Delicious Southern Dessert Recipes

Oct 17, 2025

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In a Southern home, there’s always something sweet waiting in the kitchen. Whether it’s a jar of cookies ready for after-school snacks or cupcakes chilling in the fridge for Sunday supper, dessert is a constant comfort. Southern moms know that a homemade treat, no matter how simple or extravagant, brings everyone together around the table. From weeknight meals to special gatherings, dessert is more than just the final course—it’s a tradition that makes the kitchen the heart of the home. There’s always something warm and welcoming to share, just like a little slice of Southern hospitality.

Salted Burnt Caramel Custard
Mighty Irish Guinness Beer Cake
Strawberry Poke Cake with Fresh Strawberries (No Jello)
Gluten-free Banana Cake Recipe with Maple Walnut Frosting
Vintage Watergate Cake Recipe
Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake
Creamy Lemon Blancmange with Strawberry Sauce
Pineapple and Rum Cupcakes with Boozy Buttercream
Brownie Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies
Rum-Soaked Southern Coconut Pecan Cake
Old Fashioned Glazed Apple Slab Pie
Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies
Cream Puffs with Jasmine Custard
Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding with Warm Cinnamon Syrup
Magic Cake With Autumn Apples

Salted Burnt Caramel Custard

A glass jar of caramel custard topped with sea salt on a wooden table next to spoons and small purple flowers. — Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Salted Burnt Caramel Custard is a rich, silky variation on classic butterscotch pudding. I bake these luxurious Pots de Crème in clear glass jars, allowing me to appreciate their dusky, alluring color.
Get the Recipe: Salted Burnt Caramel Custard

Mighty Irish Guinness Beer Cake

A close-up of a fork holding a piece of red velvet cake with a generous dollop of cream cheese frosting. The cake has a rich, moist texture and deep red color, contrasting with the creamy, smooth frosting. The plate below is pink with a delicate floral pattern. — Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average

This festive Guinness Beer Cake Recipe offers a subtle sweetness with cocoa and a deep malt flavor from the Stout, topped off with a luxurious Baileys whipped cream. Chocolate is welcome any time, and especially in spring and summer desserts!

Get the Recipe: Guinness Chocolate Cake

Strawberry Poke Cake with Fresh Strawberries (No Jello)

A bundt cake with a light glaze sits on a white plate, garnished with fresh strawberry slices. The cake is surrounded by two white bowls filled with strawberries, and a white cloth with a red pattern is partially visible in the background. — Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

This strawberry poke cake is a fresh take on a southern classic, using real strawberries instead of Jello. The moist cake and sweet strawberry topping make it a refreshing and flavorful dessert for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Poke Cake with Fresh Strawberries (No Jello)

Gluten-free Banana Cake Recipe with Maple Walnut Frosting

A slice of moist banana cake topped with creamy frosting and halved walnuts sits on a white plate. A silver fork rests beside the cake. The background shows a wooden item slightly blurred, likely for aesthetic framing. — Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Fans of banana bread and cream cheese frosting will love this snackable Gluten-Free Banana Cake with Maple Walnut Frosting! It’s a hit for everyone, gluten-free or not, making it a perfect choice to bring to gatherings where everyone can enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-free Banana Cake Recipe with Maple Walnut Frosting

Vintage Watergate Cake Recipe

Close-up of a cake with light green frosting and a garnish of crushed nuts on the sides. The cake is placed on a silver plate, and a folded pink napkin is visible in the background. — Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Watergate cake is a retro dessert that features pistachio pudding, pecans, and whipped topping. This Southern summer dessert’s light, moist cake with a unique green hue is both fun and festive, perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Watergate Cake Recipe

Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake

A slice of layered cake topped with frosting and dried pineapple sits on a decorative plate. A fork is nearby, surrounded by small flowers and pineapple leaves. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

A Hummingbird Cake is like a perfect mash-up of moist banana bread and tropical pineapple, making it a true Southern favorite. This nostalgic dessert is cherished for its rich, fruity flavor and is widely considered one of the most beloved Southern cakes.

Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake

Creamy Lemon Blancmange with Strawberry Sauce

A spoonful of dessert featuring a layer of rich cream topped with a glossy strawberry sauce and lemon zest. In the background, there are fresh strawberries and part of a floral-patterned bowl. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

If you love lemon desserts, don’t skip this one! Lemon Blancmange is a simple gelatin-based treat made with heavy cream, sugar, and fresh lemon juice. It’s topped with a bright strawberry sauce that has a hint of rose petals, creating the perfect contrast of flavors. Serve it with fresh lemon zest for an extra citrusy kick.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Lemon Blancmange with Strawberry Sauce

Pineapple and Rum Cupcakes with Boozy Buttercream

This Pineapple and Rum Cupcake recipe is like a blend of a tropical Disney Dole Whip, a Pina Colada, and an adorable cupcake! The flavors of rum, pineapple, and coconut combine to make these cupcakes a refreshing, island-inspired treat that’s perfect for any celebration.

Get the Recipe: Pineapple and Rum Cupcakes with Boozy Buttercream

Brownie Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies

Two thick, chewy double chocolate chip cookies with chunks of chocolate and nuts sit on a light-colored surface. Scattered chocolate chips are visible in the background. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

If you can’t decide between cookie dough or brownie batter, skip both and try my Brownie Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies instead—they’ll give you the best of both worlds, with a smile guaranteed!

Get the Recipe: Brownie Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies

Rum-Soaked Southern Coconut Pecan Cake

A slice of moist, dense fruitcake with a rich, caramelized topping sits on a white plate. The background is decorated with festive holiday elements, including pinecones, holly, and warm twinkle lights. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Rum-Soaked Southern Coconut Pecan Cake is a rich, buttery Bundt cake made with a boxed mix and elevated by the addition of coconut rum and toasted pecans, creating a moist and flavorful Southern classic!

Get the Recipe: Rum-Soaked Southern Coconut Pecan Cake

Old Fashioned Glazed Apple Slab Pie

A close-up of a slice of apple pie topped with a thick white glaze. A fork holds a piece of the pie, showing the flaky crust and gooey apple filling underneath. The pie sits on a white plate. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

A ‘slab pie‘ is baked in a rimmed rectangular sheet pan, offering a greater surface area compared to a traditional round pie plate. This means you get a higher crust-to-filling ratio and a whole lot more pie to enjoy!

Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Glazed Apple Slab Pie

Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies

Close-up of freshly baked apple cookies cooling on a wire rack. The cookies are golden brown with visible chunks of apple and a slightly crumbly texture, placed on a light-colored surface. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

This Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookie recipe, overflowing with the essence of autumn, could easily be called applicious! It’s a delightful twist on a classic from the 1971 Betty Crocker Kitchens recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Cookies.

Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies

Cream Puffs with Jasmine Custard

A golden-brown cream puff filled with white cream, topped with glossy melted chocolate, rests on a wire cooling rack. The chocolate drips slightly down the sides, enhancing the puff's appetizing appearance. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Start with a basic choux pastry dough, bake it, and fill it with a delicate jasmine custard. These delightful two-bite treats can be kept in your fridge, ready to satisfy your craving for something subtly sweet!

Get the Recipe: Cream Puffs with Jasmine Custard

Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding with Warm Cinnamon Syrup

A baked casserole dish of bread pudding with chunks of bread, raisins, and possibly other fruits, spiced with cinnamon, featuring a golden-brown top in a rectangular dish. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding with Warm Cinnamon Syrup is the perfect fall dessert that starts with a can of pumpkin and a loaf of Challah bread. This simple treat is sure to earn rave reviews and plenty of oooh’s and ahhh’s from your guests. It’s a ‘make-ahead and bake later’ option, ideal for busy cooks juggling plans for a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding with Warm Cinnamon Syrup

Magic Cake With Autumn Apples

A slice of creamy, custard-filled cake dusted with powdered sugar sits on a white plate. A fork with a piece of the cake rests beside it, revealing the smooth, yellow filling and flaky layers. The background is blurred, emphasizing the dessert. — Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

My Ukrainian great-grandmother made Sharlotka more than any other cake. This one-bowl wonder combines eggs, flour, sugar, milk, vanilla, and butter, and I now call it Magic Cake. It’s a favorite in our house, especially in the fall when I add fresh apples! Magic Cake With Autumn Apples is delicious and only requires six simple ingredients!

Get the Recipe: Magic Cake with Autumn Apples