You Can Always Count On These 22 Desserts That Never Let Us Down

You can always count on these desserts to come through, whether it’s a last-minute get-together or a random Wednesday sweet craving. They’re the kind of recipes you don’t have to second-guess—just whip them up and watch everyone go back for seconds. Honestly, these are the ones I keep in my back pocket for when I need a guaranteed win.

Thumbprint Cookies

Pink Lemonade Cookies With Raspberry Lemon Filling. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Tangy pink lemonade cookies with fresh lemon and raspberry filling. A buttery, citrusy treat everyone will love!
Get the Recipe: Pink Lemonade Cookies With Raspberry Lemon Filling

Pecan Treats

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. — Bourbon Chocolate Ganache Pecan Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

Chocolate Pecan Pie is a fun twist on a beloved classic, made with a flaky pie crust, a chocolate ganache base, and a toasty pecan filling.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Chocolate Ganache Pecan Pie

Angel Food Cake

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

Lemon Bars

Two pieces of raspberry bars on a white plate. — Tangy And Sweet Lemon Squares Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Discover a refreshing twist on the classic lemon squares recipe by adding a sweet cranberry layer. A light, refreshing dessert!
Get the Recipe: Tangy And Sweet Lemon Squares Recipe

Meringue Pies

A pie with meringue on top. — Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pie With Meringue. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This old-fashioned Butterscotch Pie is ready in 30 minutes, made with a brown sugar custard filling. Packed with homemade flavor like Grandma used to make.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pie With Meringue

Fruit Cakes

A close-up of a round, sliced cake with creamy white frosting, topped with a cluster of fresh blackberries in the center—an elegant nod to viral vintage recipes. — Blackberry Jam Cake With Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This Blackberry Jam Cake is made with spiced cake layers, a blackberry jam filling, and a creamy blackberry cream cheese frosting.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Jam Cake With Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Jello Pies

A close-up of an old fashioned pie with a flaky crust, topped with whipped cream and fresh, halved strawberries. — Strawberry Jello Pie Recipe. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Fresh Strawberry Jello Pie is a classic summer treat that your family will love. Strawberry Pie made with jello and fresh whipped cream!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Jello Pie Recipe

Fruity Cupcakes

Six vanilla cupcakes with pink swirled frosting and white sprinkles are arranged on a round cooling rack, making the perfect sweet treats for mom, with part of another cupcake and a dark patterned surface visible on the side. — Lemon And Raspberry Cupcakes With Raspberry Buttercream Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Raspberry Cupcakes made with a lemon cupcake base, filled with raspberry jam, and topped with raspberry buttercream are a fresh, tangy treat.
Get the Recipe: Lemon And Raspberry Cupcakes With Raspberry But t ercream Frosting

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Slice And Bake Double Chocolate Cookies. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Double chocolate cookies are a rich and decadent cookie with a gooey chocolate chunk in every bite. A shortbread type dough that you just slice and bake.
Get the Recipe: Slice And Bake Double Chocolate Cookies

Bakery-Style Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

This super moist and tender lemon poppy seed cake has a buttery, pound cake-like texture with a sweet lemon glaze popping with citrus flavor.
Get the Recipe: Bakery-Style Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Fritters

These crispy, golden-brown Baked Apple Fritters are filled with sweet, juicy apple chunks and topped with a luscious glaze.
Get the Recipe: Baked Apple Fritters With Double Glaze

Brownies

Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Bars. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars use a chocolate brownie base, a fruity raspberry preserve filling, and a crumbly oat topping to create a decadent, fruity treat.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Bars

Pound Cake

This fresh peach Old Fashioned Pound Cake Recipe is deliciously moist! Topped with a simple peach glaze for the best summer dessert.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Peach Pound Cake

Cobblers

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

Bread Pudding

Indulge in the classic comfort of bread pudding, a rich and creamy baked dessert made with chunks of stale bread soaked in a sweet custard.
Get the Recipe: A Truly Classic Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

Dessert Biscuits

Southern Style Chocolate Chip Biscuits Recipe. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Fluffy Chocolate Chip Biscuits made with butter and buttermilk then dipped in a chocolate glaze. A perfect treat for breakfast or dessert.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Chocolate Chip Biscuits Recipe

Soda Cakes

A metal plate holds a piece of chocolate sheet cake topped with chopped nuts, served alongside two scoops of vanilla ice cream also sprinkled with nuts—a perfect back to school dessert. In the background, there's a baking tray with more chocolate cake and two bottles of Coca-Cola. — Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This chocolate Coca-Cola cake is made with the iconic soda, mini marshmallows, and unsweetened cocoa powder for extra rich chocolate flavor.
Get the Recipe: Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

Dessert Breads

Cinnamon bread with a section removed. — Homemade Buttery Cinnamon Bread (Dollywood Copycat). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Dollywood Cinnamon Bread is a pull-apart bread coated in butter and brown sugar and cinnamon for a gooey mouth watering breakfast treat.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Buttery Cinnamon Bread (Dollywood Copycat)

Muffins

These easy-to-assemble peach muffins are sweet and fluffy with a crunchy streusel topping. Chunks of baked-in peaches are an extra treat!
Get the Recipe: Bakery Style Peach Muffins With Streusel

Dessert Bars

Berry Crumble Bars With Fresh Fruit. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Fruit Crumble Bars are made with a buttery crust, creamy filling, and fresh raspberries and blackberries. Perfect for spring and summer.
Get the Recipe: Berry Crumble Bars With Fresh Fruit

Upside-Down Cakes

A slice of rhubarb pound cake. — Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Grab some fresh rhubarb and add it to a homemade sour cream pound cake for an amazing buttery cake topped with pecans and brown sugar.
Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

Sheet Cakes

Carrot Cake Sheet Cake With A Buttermilk Twist. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This Carrot Cake Sheet Cake is packed with fresh carrots, cinnamon, and pecans, then topped with rich cream cheese frosting.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake Sheet Cake With A Buttermilk Twist

Explore Recipes

MSN Slideshows