.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping

An Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler Recipe With Homemade Biscuits

A white baking dish filled with freshly baked berry cobbler topped with six golden brown biscuits. The dish is placed on a cooling rack. Two spoons and stacked bowls, one pink and one green, sit in the background on a light-colored surface with a gray cloth—reminiscent of vintage recipes. — An Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler Recipe With Homemade Biscuits. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This Blackberry cobbler has a syrupy blackberry filling topped with golden brown créme fraiche biscuits made from scratch.
Get the Recipe: An Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler Recipe With Homemade Biscuits

Strawberry Icebox Pie With A Crisp Pretzel Crust

A slice of strawberry pie with whipped cream on top. — Strawberry Icebox Pie With A Crisp Pretzel Crust. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Strawberry Icebox Pie made with real strawberries, lemon juice, gelatin, and a pretzel crust for a nostalgic spring or summer dessert.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Icebox Pie With A Crisp Pretzel Crust

Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Praline Recipe

Pecan pralines on a cooling rack. — Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Praline Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Pralines are a Southern classic! Homemade caramel cross between a candy. and a cook. A heavenly treat that just takes 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Praline Recipe

Homemade Peach Cobbler With Pie Crust

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

This peach cobbler with pie crust 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

Ambrosia Salad

A nostalgic Ambrosia salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut, topped with creamy whipped cream and a touch of sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting

A piece of cake with a bite taken out. — From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This rich, decadent cake recipe has a moist chocolate cake base topped with gooey marshmallows and a homemade butter frosting.
Get the Recipe: From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting

Old Fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake

A close-up of a sliced bundt cake with a light glaze. The southern dessert is golden brown with a moist, dense interior. One piece is cut and raised on a cake server, revealing the soft cake texture inside. The background includes a white surface and blurred utensils. — Old Fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Kentucky Butter Cake is a Southern staple thanks to its tender crumb that’s soaked in a sweet butter sauce while still warm.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake

Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake With Lemon Curd

Light and fluffy Angel Food Cake made with egg whites, vanilla, and powdered sugar. A simple, airy dessert that’s like a slice of heaven.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake With Lemon Curd

Hummingbird Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

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 With Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Hummingbird Sheet Cake combines ripe bananas, pineapple, and cinnamon with a rich cream cheese frosting and crunchy pecans.
Get the Recipe: Hummingbird Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

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