Sweet Traditions – 10 Southern Desserts Passed Down Through Generations

Jenny deRemer

Updated Aug 29, 2024

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The South is known for its hospitality, comfort food, and of course, its irresistible desserts. From creamy pies to buttery cakes, Southern desserts are as rich in flavor as they are in tradition. Join us as we explore some of the most beloved sweet treats that have been passed down through generations, bringing warmth and sweetness to any gathering.

Table of Contents

Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake

A glazed pound cake on a wooden cake stand.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Everybody’s momma has their own method for pound cake, but this two-step recipe for a Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake wins just for being EASY. This moist and dense cake is made with cream cheese, butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla extract.

GET THIS RECIPE: Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Chess Pie

A slice of custard pie with a golden, flaky crust is served on a white plate, accompanied by a fork. The pie is garnished with a light dusting of powdered sugar, and is placed on a decorative cloth, surrounded by autumn leaves and greenery.
Image Credit: Cooking Classy.

Chess Pie is a timeless Southern favorite, ideal for celebrations and holiday gatherings. Its layers of decadence, velvety texture, and sweet, rich flavor make it an absolutely sublime dessert!

GET THIS RECIPE: Chess Pie

America’s Favorite Easy Dessert, Chocolate Pie!

A slice of pie with four unique layers of chocolate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This recipe is for a decadent quadruple Chocolate Pie that combines a chocolate cookie crust with layers of chocolate mousse, ganache, and whipped cream. It’s an impressive and indulgent dessert that is perfect for chocolate lovers.

GET THIS RECIPE: Chocolate Pie

Cornbread Sugar Cookies with Honey Butter Frosting

Several sugar cookies are cooling on a black wire rack. Each cookie is topped with a layer of white frosting and colorful sprinkles. The cookies are neatly arranged in rows and are set against a blurred wooden background.
Image Credit: Cooking Classy.

Cornbread enthusiasts will want to whip up these Cornbread Sugar Cookies with Honey Butter Frosting right away! They’re soft and sweet like classic sugar cookies, but the cornmeal adds a delightful texture, and the honey butter frosting brings a cozy Southern twist.

GET THIS RECIPE: Cornbread Sugar Cookies with Honey Butter Frosting

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Close-up of a slice of pecan chocolate pie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The pie has a flaky crust, rich chocolate filling, and a generous amount of pecans. The melting ice cream adds a touch of creaminess to the decadent dessert.
Image Credit: Baran Bakery.

The only thing that could elevate Pecan Pie is Chocolate! Imagine a delightful blend of gooey brownie and pecan pie, all nestled in a buttery, flaky pie crust. For an extra treat, top it with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of hot fudge or salted caramel if you’re in the mood for something indulgent. 

GET THIS RECIPE: Chocolate Pecan Pie

Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding

Layers of banana pudding, Nilla wafer cookies, and whipped cream.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Banana Pudding Trifle is layers of creamy, homemade banana pudding, Cool Whip, and America’s snack cookie, good old ‘Nilla Wafers. Banana pudding is Southern all the way around and a real crowd-pleaser. This dessert is made in advance and assembled in a large glass trifle dish to show off the beautiful layers.

GET THIS RECIPE: Banana Pudding

Rum Soaked Southern Coconut Pecan Cake

A slice of rum-soaked cake with shaved coconut.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Be transported to the shores of Barbados while devouring slices of this fragrant and oh-so-tropical Rum-Soaked Southern Coconut Pecan Cake. This decadent cake is packed with the rich flavors of coconut and pecan, then infused with a delicious rum syrup. 

GET THIS RECIPE: Coconut Rum Cake

Pecan Cobbler

A close-up image of a dessert featuring a serving of caramel pecan bread pudding. The pudding has a light, crumbly texture and is topped with a rich, caramel sauce and bits of pecan. In the background, there is a scoop of vanilla ice cream starting to melt.
Image Credit: South Your Mouth.

This Pecan Cobbler recipe delivers a delightful blend of a gooey pecan pie filling and a sweet, buttery cobbler topping. The result is a decadent dessert with a rich, nutty flavor and a comforting texture that’s perfect for any occasion.

GET THIS RECIPE: Pecan Cobbler

Hummingbird Cake

A forkful of 3-layer hummingbird cake with pineapple and a cream cheese frosting.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Hummingbird Cake is a classic Southern dessert that is best described to the uninitiated as ‘banana bread meets canned pineapple’ and is the most popular of all Southern cakes. With a unique blend of bananas, pineapple, and pecans, this cake has a flavor that’s truly unforgettable. Each layer gets heaps of luscious cream cheese frosting as if the cake itself just wasn’t enough! Not only is it incredibly tasty, but it’s also surprisingly easy to make. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, you’re sure to enjoy preparing this Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe.

GET THIS RECIPE: Hummingbird Cake

Apple Bottom Bourbon Pecan Praline Cheesecake

A praline pecan topped cheesecake.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Apple Bottom Bourbon Pecan Praline Cheesecake will leave you breathless after your first bite. This recipe marries creamy cheesecake and praline pecans with apple pie. Oh yeah, it’s all ‘kissed’ with rich bourbon flavor. The crust is made with a mixture of graham cracker crumbs and pecans, which adds a nice nutty crunch to the dessert. The cheesecake filling is smooth and creamy, with a hint of bourbon that complements the sweetness of the praline topping. 

GET THIS RECIPE: Apple Pie Cheesecake

Butter Pecan Cookies

A pile of pecan cookies on a plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This baking recipe for Butter Pecan Cookies is a must-try if you are searching for a ‘classic Southern’ baked goodie. These are divine, employing Beurre Noisette or brown butter as the heavy lifter in this method. Crunchy pecans only add to the indulgence. They’re incredibly easy to make and require only a few ingredients, making them the perfect choice for a quick snack or an impromptu dessert.

GET THIS RECIPE: Butter Pecan Cookies

Homemade Pumpkin Praline Pie

Top view of a partially eaten pecan-topped pie in a glass dish on a cooling rack. A slice of the pie is on a white plate nearby, with a fork on the plate. A blue cloth is draped beside the cooling rack.
Image Credit: Kitchen Divas.

This homemade Pumpkin Praline Pie combines the creamy spice of pumpkin pie with a sweet, crunchy pecan topping. No need to choose between pecan and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving—this dessert offers the best of both worlds in one delicious slice!

GET THIS RECIPE: Homemade Pumpkin Praline Pie

Pork Rind and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut butter cookies with crunchy pork rind coating and sea salt.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Fans of ‘sweet ‘n salty,’ your wish has been granted! At least that’s what you will be saying after making these fairly unique Pork Rind and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. I am NOT KIDDING when I tell you that these cookies are a perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors, with the added crunchiness of unflavored pork rinds. The recipe is easy to follow and requires peanut butter, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and of course, salty, unflavored pork rinds. Switch it up!

GET THIS RECIPE: Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

Country Apple Pie

A big apple pie.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This might be the most ingenious recipe out there for Apple Pie, as the method yields not just one but three pies. Don’t worry; they needn’t all be baked at once, and I promise it’s no more work than making a single pie! Batching ingredients for apple pie makes sense if you like to eat and like to share what you make. This perfect combination of sweet, tart, and buttery flavors, is batched in bulk, assembled into pies, and then either baked or frozen for later. Boom! Thanksgiving dessert is already made! The flaky crust is put together with both with butter and shortening, giving it a rich, crisp texture that pairs perfectly with the warm, gooey apple filling. Hungry yet?

GET THIS RECIPE: Homemade Apple Pie

Vintage Watergate Cake

A layer cake with green frosting and chopped pistacho nuts.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Watergate Cake, also known as Pistachio Cake, is a classic dessert that came to be in the early 1950s and has been enjoyed by generations ever since. The cake’s unique flavor comes from the pistachio pudding mix, which gives it a subtle nutty taste and a beautiful green color. The texture is moist and fluffy and begins with a box of cake mix. It makes a very pretty stand-alone dessert and is a great beginner baker recipe! 

GET THIS RECIPE: Pistachio Cake

Southern Strawberry-Coconut Punch Bowl Cake

A close-up of a layered trifle dessert in a glass bowl. The dessert features layers of whipped cream, strawberries, and a white fluffy mixture topped with shredded coconut, chopped nuts, and whole strawberries. Plates are in the blurred background.
Photo Credit: The Kitchen is My Playground.

This punch bowl cake layers moist cake, fresh strawberries, and creamy coconut pudding. The combination of flavors and textures makes this Southern summer dessert a delightful surprise, perfect for feeding a crowd at a summer potluck.
Get the Recipe: Southern Strawberry-Coconut Punch Bowl Cake

Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Spice Cake

A plate of apple crisp is topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Caramel drizzle surrounds the dessert, and a fork lies beside it on the white plate.
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Spice Cake. Photo credit: Yellow Bliss Road.

This Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Spice Cake is a perfect way to treat yourself. Loaded with tender apple slices and warm spices, it’s topped with a luscious caramel glaze that will make your kitchen smell amazing. Its use of the slow cooker allows the flavors to meld beautifully, making it a top pick for Southern slow cooker desserts.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Spice Cake

Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake

A small white ramekin filled with peach cobbler topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. A red polka-dotted napkin is beside the ramekin, adding a pop of color to the background.
Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake. Photo credit: Pumpkin ‘N Spice.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake. With just a few simple ingredients, including spiced apple pie filling and a buttery cake mix, you can create a warm, gooey dessert that’s sure to please. Its simplicity and deliciousness make it a standout choice among popular Southern slow cooker desserts.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake

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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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