Save Room for Dessert! 6 Southern Desserts for Your Table
We've covered the appetizers, we've shared our favorite sides, and now it's time for the grand finale: dessert!
For the final installment of our Thanksgiving Recipe Inspiration series, we're sharing six sweet treats that deserve a place at your holiday table. From a classic Louisiana pecan pie to old-fashioned cakes and cookies passed down through generations, these recipes are about more than satisfying your sweet tooth. They're about the traditions, memories, and people who make the holidays so special.
Some of our favorite recipes come from the kitchens of Chefs Anne Leonard and Harriet Robin, childhood best friends and chefs of the New Orleans School of Cooking. Their recipes come with wonderful stories of family, neighbors, and holiday gatherings in New Orleans. And while these desserts are perfect for Thanksgiving, you'll want to keep them handy throughout the Christmas season, too!
1. Louisiana Pecan Pie
It wouldn't be a Southern Thanksgiving without pecan pie! Our recipe features Louisiana pecans and Steen's Pure Cane Syrup for a rich, buttery filling with a deep caramel flavor. A true Louisiana classic and a must-have on the dessert table.
2. Cocoons
Buttery, crumbly, and covered in confectioners' sugar, Cocoons are one of those old-fashioned Southern treats that disappear as quickly as they're served. Chef Anne shares this beloved recipe from her neighbor, Mrs. Nielsen, whose cookies were a much-anticipated holiday tradition.
3. Old-Fashioned Chinese Chews
Sweet dates, crunchy Louisiana pecans, and a wonderfully chewy texture make these dessert bars something special. Passed down from Chef Anne's Aunt Hilda, this treasured family recipe has been making appearances at holiday gatherings for generations.
4. Rum Cake
Rich, buttery, and soaked in a warm rum sauce, this cake is one of Chef Harriet's go-to desserts for the holidays. It's easy to transport, perfect for making ahead, and guaranteed to impress when you turn it out of the Bundt pan.
5. Irish Cream Cake
Chocolate lovers, this one's for you! Made with Irish cream liqueur, pecans, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows, this rich and moist Bundt cake is the perfect way to end a holiday meal. And yes, there's mayonnaise in the batter. Trust Chef Harriet on this one!
6. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
There's something wonderfully nostalgic about a homemade Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. Baked in a cast-iron skillet with buttery brown sugar, pineapple, cherries, and pecans, this family recipe pairs a caramelized fruit topping with a light, fluffy sponge cake.
Click for Harriet's Pineapple Upside Down Cake
At the New Orleans School of Cooking, we believe the best recipes are the ones that bring people together. Whether it's a pie that's been on your Thanksgiving table for decades or a cookie recipe borrowed from a neighbor, food has a way of keeping traditions alive.
As we wrap up our three-part Thanksgiving Recipe Inspiration series, we hope you've found a few new favorites to share with your family and friends. From appetizers to sides to that final sweet bite, the most important ingredient is always the company around your table.
From all of us at the New Orleans School of Cooking, Happy Thanksgiving!
Comments (1)
I have attended the school and I have been in love with this organization ever since. It’s the most fun you could have in New Orleans . You have to go there in person to really appreciate the love of life and appreciate the people and the culture there. I love you guys