20 old-fashioned desserts that grandma used to make

If there’s one dessert we’ll always elevate to a pedestal, it’s Grandma’s Banana Pudding. We look forward to this dessert at every summer picnic and family reunion with delicious layers of vanilla wafer cookies, vanilla custard, fresh banana and whipped cream.

This moist, fluffy cake has always been a highlight of spring gatherings and Easter Sundays. Grandma’s Homemade Coconut Cake recipe uses coconut flakes, coconut extract, and a generous amount of whipped cream frosting.

If Grandma came for Thanksgiving, that meant only one thing: she brought her famous pecan pie. Often made with freshly picked pecans from her yard, this pie is a true labor of love.

We were always happy when peach season came, because we knew that Grandma would make her magical peach cobbler. With a golden flaky crust and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this dessert is the ultimate summer treat.

Homemade pound cake

The only thing better than eating a warm slice of Grandma’s pound pie was hanging out at home for a few hours. This classic and timeless recipe is highly rated by our five-star reviewers.

Grandma knew the best way to use up a leftover challah loaf was to make bread pudding. Every bite of this warm cinnamon dessert is full of nostalgia.

Autumn has always been celebrated with grandma’s sweet potato pie. Its crispy homemade crust was perfectly complemented by the creamy sweet potato spiced filling.

To be honest, few things beat grandma’s lemon meringue pie, which was always as amazing as it was delicious. With a bright lemon filling and a fluffy cloud of toasted meringue, this cake earned praise at every meal where grandma brought it.

On a chilly fall or winter day, this classic dessert was a real treat in a pie pan. Grandma’s apple pie had the perfect balance of sweet, cinnamon-flavored apples and a golden crust.

If you grew up in or near Louisiana, you probably grew up watching your grandmother whip up batches of these sweet treats. These pralines have the perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture thanks to the combination of toasted pecans, caramelized sugar, and butter.

Many of us only know this dessert through our grandmothers, 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.

Baking Snickerdoodles was one of the best (and most fun) ways to spend quality time with Grandma during the holidays. We would help roll the dough in cinnamon sugar and then patiently watch our creations bake in the oven.

Grandma’s key lime pie always cooled us down on hot summer days. According to one five-star reviewer, the homemade graham cracker crust in this recipe really makes the key lime shine.

If you grew up in Arkansas, you can’t help but think of your grandmother when you hear the words possum pie. Made with luscious layers of cream cheese filling and dark chocolate pudding, held together by a pecan shortbread crust, possum pie is one of the best old-fashioned desserts out there.

Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies have always been a hit at classroom parties. These fun and super easy cookies combine two childhood staples: peanut butter and Hershey’s chocolate.

Also known as “commode pie,” grandma relied on simple ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, and cornmeal to create this divine dessert. And of course, it wouldn’t be a chess cake without some vinegar or lemon juice to cut the sweetness.

As children, we could always count on finding homemade treats Grandma’s cookie jarand often it was these mouth-watering molasses cookies. Their soft center was perfectly complemented by slightly crispy edges.

Many of our grandmothers have spent years perfecting their recipes for fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls. Layered with a buttery cinnamon sugar dough and topped with a generous dollop of cream cheese frosting, these scones were perfect for both breakfast and dessert.

We’ll let you decide whether this dish will be a salad, a dessert, or both. Either way, Grandma’s ambrosia salad, made with fresh fruit, shredded coconut, and the occasional mini marshmallow, has always been a highlight of holiday gatherings.

Grandma had a great talent for turning simple ingredients into something elegant. This no-bake dessert consists of a graham cracker crust topped with a creamy mixture of sweetened cream cheese and whipped topping topped with a tangy cherry pie filling.