Go Back in Time With 25 Nostalgic American Desserts Grandma Used To Make

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You know those nostalgic American desserts Grandma used to make—the ones that somehow managed to be weird and wonderful all at once? From technicolor salads to cakes soaked in canned fruit syrup, they weren’t always fancy, but they delivered. This lineup brings back all the vintage sweet treats that ruled the table way before artisanal anything was a thing.

Carrot Cake Sheet Cake With A Buttermilk Twist

carrot cake sheet cake cut into slices on a wooden cutting board.
Carrot Cake Sheet Cake With A Buttermilk Twist. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This Carrot Cake Sheet Cake is packed with fresh carrots, cinnamon, and pecans, then topped with rich cream cheese frosting.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake Sheet Cake With A Buttermilk Twist

Homemade Blackberry Pie With Double Crust

A lattice topped blackberry pie.
Homemade Blackberry Pie With Double Crust. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Enjoy a delicious Blackberry Pie with a buttery crust and a sweet-tart filling. Perfect for summer gatherings or a cozy dessert.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Blackberry Pie With Double Crust

Cast Iron Skillet Blackberry Cobbler

A casserole dish of blackberry cobbler with a serving spoon.
Cast Iron Skillet Blackberry Cobbler. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This Blackberry Skillet Cobbler combines juicy blackberries with a soft and springy golden brown cake on top.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Blackberry Cobbler

Banana Pudding Poke Cake With Vanilla Pudding

banana pudding poke cake slice on a plate.
Banana Pudding Poke Cake With Vanilla Pudding. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Banana Pudding Poke Cake combines moist cake with vanilla pudding and tops it with whipped cream, bananas, and vanilla wafers.
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake With Vanilla Pudding

The Easiest Banana Pudding With Vanilla Wafers

A bowl of banana pudding with a spoon in it next to two servings.
The Easiest Banana Pudding With Vanilla Wafers. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Featuring layers of bananas, creamy vanilla pudding, and crunchy vanilla wafer cookies, this Banana Pudding is an instant classic.
Get the Recipe: The Easiest Banana Pudding With Vanilla Wafers

Classic Lemon Icebox Pie

Two slices of lemon pie on plates next to a pie dish.
Classic Lemon Icebox Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This tangy, creamy Lemon Icebox Pie is a Southern staple that’s easy to make and impossible to resist. A true throwback to summer icebox cakes of the past.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Icebox Pie

Moist Coconut Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

coconut layer cake top view.
Moist Coconut Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

A moist coconut cake layered with coconut syrup and finished with a creamy coconut cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any coconut lover.
Get the Recipe: Moist Coconut Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

A serving of a St. Louis butter cake on a plate.
St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Rich and delicious, St. Louis Butter Cake is a classic dessert packed with buttery flavor and a gooey filling.
Get the Recipe: St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Homemade Peach Pie With Crumble Topping

A slice of peach pie topped with pecan crumble.
Homemade Peach Pie With Crumble Topping. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts

This Crumble Peach Pie has a buttery crust, juicy peach filling, and a sweet crumb topping that is begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Peach Pie With Crumble Topping

Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Pie

A slice of chocolate brownie pie topped with ice cream and syrup.
Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts

This rich and decadent Brownie Pie has a soft, moist, and chewy brownie filling—with the unexpected touch of toasted pecans!
Get the Recipe: Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Pie

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

lemon blueberry bundt cake top view.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This is a simple from-scratch recipe for blueberry bundt cake. With blueberries in every bite and a cream cheese frosting, what’s not to love!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding With Meringue

Banana pudding topped with meringue in a baking dish with a serving spoon.
Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding With Meringue. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This warm banana pudding is a deliciously creamy dessert made with fresh bananas and a rich custard.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding With Meringue

Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding With White Chocolate Sauce

A casserole dish with peach bread pudding with part of it removed.
Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding With White Chocolate Sauce. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Baked to perfection, this Peach Bread Pudding combines soft, moist bread cubes with juicy peaches for a magical spin on a classic dessert.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding

Moravian Sugar Cake From Scratch

Squares of sugar cake next to cups of coffee.
Moravian Sugar Cake From Scratch. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Moravian Sugar Cake is made with soft yeast dough and topped with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, for a sweet, caramelized treat.
Get the Recipe: Moravian Sugar Cake From Scratch

A Truly Classic Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

A single serving of bread pudding with vanilla sauce.
A Truly Classic Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Indulge in the classic comfort of bread pudding, a rich and creamy baked dessert made with chunks of stale bread soaked in a sweet custard.
Get the Recipe: A Truly Classic Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake With Lemon Curd

Three slices of angel food cake with lemon curd and blueberries.
Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake With Lemon Curd. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Light and fluffy Angel Food Cake made with egg whites, vanilla, and powdered sugar. A simple, airy dessert that’s like a slice of heaven.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Angel Food Cake With Lemon Curd

Banana Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

banana layer cake slice.
Banana Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This moist banana layer cake with rich brown butter cream cheese frosting is a deliciously easy dessert perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Banana Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

A Foolproof Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Made With Condensed Milk

A sweet potato pie next to a bowl of whipped cream.
A Foolproof Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Made With Condensed Milk. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Sweet Potato Pie with condensed milk, orange zest, and cinnamon makes for a creamy, flavorful dessert. Perfect for holidays or any time of year.
Get the Recipe: A Foolproof Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Made With Condensed Milk

Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

a slice of coca cola cake on a plate.
Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This chocolate Coca-Cola cake is made with the iconic soda, mini marshmallows, and unsweetened cocoa powder for extra rich chocolate flavor.
Get the Recipe: Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallow

Cream Cheese Filled Coffee Cake With Almond Streusel

A slice of coffee cake with a bite taken out.
Cream Cheese Filled Coffee Cake With Almond Streusel. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Always moist, this cream cheese coffee cake is oozing with a dreamy layer of cream cheese, and topped with lemony sugared sliced almonds.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Filled Coffee Cake With Almond Streusel

Bourbon Chocolate Ganache Pecan Pie

A slice of chocolate pecan pie with whipped cream on top.
Bourbon Chocolate Ganache Pecan Pie. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Chocolate Pecan Pie is a fun twist on a beloved classic, made with a flaky pie crust, a chocolate ganache base, and a toasty pecan filling.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Chocolate Ganache Pecan Pie

Old Fashioned Rhubarb Custard Pie

Old Fashioned Rhubarb Custard Pie. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Classic rhubarb pie meets its match with this creamy old fashioned rhubarb and custard pie recipe. Baked with a caramelized sugar topping.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Rhubarb Custard Pie

Old School Morning Glory Muffins With Coconut

Old School Morning Glory Muffins With Coconut. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Filled with hearty ingredients like carrots, apple, and coconut, these insanely good muffins are a great start to your busy day.
Get the Recipe: Old School Morning Glory Muffins With Coconut

Pineapple Upside Down Cake (From Cake Mix!)

up close top view of pineapple upside down cake.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake (From Cake Mix!). Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

The old-fashioned Pineapple Upside Down Cake is a simple and classic dessert that everyone loves. Made easy thanks to a cake mix!
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cake (From Cake Mix!)

Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe With Premade Pie Crust

Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe With Premade Pie Crust. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This easy peach cobbler with premade pie crust recipe only takes about 15 minutes to prepare using fresh, canned, or frozen peaches.
Get the Recipe: Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe With Premade Pie Crust

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