A Guide to Different Types of Southern Desserts

Hello. I am your tour guide into the wonderful world of southern desserts. Let us begin with a bit of basic information to assist us on this delectable journey.
All good southern desserts taste well with either ice tea or milk.

All good southern desserts make you want to go "mmmm". Practice a few times before we begin. Go ahead, no one will mind.
Southern desserts are not about low fat and healthy, although they can be. A key word to describe a southern dessert would be substantial.

Are you ready to begin?

First stop Pies

The best known southern dessert of any kind is pie. I am from the South (that is why I am your tour guide after all!) and my entire family is from the South. We eat pie. A lot of pie. Buttermilk or chess pie, chocolate pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, coconut pie and lemon meringue pie to name the top six requested pies in any southern home. Pieces of pie can be for dessert or even breakfast. They can be had at any time. Yummy. Delicious pie.

Second stop- Cakes

Homemade cakes, not box recipe cakes or store bought cakes. Three layers high. Several southern cakes have even been known to have toothpicks placed in them to ensure the layers do not topple. After all this is the South and humidity and heat are always a factor. I have yet to meet a chocolate cake that surpasses my grandmother's. I so looked forward to being served a piece of cake every time I went to visit. The only time I was not served chocolate cake for dessert was when I was served chocolate pie instead.

Third stop- Nuts

Pralines, peanut brittle, divinity, fudge- the best contain nuts. What kind does not even matter, as any southern dessert tastes better with nuts. But, I do have a preference for pecans.

Fourth stop- Cookies

Can you recall going to a Southerner's home and not seeing an at least half full cookie jar- of homemade cookies? Not an Oreo in sight in a southern home. I can fondly recall when my son was two years old. He took the jar of cookies- which was really an old ice cream five gallon container- room for more cookies that way- and carried it by its handle from the kitchen to the living room to share a cookie with his Papaw. I can still recall the utter joy and elation on his face when my son climbed up onto his lap, careful not to spill the heavy "jar" of cookies and the two of them ate quite a few more. That is a memory that will never cease to bring a smile.

Fifth and final stop- Memories

All Southern desserts are created from the past and passed down from generation to generation with love. Can you recall fond memories of being in the kitchen with a relative and baking away? I love the story my aunt tells me of how she never quite knew just how much cake would be baked, as my father never let a cake be made without him testing the batter a minimum of five times. His brothers followed suit and the cake batter always was not the required amount called for, but it never mattered. The dessert was still baked and was still wonderful.

An extra special stop-

Any good southern dessert baker knows that substitutions are fine.

Go ahead and start baking. You have taken the tour and by now your stomachs are rumbling and you have a hankering for something sweet. Enjoy!