In the South, we don’t mess around with regards to dessert. Our layer truffles are the tallest, our pies are the flakiest, and our parts are the most important. That’s why so many iconic sweets have been both born right here, or made well-known in our area, like this record of well-known desserts from Southern eating places. All of those locations are notable—many have gained nationwide and native awards—however their desserts are what draw folks from across the nation, and even the world. Customers know they will be ordering these dishes, whether or not it is Key lime pie in Key West or the perfect peach cobbler in Atlanta, earlier than they even stroll by means of the door. And consider us, these legends really reside as much as the hype.
Coconut Cake, Bottega
Bottega
Birmingham, Alabama
There are many well-known coconut truffles all through the South (actually, there may be one other one on this very record) however few are as celebrated because the one served at Bottega and its sister restaurant Chez Fonfon. Don’t anticipate the normal white-on-white layers and frosting. Created by James Beard Award winner and Bottega’s former pastry chef, Dolester Miles, the cake itself is speckled with floor pecans, which add texture and sweetness, that are brushed with easy syrup. In between the layers is a wealthy filling made with shredded coconut, cream of coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. Then the entire thing is roofed in a light-weight coconut frosting and topped with extra shredded coconut. If that wasn’t sufficient, every slice is served with a pool of creme anglaise. It’s the type of dessert that makes your eyes roll again with pleasure, or evokes tears when it’s offered out for the night time.
World Famous Peanut Pie, Virginia Diner
Virginia Diner
Wakefield, Virginia
Imagine the sticky sweetness and crunch of a pecan pie, solely with peanuts. But not simply any outdated peanuts—this pie is made with Virginia peanuts, the super-sized, additional flavorful type. That’s the not-so-secret ingredient in Virginia Diner’s most beloved dessert. The roadside restaurant, which opened in 1929, is now identified for its locally-sourced nuts (which it sells in a wide range of flavors, plus in brittles and mail-order pies ) as a lot as its menu of consolation meals classics, like meatloaf and country-fried steak. Each slice is filled with toasty nuts, including a pleasantly savory, salty word that balances out the syrupy filling.
Bananas Foster, Brennan’s
New Orleans
Flambéed tableside with a dramatic burst of fireside, bananas Foster is the type of dessert that attracts all eyes within the eating room to your desk. And though you could find variations of it served all around the nation, the dish began right here in 1951, and has remained on Brennan’s menu ever since. Sliced bananas are sauteed in a sauce of butter, brown sugar, aged rum, and banana liqueur, then lit on fireplace with the addition of rum. The complete factor is transferred right into a dish, topped with vanilla ice cream and further sauce. The restaurant’s whimsical eating rooms and seasonally-inspired menu are not like another in New Orleans and properly value a visit to town. But if you happen to’re simply right here for the bananas, you gained’t be alone.
Black Bottom Pie, Weidmann’s
Weirmanman’s / Facebook
Meridian, Mississippi
Open since 1879, and positioned in the identical constructing since 1923, Weidmann’s endurance is famous in itself. From the classic neon signal out entrance to the small crocks of peanut butter with crackers that prime every desk, the place is stuffed with old style allure. The menu is peppered with specials like Catfish Belvedere and Chicken Ya Ya, however the one factor you possibly can’t miss is Weidmann’s World Famous Black Bottom Pie. Each generously-sized slice has a tall, sail-like wedge of meringue, a custardy chocolate filling, and a cookie crust. The complete factor is topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings for a closing flourish. The dessert is a fragile balancing act; the lightness of the meringue counters the richness of the filling, which makes all of it too simple to shine off.
Peach Cobbler, Paschal’s
Paschal’s/Facebook
Atlanta, Georgia
This Atlanta establishment opened by brothers James and Robert Paschal in 1947 has a historical past as wealthy as its well-known peach cobbler. What began as a easy espresso store grew to develop into a restaurant and catering firm with an outpost at Hartsfield-Jackson airport. At one time, it even included a lodge. Most importantly, it was a gathering place within the Sixties for civil rights organizers and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Paschals additionally supported the motion by posting bonds for arrested protesters and giving them free meals. Only second to its fried rooster, peach cobbler is the restaurant’s most beloved dish—and that’s saying one thing in a metropolis the place the dessert is on menus in all places. This model is just excellent, with a layer of sugary pastry on prime of tender, evenly spiced, buttery fruit.
Texas Trash Pie, Royers Round Top Cafe
Royers Round Top Cafe
Round Top, Texas
If you’re in search of desserts with suave subtlety, you gained’t discover them at Royers Round Top Cafe. This homey spot makes huge, daring pies that demand consideration. The most well-known of all of them, Texas Trash Pie, looks like it might be too excessive, with caramel, chocolate chips, coconut, graham crackers, and pretzels in a pastry crust. But earlier than you realize it, you’ve practically polished off a whole salty-sweet slice and are going again for one more.
Strawberry Pie, Jim’s Steak & Spaghetti House
Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House/Facebook
Huntington, West Virginia
Don’t let the title of this place idiot you. While pasta dinners have stored this in enterprise since 1938, the house-baked pies have a following of their very own, particularly when strawberries are in season. Every May, Jim’s provides strawberry pie for one week solely, drawing strains of consumers down the road ready to assert a slice. Unlike some strawberry pies that contain gelatin, this one celebrates the fruit in its freshest type. Sweet sliced berries are piled right into a baked pastry crust and blanketed with whipped cream on prime. When you’re achieved consuming a slice, you’ll be left with a pool of strawberry juice in your plate—don’t let it go to waste.
Tennessee Waltz Cake, City House
City House
Nashville, Tennessee
While this cake won’t have the title recognition as a few of the different desserts on this record, we predict it’s destined to develop into a brand new basic. Created by pastry chef Rebekah Turshen at City House restaurant in Nashville, it’s already legendary in Music City. Turshen took inspiration from an icebox cake made by her grandmother to create a completely trendy dessert. The creamy, six layered dessert has buttermilk-pecan cake drizzled with espresso syrup with bourbon-espresso-vanilla-pecan Bavarian, and chocolate-espresso-pecan praline crumbs on prime. Each chew is a distinct and scrumptious mixture that tastes nostalgic, but additionally like nothing you’ve ever had earlier than.
Chocolate Chess Pie, Angus Barn
Angus baby
Raleigh, North Carolina
Beef is the primary draw on the 65-year-old, family-owned Angus childhowever the Chocolate Chess Pie has a devoted following of its personal. The steakhouse estimates that it sells a whopping 50,000 of them a yr. Part of its attraction is perhaps the simplicity of the pie, which is just a gooey chocolate filling with a crisp, crackled prime inside a buttery pastry shell. The recipe comes from the late Alice Eure, who opened the restaurant together with her husband, the late Thad Eure, Jr. in 1960. It’s the type of homey dessert that many individuals recall a grandmother or member of the family making throughout their childhood, which provides to the pie’s old style attraction.
Caramel Pie, Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets
Charlottes Eats and Sweets/Facebook
Keo, Arkansas
Dessert is all the time ordered first at this small city diner, which pulls prospects from all corners of the state only for a slice of pie. Meringue pies are the factor right here, and the billowy topping is so tall it appears to crane towards the ceiling. While the chocolate and coconut pies have their followers, Charlotte’s caramel pie is really legendary. Its buttery, burnt-sugar filling is the proper distinction to the ethereal meringue. Only a sure variety of pies are made day by day, and flavors typically change, so it’s important to test the board for the day’s flavors, and cross your fingers that it isn’t already offered out by the point you’re seated.
Derby Pie, Kern’s Kitchen
Louisville, Kentucky
As synonymous with Kentucky because the mint julep, this dessert was created by George Kern in 1954 for Melrose Inn, a restaurant in Prospect that was identified for its Derby events. Made with walnuts, chocolate chips, and a pastry crust, this unique pie has a gooey filling and a crisp prime, harking back to a chocolate chip cookie. While the Melrose Inn is now not open, the recipe stays a closely-guarded household secret. (In reality, the kern household has even trademarked the title.) It’s offered at eating places in and round Louisville, and online.
The Ultimate Coconut Cake, Peninsula Grill
Peninsula Grill
Charleston, South Carolina
This showstopping 12-layer cake is sort of a trendy skyscraper, all sharp strains and angles. Which is why it’s stunning that it began as an heirloom household recipe. The Peninsula Grill‘s late chef and proprietor Robert Carter took his grandmother’s coconut cake and turned it right into a masterpiece. The layers are fabricated from coconut pound cake (which is sturdy sufficient to be sliced so thinly) and have coconut icing between them. The exterior of the cake is roofed in a easy layer of cream cheese frosting and lined with toasted coconut on the perimeters. It’s a dessert that’s worthy of a marriage, and numerous Charleston brides have served it on their special occasion. If you possibly can’t make it to Charleston, order it shipped to your door.
Key Lime Pie, Kermit’s Key Lime Shop
Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe
Key West, Florida
In Key West, Key lime pies are as widespread as roosters on the street. (If you’ve been, you realize.) And whereas many slices at eating places and bakeries round city are beloved, Kermit’s has achieved legendary standing. Any enterprise that sells primarily one factor has to good their system, and the Key lime pie right here has a balanced sweet-tart taste, a buttery crust, and texture that’s not too agency or too gentle. It’s the Goldilocks of pies. You can even take pleasure in a slice on a stick that’s been coated in darkish chocolate and frozen. It’s not not for purists, but it surely’s scrumptious all the identical.
