A Dozen Desserts That Prove Southern Food is Best Served Sweet

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Get ready for a sugar overload with a dozen Southern desserts that’ll make you weak in the knees! From the irresistible, flame-kissed goodness of Bananas Foster to the creamy indulgence of Simple Banana Pudding Recipe with Chessmen Cookies, these classics are guaranteed to bring the comfort. Whether you’re diving into a slice of Arkansas Possum Pie, savoring the warm, fruity notes of Peach Cobbler with Frozen Peaches, or sinking your fork into a piece of Derby Pie, these treats are the stuff dessert dreams are made of. And don’t even get us started on Southern Pecan Pie or that to-die-for Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie (with Marshmallow Topping)—one bite, and you’ll be hooked!

Bananas Foster

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The best bananas foster recipe in two white bowls with ice cream and sauce drizzled on top on gray background with blue napkin
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

Bananas Foster is the dessert of your dreams, where sliced bananas swim in a cinnamon caramel sauce, then get flambéed with rum and banana liqueur for a fiery finish. It’s sweet, boozy, and oh-so-spectacular—this one’s a showstopper!
Get the Recipe: Bananas Foster

Traditional Pound Cake Recipe

Best Pound Cake Recipe
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

Traditional Pound Cake is the buttery, old-fashioned classic that’s as easy as it gets—just six ingredients and a whole lot of love. Moist, rich, and guaranteed to make you swoon with every bite!
Get the Recipe: Traditional Pound Cake Recipe

Derby Pie

A thick slice of derby pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

Kentucky Derby Pie is the ultimate indulgence—think pecan pie meets chocolate chip cookie in a gooey, irresistible mashup. One bite, and you’ll be hooked on this rich, sweet treat that’s perfect for any occasion that calls for a little extra sweetness!
Get the Recipe: Derby Pie

Sweet Potato Pie

overhead view of a partially sliced sweet potato pie in a white pie pan with handles.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Sweet Potato Pie is a cozy, fall-inspired treat with a creamy, rich filling that’s bursting with vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Each bite feels like a warm hug, making it the perfect dessert for any occasion!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie

Simple Banana Pudding Recipe with Chessmen Cookies

Presenting a delicious Simple Banana Pudding Recipe with Chessmen Cookies
Photo credit: Cook’s with Soul

This Simple Banana Pudding is a Southern staple that combines Chessmen cookies, sweet condensed milk, and instant vanilla pudding mix for an easy, no-fuss treat. It’s creamy, dreamy, and the perfect dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth without any hassle!
Get the Recipe: Simple Banana Pudding Recipe with Chessmen Cookies

Pineapple Cupcakes

A pineapple upside down cake on a three plates stacked up with a bottle of milk in the background and cupcakes on the side.
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

Pineapple Cupcakes bring the tropics to your taste buds with juicy pineapple, light-as-air cupcakes, and a hint of caramel magic from brown sugar. They’re the perfect balance of sweet, light, and oh-so-delicious—like a vacation in every bite!
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Cupcakes

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie (with Marshmallow Topping)

A slice of pumpkin pie with whipped topping is in a glass pie dish.
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie by Sally’s Baking Recipes is a dessert that knows how to show off—nestled in a buttery, flaky crust and topped with a toasted marshmallow meringue that takes it to the next level. It’s sweet, smooth, and with a splash of bourbon, it’s the kind of pie that feels like a celebration in every bite!
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie (with Marshmallow Topping)

Strawberry Pie Recipe

A lattice crust strawberry pie sliced with scoops of vanilla ice cream and slices of fresh strawberries ready to serve
Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes

Strawberry Pie is summer in a slice—packed with fresh, sweetened strawberries and nestled in a buttery, flaky crust that practically melts in your mouth. It’s the kind of dessert that’ll have you savoring every bite while wishing for endless warm days!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pie Recipe

Coca-Cola Jello Salad

Coca-Cola Jello Salad is a jiggly, fruity treat studded with chopped tart cherries and crushed pineapple, with a bit of kick from the Coca-Cola.  It's especially fun made in a jello mold!
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

Coca-Cola Jello Salad is a jiggly, fruity fun fest with tart cherries, crushed pineapple, and just the right amount of effervescence from the Coca-Cola. It’s the dessert you didn’t know you needed, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
Get the Recipe: Coca-Cola Jello Salad

Arkansas Possum Pie

An image of a slice of possum pie on a plate.
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

Arkansas Possum Pie is a decadent, creamy masterpiece with layers of rich chocolate and tangy cream cheese, all sitting pretty in a buttery pecan shortbread crust. It’s the kind of pie that’ll leave everyone wondering how they can get another slice!
Get the Recipe: Arkansas Possum Pie

Southern Pecan Pie

a classic American pecan pie in front of dessert plates with forks.
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

Classic Southern Pecan Pie is the ultimate combo of ooey-gooey, crunchy, and sticky sweetness that’ll have you coming back for seconds (or thirds!). Whether it’s Pi Day, Thanksgiving, or just a BBQ craving, this pie is always a winner in my book!
Get the Recipe: Southern Pecan Pie

Peach Cobbler with Frozen Peaches

Presenting a delicious Peach Cobbler with Frozen Peaches
Photo credit: Cook’s with Soul

Southern Peach Cobbler made with frozen peaches and a golden lattice pie crust is your go-to easy dessert when you need something sweet and comforting. A scoop of ice cream on top, and you’ve got yourself a treat that’s both simple and totally irresistible!
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler with Frozen Peaches

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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