Recipes Desserts 45 Classic American Desserts for the History Books By Melanie Fincher Melanie Fincher Melanie Fincher is a Birmingham, Alabama–based food writer who covers everything from cooking techniques to gadget reviews. She has nearly 7 years experience writing news and lifestyle content. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on December 1, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Allrecipes Magazine What's more American than blue jeans and baseball? Well, we'd like to think these classic American desserts are up there on the list of all-American standouts. From old fashioned banana splits to New York cheesecake, these uniquely American desserts go beyond just apple pie (but don't worry, we included it too). Find all the best American desserts with roots right here in the U.S. — you just might learn a little American history along the way! 01 of 46 Chantal's New York Cheesecake View Recipe chibi chef New York-style cheesecake is a lot like New Yorkers themselves — no nonsense, just the cake without any toppings or sauce (although you can always add them). It's hard to resist the smooth, extra-creamy texture of this classic dessert, like that of this top-rated recipe from recipe creator Taliesen: "Everyone that's tried it has said it tasted just like the ones in a deli!" Our 20 Best Cheesecake Recipes of All Time 02 of 46 Fresh Southern Peach Cobbler View Recipe aki s What's more all-American than a classic Georgia peach cobbler? Don't forget the vanilla ice cream! What Is the Difference Between a Cobbler, Crisp, and Crumble? 03 of 46 Bananas Foster II View Recipe House of Aqua Bananas cooked in a warm, buttery rum sauce and served over vanilla ice cream, this dessert originated in New Orleans in the 1950s and has been a classic ever since. 04 of 46 Angel Food Cake I View Recipe Everyone loves the light and cloud-like texture of a classic angel food cake, a dessert that dates back to the late 19th century. Serve with fresh strawberries and whipped topping. 05 of 46 Pecan Pie View Recipe Allrecipes Magazine Pecans are plentiful in Southern states, so it's no wonder you'll find them in all sorts of Southern desserts, but none are more classic than a traditional pecan pie. 23 Best Pecan Dessert Recipes 06 of 46 Texas Sheet Cake V View Recipe AllrecipesPhoto Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the cake! This moist and delicious chocolate cake is baked in a rimmed baking sheet and yields a whopping 32 servings. 10 Texas Sheet Cake Recipes 07 of 46 Best Chocolate Chip Cookies View Recipe France C It's hard to believe this iconic cookie's invention was actually an accident! In 1930, Ruth Graves Wakefield, who ran the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, substituted pieces of semi-sweet chocolate for baker's chocolate, thinking it would result in a solid chocolate cookie...and the rest is history. 28 Most Popular Types of Cookies 08 of 46 Old Fashioned Pineapple Upside-Down Cake View Recipe Jen This iconic fruit-studded cake came out of a 1925 Hawaiian Pineapple Company (now called Dole Company) cooking contest calling for pineapple recipes. 20 Luscious Desserts That Start With Canned Pineapple 09 of 46 Buckeye Balls II View Recipe My Hot Southern Mess Named for their resemblance to the nut of the Ohio Buckeye tree, these chocolate-peanut butter confections are great for sharing. 10 of 46 Watergate Salad View Recipe Trusted Brands Originally called "Pistachio Pineapple Delight," this iconic American "salad" features instant pistachio pudding mix, canned pineapple, marshmallows, walnuts, and whipped topping. 11 of 46 Baked Fresh Cherry Pie View Recipe tara Spencer Apple pie gets all the credit, but cherry pie is another fresh fruit pie that's just as American and just as classic. This recipe features fresh cherries for a truly homemade dessert. 12 of 46 Banana Pudding I View Recipe Sugarplum How banana pudding came to be a Southern staple is a bit of a mystery, considering bananas don't grow here. However, it's no wonder its popularity has only increased with time, because this trifle-like dessert is easy to serve to a crowd and doesn't have to be kept warm — perfect for all those summer potlucks and picnics! 13 of 46 The Best Lemon Bars View Recipe Allrecipes Magazine This classic bake sale dessert is the perfect blend of sweet and tart, all wrapped up in a buttery dessert bar. 14 of 46 Buttermilk Chess Pie View Recipe Michelle Tellez Buttermilk pie, along with vinegar pie and mock apple pie, are considered "desperation pies." Born out of the Great Depression and World War II, these pies were made using readily available, staple ingredients, as opposed to fresh fruits. But don't let that fool you — in the case of buttermilk pie, the result is an unexpectedly decadent pie, with a smooth, buttery filling. 11 Budget-Friendly Depression-Era Recipes That Are Still Delicious 15 of 46 Homemade Banana Split View Recipe This old-fashioned soda fountain treat is so easy to recreate at home. Reviewer and Allrecipes Allstar Jenny Aleman de Bolaños describes it as, "A classic dessert that never disappoints." 16 Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain Treats 16 of 46 Phoenician's Key Lime Pie View Recipe Brie Passano "When I moved from Lebanon to Florida spring of 1999, I brought with me my love for cooking and search for new recipes. The famous key lime pie was new to me," says recipe creator Arlette Therese Abdallah. "I kept playing with the recipe, and the right flavor was found." 17 of 46 Sunday's Apple Pie View Recipe SMClanton Apple pie is so patriotic that it's not uncommon for folks to use the phrase "as American as apple pie" when looking to describe something that's quintessentially American. Try using a combination of apples such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples for a nice balance of sweet and tart flavors. 18 of 46 Funnel Cakes IV View Recipe Allrecipes Magazine Synonymous with county fairs and carnivals, funnel cakes are believed to be created by the Pennsylvania Dutch. Reviewer April suggests using a cleaned out ketchup bottle to dispense the batter. 15 Over-the-Top Carnival and Fair Foods You Can Make at Home 19 of 46 Pralines View Recipe Maria Whitmore Cowart American pralines were developed in New Orleans as a variation of French pralines. Pecans were substituted for almonds, and cream was added to the mix for a super smooth, fudge-like confection. 20 of 46 Boston Cream Pie I View Recipe Meredith Food Studios Also known as a Boston Cream Cake, this classic Boston delicacy dates all the way back to the late 19th century. It features a smooth custard sandwiched between layers of sponge cake and topped with rich chocolate fondant. 21 of 46 Sugar Cream Pie I View Recipe GRmaggy Named the official state pie of Indiana in 2009, sugar cream pie is believed to have originated in Amish and Shaker communities. It's made with flour, butter, salt, vanilla, cream, and brown sugar, and can be served warm or chilled. 22 of 46 Whoopie Pies I View Recipe TaosKat It is said that Amish husbands and children would shout "whoopie!" upon finding one of these handheld pies in their lunch, although many different places from Maine to Pennsylvania lay claim to this iconic American treat. 23 of 46 Black and White Cookies I View Recipe Black and White Cookies. AuntE Born out of New York City bakeries, this eye-catching cookie features one half vanilla and one half chocolate frosting. 24 of 46 Hawaiian Wedding Cake II View Recipe Photo by Lori Schreiner. A Hawaiian wedding cake is like a piña colada in cake form. The best part? It's made with tons of shortcut ingredients including boxed cake mix, canned pineapple, instant pudding mix, and frozen whipped topping. 25 of 46 Lemon Chiffon Cake View Recipe Photo by Carissa Bagnell. A whipped lemon pie filling is sandwiched between layers of light and airy lemon chiffon cake in this bright and luscious dessert. 26 of 46 Sweet Potato Pie I View Recipe Meredith Food Studios Sweet potato pie, the Southern cousin to pumpkin pie, was developed by enslaved people, and continues to be tradition in the South and within Black communities. Reviewer SL says, "People who have eaten sweet potato pie all their lives say this recipe is the best they have ever tasted." 27 of 46 Harvey Wallbanger Cake View Recipe Suzanna Inspired by the 1970s libation, this cake came onto the scene not long after its cocktail counterpart and features ingredients from the classic drink including Galliano liqueur, orange juice, and vodka. 28 of 46 Mississippi Mud Pie I View Recipe My Hot Southern Mess This fluffy, chocolaty dessert comes in countless variations, some with two layers, some with five. This version features a graham cracker crust with layers of fluffy cream cheese and chocolate pudding. "I've made this for two occasions now and it was always the first empty dish," says reviewer Mary. 29 of 46 Zebra Cake III View Recipe AllrecipesPhoto Recipe creator Joanne L. Hayes learned this easy-to-make icebox cake from her grandmother-in-law, who served it during World War II. 30 of 46 Copycat Berger Cookies View Recipe Meredith Food Studios "Berger cookies are a product of Baltimore's DeBaufre Bakeries," says recipe creator thymeforpineapple. "They are similar to New York City's Black and Whites (a.k.a. Half-and-Halfs or Half Moons). They are cake-like cookies piled with thick, rich chocolate icing." 31 of 46 Baked Alaska View Recipe melissahyerstay This unique and admittedly strange dessert consists of cake and ice cream enveloped in a toasted meringue. The meringue acts to insulate the ice cream from the heat, making this classic dessert quite the culinary feat. 32 of 46 Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad View Recipe A strawberry pretzel salad is standard fare at potlucks (there's always at least one in the church cookbook!). It features a crust made of pretzels, topped with layers of cream cheese and strawberry jello. 15 Vintage Jell-O Desserts That Are Due for a Comeback 33 of 46 Mrs. Sigg's Snickerdoodles View Recipe footballgrl16 The real key to an excellent snickerdoodle is cream of tartar: This humble ingredient gives the cookies its signature tang and chewy texture. 34 of 46 Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle View Recipe helen2 As legend has it, peanut brittle was apparently an accidental creation: In the late 19th century, a woman was making taffy when she added baking soda instead of cream of tartar. The result was a hard brittle rather than a soft, chewy taffy. 35 of 46 Southern Red Velvet Cake View Recipe Originally, red velvet cake got its hue from the reaction between raw cocoa powder and acidic ingredients such as buttermilk and vinegar. Today's cocoa powder has been alkalized, so in order to achieve the eye-catching red color you'll need to rely on red food coloring or plant-based alternatives like beets. Why Is Red Velvet Cake Red? 36 of 46 Grandma's Sour Cream Pound Cake View Recipe Allrecipes Sour cream imparts moisture, richness, and its signature tang to many types of baked goods, but few are more beloved than a classic sour cream pound cake. What Does Sour Cream Actually Do for My Baking? 37 of 46 Joe Froggers View Recipe Joe Froggers. llgotts These molasses-spice cookies date back to the Colonial era, and get their signature flavor from the rum: "An old-time American cookie from New England, attributed to the legendary Uncle Joe who made cookies as big as lily pads," says recipe creator Dawn. 38 of 46 Peaches and Cream View Recipe Holiday Baker The name of this classic dessert is also used to describe any instance in which everything seems to be going well (ex: "Everything's been peaches and cream!"), which is pretty fitting for this easy-to-make dessert that always turns out delicious. 39 of 46 Minnesota Apple Crisp View Recipe mauigirl An apple crisp is like apple pie's no frills but equally delicious cousin. What's the difference between a crisp and a crumble? A crisp topping usually incorporates oats, which gives it its signature crunch. 40 of 46 Ibby's Grasshopper Pie View Recipe MJG1983 This retro dessert was inspired by the 1950s cocktail. Grasshopper pie usually has a chocolate cookie crust with a creamy filling flavored with creme de menthe. 41 of 46 Fresh Coconut Cake View Recipe jandadeboer What's not to love about this classic Southern dessert? White cake is flavored with fresh coconut, frosted with white frosting, and sprinkled with grated coconut. 42 of 46 Shoofly Pie V View Recipe Emily This Pennsylvania Dutch pie gets its name because the sweet molasses, brown sugar, and butter filling inevitably attracts pesky flies. 43 of 46 Holiday Ambrosia Salad View Recipe Trusted Brands Synonymous with holiday celebrations in the South, ambrosia salad is prepared in advance and served cold, making it excellent for potlucks or any gathering. 44 of 46 Lady Baltimore Cake View Recipe Carol Bennett-Chevereau Nope, this classic cake does not hail from Baltimore. It's actually named for the cake referenced in Owen Wister's 1903 romance novel titled "Lady Baltimore." The real life cake was served to Wister by Alicia Rhett Mayberry in Charleston, South Carolina, or so the story goes. It's no wonder this show-stopping cake made it in Wister's novel — layers of white cake alternate with a fluffy frosting and a fruit and nut filling. 45 of 46 Coco-Cola Cake II View Recipe LYNNINMA In the South, there is no soda, only "Coke." So, it's only fitting that the famous drink would become the inspiration for this Southern dessert. It somewhat resembles a Texas sheet cake, but features cola soft drink and sometimes mini marshmallows in the batter. The resulting cake doesn't taste all that much like cola, but it does have an ultra-moist, rich texture thanks to the fizzy drink. 46 of 46 More Dessert Recipes: Molly Pictured: Freda's Cherry Supreme Salad 50 Fancy Desserts That You Can Make at Home 23 Popular Vintage Dessert Recipes From Every Region of the USA Browse our entire collection of Dessert Recipes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit