12 Southern Desserts Perfect for Warm Weather
Southern dessert traditions are famous for making the most of fresh, seasonal fruit. From juicy peaches and tart blackberries to bright citrus flavors, these sweets offer a refreshing contrast to heavy meals. This collection of 12 fruit-forward Southern desserts highlights simple cakes, chilled pies, and classic cobblers that are easy to make and perfect for any sunny afternoon spread.
Paula Deen’s Southern Peach Cobbler
If you love ridiculously easy desserts like homemade cobblers, you’ll love this sweet Paula Deen’s Southern peach cobbler recipe. The Southern treat is easy to whip up with just a few ingredients for the batter and some sugar to mix with fresh or canned peaches. Either way, your family will rave and tell you this is the best peach cobbler ever!
Homemade Banana Pudding
This Homemade Banana Pudding recipe is a classic Southern dessert made with layers of sliced fresh bananas, an easy homemade custard, Nilla wafers, and topped with a light and fluffy meringue! It’s the perfect way to finish any Southern meal!
Orange Buttermilk Pie
Orange Buttermilk Pie is a delicious, sweet, Southern treat. The consistency of this pie reminds me of a cross between a custard pie and a lemon bar. But this pie is made even better with some orange flavor as well!
Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad is more than just a dish; it’s a delightful creation that has graced holiday tables and family gatherings for generations. This classic easy fruit salad, most popular in the Southern United States, is often referred to as “food of the gods”.
Blackberry Cobbler Recipe
Blackberry Cobbler is the ultimate summer dessert. Fresh juicy blackberries are baked into a luscious filling, then topped with a golden, sweet biscuit topping. This southern dessert is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Mint Julep Pudding Shots
Mint Julep Pudding Shots are a perfect small bite sweet for your Kentucky Derby Party or any Southern gathering.
Preacher Cake
Preacher cake is such an amazing dessert that originally started out as a Southern treat with the goal of being fast! This cake is loaded with a huge variety of different mix-ins. The flavor of the pineapple, coconut, and walnuts is a subtle part of the cake, which is then paired with a tasty cream cheese frosting and topped with more walnuts and coconut!
Blackberry Dumplings
These easy Blackberry Dumplings are the best summer dessert. Made with just 7-ingredients and only 15 minutes of prep time, you can have a dessert on the table in no time. It’s a tried and true Southern classic recipe, that’s simple enough for anyone to replicate.
Old Fashioned Tea Cakes
These Old Fashioned Tea Cakes are the perfect dessert or snack for entertaining guests and are so easy to make with less than 10 ingredients. A classic Southern cookie-like treat with chewy edges and a tender, soft center.
Grape Juice Pie
A southern classic, Grape Juice Pie might come as a surprise to others, but makes perfect culinary sense. What probably came out of necessity for a delicious dessert with a limited pantry and tight budget, this fun pie will be sure to turn heads and give you a pleasant surprise.
Hummingbird Cupcakes
Hummingbird cake is a classic southern favorite! I’ve made them into perfectly moist cupcakes filled with bananas, pineapple, and toasted pecans and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Try my fan favorite banana bread next!
Easy No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
This sweet no bake blueberry cheesecake is rich and creamy and is the perfect dessert for any occasion! The blueberry topping adds a burst of tart sweetness to this classic dessert. The smooth and creamy texture of the cheesecake is sure to please everyone at your next gathering.
