20 Old-Fashioned Desserts That Taste Just Like Grandma Used To Make

With MyRecipes , your personal recipe box, you can save and organize your Southern Living favorites and thousands more in one place. We love trying new and trendy recipes as much as the next bunch, but at the end of the day, it's our family recipes that are often nearest and dearest to our hearts. Many of our greatest memories and milestones are hallmarked by something homecooked from Grandma . Whether it's a decadent cake or a classic pie , these cherished dessert recipes keep those memories alive for years to come. When we pass down these heirloom recipes, we're also passing down love, tradition, and the essence of family. Here are 20 old-fashioned desserts straight from Grandma's recipe box—each one a sweet reminder of the love that has shaped us. 01 of 20 Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If there's one dessert we will always put on a pedestal, it's Grandma's banana pudding. With delicious layers of vanilla wafer cookies, vanilla custard, fresh banana, and whipped cream, we eagerly anticipate this dessert at every summer picnic and family reunion. Get The Recipe Save 02 of 20 Coconut Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This moist, fluffy layer cake was always the highlight of springtime gatherings and Easter Sundays. Grandma's homemade coconut cake recipe uses flaked coconut, coconut extract, and generous amounts of whipped cream frosting. Get The Recipe Save 03 of 20 Pecan Pie Credit: GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLIST: TORIE COX; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY If Grandma was coming over for Thanksgiving, that only meant one thing: she was bringing her famous pecan pie. Often made with fresh-picked pecans from her front yard, this pie is a true labor of love. Get The Recipe Save Grandma's 20 Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts 04 of 20 Fresh Peach Cobbler Credit: Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman We always rejoiced when peaches came in season because we knew Grandma would make her irresistible peach cobbler. Topped with a golden, flaky crust and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this dessert is the ultimate summer treat. Get The Recipe Save 15 Of Grandma's Favorite Peach Recipes 05 of 20 Homemade Pound Cake Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The only thing better than eating a warm slice of Grandma's pound cake was lounging around the house for hours afterward. This classic and timeless recipe received high praise from our five-star reviewers. Get The Recipe Save 06 of 20 Bread Pudding Credit: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Grandma knew the best way to use a leftover challah bread loaf was to make bread pudding. Each bite of this warm cinnamon-spiced dessert is filled with nostalgia. Get The Recipe Save 07 of 20 Classic Sweet Potato Pie Credit: The Spruce / Armando Rafael Autumn was always hallmarked by Grandma's sweet potato pie. Her crunchy, homemade crust was perfectly complemented by the creamy, spiced goodness of the sweet potato filling. Get The Recipe Save 08 of 20 Best-Ever Lemon Meringue Pie Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If we're being honest, few things top Grandma's lemon meringue pie, which was always equally as stunning as it was delicious. With its vibrant lemon filling and fluffy cloud of toasty meringue, this pie garnered praise at every potluck Grandma brought it to. Get The Recipe Save 09 of 20 Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Credit: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: MISSIE NEVILLE CRAWFORD; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX On a chilly autumn or winter day, this classic dessert was pure comfort in a pie tin. Grandma's apple pie had the perfect balance of sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples and a golden crust. Get The Recipe Save 21 Of Grandma's Favorite Apple Desserts 10 of 20 Pecan Pralines Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you were raised in or around Louisiana, you likely grew up watching your Grandma whip up batches of these sugary treats. These pralines have that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture thanks to a combination of roasted pecans, caramelized sugar, and creamy butter. Get The Recipe Save 11 of 20 Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Many of us only know this dessert through our Grandmas, and we wouldn't have it any other way. It doesn't get much more old-fashioned than a classic buttermilk pie, made with a creamy, custard-like filling and a buttery, flaky crust. Get The Recipe Save 12 of 20 Snickerdoodle Cookies Credit: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Baking snickerdoodles was one of the best (and most fun) ways to score some quality time with Grandma during the holidays. We'd help roll the dough in cinnamon sugar and then patiently watch our creations bake in the oven. Get The Recipe Save 13 of 20 Heavenly Key Lime Pie Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Grandma's key lime pie always kept us cool on hot summer days. According to one five-star reviewer, this recipe's homemade graham cracker crust truly makes the key lime shine. Get The Recipe Save 14 of 20 Possum Pie Credit: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless If you grew up in Arkansas, you can't help but think of Grandma when you hear the words possum pie. Made with luscious layers of cream cheese filling and dark chocolate pudding, all held together by a pecan shortbread crust, possum pie is one of the best old-fashioned desserts there is. Get The Recipe Save 15 of 20 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Grandma's peanut butter kiss cookies were always a hit at class parties. Fun and super easy to make, these cookies combined two childhood staples: peanut butter and Hershey's chocolate. Get The Recipe Save 16 of 20 Lemon Chess Pie Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Also known as the 'pantry pie,' Grandma relied on simple ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, and cornmeal to create this heavenly dessert. And of course, it wouldn't be a chess pie without the vinegar or lemon juice to help cut the sweetness. Get The Recipe Save 17 of 20 Chewy Molasses Cookies Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox As kids, we could always count on finding homemade treats in Grandma's cookie jar, and oftentimes it would be these mouthwatering molasses cookies. Their chewy, soft centers were perfectly complemented by their ever-so-slightly crispy edges. Get The Recipe Save 18 of 20 Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Many of our grandmothers spent years perfecting their recipes for fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls. With layers of buttery dough swirled with cinnamon and sugar, and topped with a generous drizzle of cream cheese icing, these rolls were perfect for both breakfast and dessert. Get The Recipe Save 19 of 20 Ambrosia Salad Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke We'll let you decide whether this dish is a salad or a dessert, or both. Either way, Grandma's ambrosia salad, made with fresh fruit, coconut flakes, and sometimes mini marshmallows, was always a highlight of holiday gatherings. Get The Recipe Save 20 of 20 Cherry Delight Credit: Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Grandma had a remarkable talent for turning simple ingredients into something elegant. This no-bake dessert features a graham cracker crust layered with a creamy mixture of sweetened cream cheese and whipped topping, topped off with a tangy layer of cherry pie filling. Get The Recipe Save